Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) (Bye-Elections) Act, 1940

The poll at a nominating meeting.

14.—When a nominating meeting has been adjourned for the purpose of taking a poll, the Seanad returning officer shall take such poll in accordance with the following provisions, that is to say:—

(a) such poll shall be taken at the time and place to which such meeting was adjourned, and shall be deemed to be a continuation of such meeting;

(b) the Seanad returning officer shall make available at the said place a suitable room for taking the poll and shall provide therein such ballot boxes, desks, and other furniture as he shall consider necessary and shall also provide a sufficient number of ballot papers;

(c) the Seanad returning officer and his assistants and the members of the nominating committee and no other person may be present at the taking of the poll or the counting of the votes;

(d) at the said time to which the nominating meeting was adjourned the Seanad returning officer shall open the poll and at the expiration of one hour from that time he shall close the poll;

(e) every member of the nominating committee shall be entitled to vote at the poll, whether he was or was not present at the nominating meeting before the adjournment thereof, but no such member shall be entitled to receive a ballot paper unless or until he has, either at the nominating meeting before the adjournment thereof or at the taking of the poll, signed his name in a book or other record (to be provided and kept by the Seanad returning officer) of attendances at nominating meetings;

(f) each member of the nominating committee shall be entitled to vote by one ballot paper only, but may vote by such ballot paper for one, two, or three (but not more than three) candidates;

(g) the Seanad returning officer shall take all such steps as he considers proper or expedient for preserving the secrecy of the voting at the poll;

(h) every question which shall arise at or in relation to the taking of the poll shall be decided by the Seanad returning officer and his decision on any such question shall be final and unappealable;

(i) at the close of the poll the Seanad returning officer shall count the votes and ascertain the result of the poll and shall announce such result to the members (if any) of the nominating committee then present.