Presidential Elections Act, 1937

PART III.

The Poll.

Method of taking the poll.

20.—The following provisions shall have effect in relation to the taking of the poll (if any) at a presidential election, that is to say:—

(a) the poll shall be held on one day only and that day shall be the same throughout Ireland and shall be the day appointed under this Act to be the polling day at such election;

(b) the poll shall commence at nine o'clock in the forenoon and shall be kept open until nine o'clock in the afternoon and no longer;

(c) for the purpose of taking the poll Ireland shall be deemed to be divided into the same constituencies as those into which it is for the time being divided for the purpose of the election of members of Dáil Eireann and the poll shall be taken separately in each such constituency;

(d) the person who would be the returning officer at a Dáil election in any such constituency shall be the returning officer (in this Act referred to as the local returning officer) in such constituency for the purposes of the poll;

(e) each voter at the poll shall record his vote in the constituency in which he would be entitled to vote at a general election of members of Dáil Eireann;

(f) each such constituency shall be deemed to be divided for the purpose of the poll into the same polling districts as those into which it is for the time being divided for the purpose of a Dáil election, and the places which are for the time being appointed as polling places in each such polling district for the purpose of a Dáil election shall be the polling places for the purpose of taking the poll;

(g) it shall be the duty of every local returning officer to conduct the taking of the poll in his constituency in accordance with this Act, and for that purpose to provide such polling stations, ballot boxes, ballot papers, stamping instruments, copies of the register of electors, and other things, appoint and pay such officers, and do such other acts and things as may be necessary for effectually taking the poll in his constituency in accordance with this Act;

(h) every local returning officer shall, in relation to the taking of the poll in his constituency, comply with the provisions of this Act, the rules contained in the Schedules to this Act, and the orders made by the Minister under this Act.