Electoral Act, 1992

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Interpretation.

2.—(1) In this Act—

“ballot paper” has the meaning assigned to it by section 88 ;

“bye-election” means an election of a member of the Dáil to fill a vacancy occasioned by a person having ceased to be a member of the Dáil otherwise than in consequence of a dissolution;

“certificate of political affiliation” has the meaning assigned to it by section 46 ;

“civil servant” and “civil service” have the same meaning, respectively, as in the Civil Service Regulation Act, 1956 as amended by section 17 of the Staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Act, 1959 ;

“covering envelope” has the meaning assigned to it by sections 68 and 81 ;

“Dáil” means Dáil Éireann;

“Dáil election” means an election of a member or members to serve in the Dáil and includes a bye-election as well as a general election;

“Dáil elector” means a person entitled to vote at a Dáil election;

“the Defence Forces” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Defence Act, 1954 ;

“election”, except where the context otherwise requires, means a Dáil election;

“elector”, except where the context otherwise requires, means a Dáil elector;

“European Communities” has the same meaning as in the European Communities Acts, 1972 to 1986;

“European election” means an election in the State of members to the European Parliament and “European elector” means a person entitled to vote at such election;

“European Parliament” means the Parliament of the European Communities;

“excluded day” means a day which is a Sunday, Good Friday or a day which is declared to be a public holiday by the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973 , or a day which by virtue of a statute or proclamation is a public holiday;

“general election” means a general election for members of the Dáil held in accordance with subsection 2° of section 3 of Article 16 of the Constitution;

“local electoral area” means the area or any of the areas (as may be appropriate) by reference to which a local election is held;

“local election” means an election held pursuant to section 81 of the Electoral Act, 1963 , or a new election within the meaning of Part IV of the Local Government Act, 1941 ;

“local government elector” means a person entitled to vote at a local election;

“Member State” means, except in section 8 , a Member State of the European Communities;

“the Minister” means the Minister for the Environment;

“national of a Member State”, except in section 8 , has the meaning assigned to it in the treaties governing the European Communities;

“notice of election” has the meaning assigned to it by section 44 ;

“notice of poll” has the meaning assigned to it by section 87 ;

“the official mark” has the meaning assigned to it by section 89 ;

“personation agent” has the meaning assigned to it by section 60 ;

“petition” means a petition presented to the High Court under this Act;

“postal voter” means a person whose name is entered in the postal voters list;

“postal voters ballot box” has the meaning assigned to it by section 69 ;

“postal voters list” means the list prepared pursuant to section 14 ;

“presidential election” means an election of a person to the office of President of Ireland;

“presidential elector” has the meaning assigned to it by section 7 ;

“the quota” has the meaning assigned to it by section 120 ;

“Seanad” means Seanad Éireann;

“special voter” means a person whose name is included in the special voters list;

“special voters list” means the list of voters prepared by the registration authority pursuant to section 17 ;

“the treaties governing the European Communities” has the same meaning as in the European Communities Acts, 1972 to 1986.

(2) In this Act—

(a) a reference to a Part, section, Schedule or part of a Schedule is to a Part or section of or a Schedule or part of a Schedule to this Act, unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended;

(b) a reference to a subsection, paragraph, subparagraph or rule is to a subsection, paragraph, subparagraph or rule of the provision (including a Schedule) in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended;

(c) a reference to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended, adapted or extended by or under any subsequent enactment including this Act.