Electoral Act, 1997

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Number 25 of 1997


ELECTORAL ACT, 1997


ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I

Preliminary and General

Section

1.

Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement.

2.

Interpretation.

3.

Variation of monetary amounts by order of Minister.

4.

Review by Public Offices Commission.

PART II

Constituency Commission

5.

Establishment of Constituency Commission.

6.

Function of Constituency Commission.

7.

Membership of Constituency Commission.

8.

Provisions in relation to members.

9.

Report of Constituency Commission.

10.

Constituency Commission to invite and consider submissions.

11.

Staff of and assistance to Constituency Commission.

12.

Expenses of Constituency Commission.

13.

Procedure of Constituency Commission.

14.

Prohibition on disclosure of information.

15.

Prohibition of certain communications.

PART III

Payments to Political Parties and Reimbursement of Election Expenses of Candidates

16.

“Qualified party”.

17.

Payments to qualified parties.

18.

Application by qualified parties of payments under this Part.

19.

Making of payments.

20.

Party to furnish statement regarding payments.

21.

Reimbursement of election expenses of candidates.

PART IV

Disclosure of Donations

22.

Interpretation (Part IV).

23.

Anonymous donations.

24.

Donation statement.

25.

Offences and penalties (Part IV).

26.

Disclosure of donations by companies, trade unions, etc.

PART V

Expenditure by Political Parties and Candidates at Dáil Elections and European Elections

27.

Interpretation (Part V).

28.

Appointment of national agent and election agent.

29.

Office of agent.

30.

Making of contracts through agent.

31.

Expenses and payments at election.

32.

Limitation of election expenses at Dáil election.

33.

Limitation of election expenses at European election.

34.

Period for making claims relating to election expenses.

35.

Disputed claims relating to election expenses.

36.

Statement in relation to election expenses.

37.

Laying of copy of statement of election expenses before each House of Oireachtas.

38.

Relief for non-compliance with Part V.

39.

Power of court to require information from agent.

40.

Excess expenditure.

41.

Provisions relating to fresh election.

42.

Provisions where polls at Dáil election and European election are taken on same day.

43.

Offences and penalties (Part V).

44.

Dáil election petition.

45.

European election petition.

PART VI

Donations and Election Expenses at Presidential Election

46.

Interpretation (Part VI).

47.

Anonymous donations to presidential candidate.

48.

Presidential election donation statement.

49.

Orders (Part VI).

50.

Appointment of presidential election agent.

51.

Making of contracts through presidential election agent.

52.

Expenses and payments at presidential election.

53.

Limitation of presidential election expenses.

54.

Period for making claims in relation to presidential election expenses.

55.

Disputed claims in relation to presidential election expenses.

56.

Statement in relation to presidential election expenses.

57.

Laying of copy of documents before each House of Oireachtas.

58.

Relief for non-compliance with Part VI.

59.

Power of court to require information from agent.

60.

Provisions relating to fresh presidential election.

61.

Offences and penalties (Part VI).

62.

Presidential election petition.

PART VII

Persons Unable to Vote at Polling Station

63.

Entry of names in postal voters list.

64.

Application to be entered in postal voters list.

65.

Applicant to provide information or documents.

66.

Notices and application forms.

67.

Consideration of applications.

68.

Voting by electors referred to in section 63.

69.

Amendment of Act of 1997.

70.

Amendment of Local Elections Regulations, 1995.

PART VIII

Miscellaneous

71.

Appointment of appropriate officer by political party.

72.

Donations and election expenses at local elections.

73.

Inspection of documents furnished to Public Offices Commission.

74.

Offences by bodies corporate.

75.

Local election petition.

76.

Registration of electors.

77.

Expenses of returning officers.

78.

Free postage for candidates at elections.

79.

Arrangements for counting of votes.

80.

Production of documents by Clerk of Dáil.

81.

Amendment of section 25 of Act of 1992.

82.

Amendment of Local Elections Regulations, 1995.


Acts Referred to

Building Societies Act, 1989

1989, No. 17

Civil Service Regulation Act, 1956

1956, No. 46

Companies Act, 1963

1963, No. 33

Companies Acts, 1963 to 1990

Electoral Act, 1992

1992, No. 23

Electoral Acts, 1992 to 1996

Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995

1995, No. 22

European Assembly (Irish Representatives) Act, 1979

1979, No. 19

European Parliament Elections Act, 1997

1997, No. 2

European Parliament Elections Acts, 1992 to 1997

Friendly Societies Acts, 1896 to 1977

Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, 1893 to 1978

Local Elections Acts, 1974 to 1994

Local Elections (Petitions and Disqualifications) Act, 1974

1974, No. 8

Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1993

1993, No. 21

Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Acts, 1938 to 1996

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) Acts, 1938 to 1996

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) (Amendment) Act, 1994

1994, No. 21

Presidential Elections Act, 1993

1993, No. 28

Presidential Elections Acts, 1992 and 1993

Presidential Establishment Acts, 1938 to 1991

Referendum Act, 1994

1994, No. 12

Referendum Acts, 1992 and 1994

Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947

1947, No. 42

Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Acts, 1947 to 1972

Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act, 1937

1937, No. 30

Seanad Electoral (University Members) Acts, 1937 to 1973

Succession Act, 1965

1965, No. 27

Trade Union Acts, 1871 to 1990

Údarás na Gaeltachta Act, 1979

1979, No. 5

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Number 25 of 1997


ELECTORAL ACT, 1997


AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A CONSTITUENCY COMMISSION, TO MAKE PROVISION FOR PAYMENTS TO POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES, TO MAKE PROVISION FOR DISCLOSURE OF DONATIONS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES, TO REGULATE EXPENDITURE AT ELECTIONS BY POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES, TO PROVIDE VOTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR CERTAIN PERSONS UNABLE TO VOTE AT POLLING STATIONS AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER ELECTORAL MATTERS. [15th May, 1997]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: