How is a General Election called?

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he intends to seek the dissolution of the Dáil this Friday to pave the way for a General Election, with a hope that polling day will be on Friday 29 November.

It follows much speculation around the likely date that the country will go to the polls.

The final obstacle to calling the election was removed last night when the Dáil passed the Finance Bill - the legislation that underpins the financial measures in Budget 2025.

But how exactly does a General Election get called, and what steps need to be taken before an election date can be officially set in stone?

Who calls a General Election?

The responsibility for calling a General Election lies with the Taoiseach.

The Government is currently a coalition involving Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party with a rotating Taoiseach position.

The current Taoiseach is Fine Gael leader Simon Harris who will be tasked with putting the wheels in motion for an election.

How is a General Election called?

To call a General Election, the Taoiseach must go to Áras an Uachtaráin and ask the President to dissolve the current Dáil.

A new Dáil cannot be elected until the previous Dáil has been dissolved.

After the Taoiseach travels to the Áras, the President will then, generally, dissolve the Dáil upon the Taoiseach’s request.

While the President may, at his discretion, refuse to dissolve the Dáil, no president has ever formally refused to do so.

When is a General Election held?

Once the President has dissolved the Dáil, a General Election must be held within 30 days.

The Clerk of the Dáil will issue a writ to the returning officer in each of the 43 constituencies, directing them to hold an election for the assigned number of TDs in each constituency.

A Polling Day Order is then set by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set the date of the election and opening hours for polling stations.

The election date must be between the 17th and 25th day (excluding Good Friday, Sundays and public holidays) after the issue of the writ by the Clerk of the Dáil.

What is the deadline for a General Election?

The Taoiseach can ask the President to dissolve the Dáil at any point during the Government’s five-year term.

The last General Election was held on 8 February 2020.

The Dáil must be dissolved by the President no later than 19 February 2025, with an election taking place no later than mid-March 2025.

Recent indications suggest Taoiseach Simon Harris will be making the trip to the Phoenix Park long before then.

When can campaigning start?

Once the date of the General Election has been set, campaigning can begin immediately.

Election candidates will call door to door, send out leaflets, issue party broadcasts and begin putting up posters.

Posters can be put up 30 days before the polling date or from the date of the Polling Day Order, whichever is the shorter period.

There are, however, rules around posters and leaflets during elections with posters only being allowed to be hung on poles with permission of the pole owner.

Posters must contain the name and address of the printer and must not cause any disruption to road users.

Posters must be removed within seven days of the polling date.

What happens on polling day?

In recent elections, the polls have opened at 7am and closed at 10pm.

During this time, all registered voters may cast their ballot at their relevant polling station.

Ireland uses a single-transferrable vote system meaning voters can cast their votes by ranking the candidates in order of preference.

Once the polling period is over, all ballot boxes are taken to the designated counting centre for each constituency.

How many seats are up for grabs?

The next General Election will be contested across 43 constituencies, an increase of four from the last election following the implementation of recommendations from the Electoral Commission review.

Many existing constituencies have seen boundary changes which could change the dynamic of the General Election at a local level.

There will be 174 deputies in the next Dáil, an increase of 14, meaning 88 TDs will be required to form a majority Government, up from 80.

The Ceann Comhairle is re-elected automatically as a member of the next Dáil.

What happens after polling day?

Counting begins at 9am the day after a General Election with members of the next Dáil deemed elected in the subsequent hours and days.

With multiple TDs elected in each constituency, it can often take several days to fully complete the General Election count.

The final seats are often decided by a handful of votes and recounts are common.

The new Dáil is then required to meet within 30 days of polling day.

The current Government was formed some four months after polling day in the last General Election in 2020.

With that precedent in mind, and the uncertain arithmetic of the makeup of next Dáil, it is anyone’s guess how long it will take to form a new government after the next General Election.