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Conducting Local Elections
Introduction
Local Elections (the election of Councillors) normally take place every five years. The last local elections were held on the 5th June 2009 thirty Councillors were elected to Galway County Council. Representing 5 electoral areas: Loughrea, Tuam, Ballinasloe, Oranmore & Conamara.
Nine members were elected to Ballinasloe Town Council, Tuam Town Council and Loughrea Town Council. Voters in the above towns have a right to vote in both County Council and town elections.
The County is divided into five local electoral areas to ensure that each part of the county is represented on the County Council. A Mayor is elected each year by the members at the Annual Meeting of the Council.
Who is Entitled to Vote in a Local Election?Persons aged 18 and over are entitled to be registered to vote in a Local Election for the local electoral area in which they ordinarily live. Irish citizenship is not a requirement for eligibility to vote in a local election
Notice of Poll
Local Election Polling Day is prescribed by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and the Council is obliged to publish a notice inviting nominations and specifying a date by which completed nomination papers must be submitted to the County Secretary/Returning Officer.
Conducting the Election
The County Secretary is the returning officer responsible for the conduct of the election. When nominations are completed, she makes arrangements for holding the election, appoints necessary staff, has ballot papers prepared, and conducts and supervises the election count. The Returning Officer also declares the results of the election.
Polling Scheme
The Council has a "polling scheme" for the county specifying the polling place where electors may vote.
Two Versions of the Register
From 2004, registration authorities will publish two versions of the register:
1. Edited Register
2. Full Register
The edited register will contain the names and addresses of persons who have indicated that their details can be used for a purpose other than electoral or other statutory use, e.g. for direct marketing use by a commercial or other organisation.The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote and once an edited register has been published it can only be used for an electoral
or other statutory purpose.
