Electoral Act, 1992

PART XV

Polling on Islands

Advance polling on islands.

85.—(1) This section applies where a poll is to be taken at a Dáil election in a constituency and the returning officer is of opinion that, in the case of a polling station situate on an island, it may be impracticable owing to stress of weather or transport difficulties, either—

(a) to take the poll on the polling day appointed by the Minister, or

(b) if the poll were taken on that day, to deliver the ballot boxes to the place for the counting of the votes at or before the hour of 9 a.m. on the day next after the polling day.

(2) Where this section applies, the returning officer shall give public notice in the polling district stating that he will take the poll at the polling station on the island on a specified day, being a day earlier than the polling day appointed by the Minister and later than the sixth day before the said polling day, and the following provisions shall, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, have effect:

(a) the returning officer shall take the poll at the polling station on the island on the day specified in the notice or, where he is of opinion that, owing to stress of weather, the poll cannot be taken on that day, on the first day after that day on which, in his opinion, transport between the island and the mainland is reasonably safe,

(b) where owing to transport difficulties the poll cannot begin at the hour fixed by the Minister for the commencement of the poll, it shall begin as soon as possible after that hour,

(c) where, after the polling has continued for not less than four hours, the presiding officer is of opinion that, if the poll were further continued, the ballot boxes could not reach the place for the counting of the votes at or before the hour of 9 a.m. on the day next after the polling day appointed by the Minister, he may then close the poll.

(3) No alteration shall be made in the form or contents of the notice of poll under section 87 by reason of an alteration under this section of the day and hours of the poll.