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| Irish general election: How voters will elect the next parliament | |
| (2 months later) | |
| The Irish general election took place on Friday | The Irish general election took place on Friday |
| The Irish general election that took place on Friday will decide who will sit in the Dáil, the lower house of the Oireachtas (Ireland's parliament). | The Irish general election that took place on Friday will decide who will sit in the Dáil, the lower house of the Oireachtas (Ireland's parliament). |
| Elected members are known as Teachtaí Dála (TDs). | Elected members are known as Teachtaí Dála (TDs). |
| The number of TDs and constituencies will both increase for the 2024 election after a 2023 review. | |
| There are now 43 Dáil constituencies (up from 39 in 2020) which will elect between three and five TDs each. | There are now 43 Dáil constituencies (up from 39 in 2020) which will elect between three and five TDs each. |
| A total number of 174 TDs will be selected, up from 160 in 2020. | A total number of 174 TDs will be selected, up from 160 in 2020. |
| One seat in the Dáil goes to the Ceann Comhairle (speaker), so 88 TDs is the number required for an overall majority. | One seat in the Dáil goes to the Ceann Comhairle (speaker), so 88 TDs is the number required for an overall majority. |
| More than 3.4 million people are registered to vote in the Republic of Ireland. | More than 3.4 million people are registered to vote in the Republic of Ireland. |
| How will votes be counted? | How will votes be counted? |
| The Republic of Ireland elects its government using a system of proportional representation known as the single transferable vote. | The Republic of Ireland elects its government using a system of proportional representation known as the single transferable vote. |
| Voters will have the opportunity to rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference, marking their favourite with a number one, a number two beside their next choice and so on. | Voters will have the opportunity to rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference, marking their favourite with a number one, a number two beside their next choice and so on. |
| They can vote for as many or as few candidates as they like. | They can vote for as many or as few candidates as they like. |
| Candidates will have to reach a certain number of votes in order to be elected. | Candidates will have to reach a certain number of votes in order to be elected. |
| Ballots are transferred to the next usable preference after a candidate has reached their quota for election | Ballots are transferred to the next usable preference after a candidate has reached their quota for election |
| That number is decided for each constituency using a mathematical formula based on the number of seats available and the number of votes that have been cast. | That number is decided for each constituency using a mathematical formula based on the number of seats available and the number of votes that have been cast. |
| Counting the ballots takes place in multiple rounds. | Counting the ballots takes place in multiple rounds. |
| Each ballot is initially credited to the first choice. | Each ballot is initially credited to the first choice. |
| Once a candidate receives the number of votes required, they are elected and any remaining ballots that are marked with them as first choice are transferred to the second ranked preferences. | Once a candidate receives the number of votes required, they are elected and any remaining ballots that are marked with them as first choice are transferred to the second ranked preferences. |
| Ballots continue to be transferred to the next usable preference until all of the seats in the constituency are filled with candidates who have reached the quota. | Ballots continue to be transferred to the next usable preference until all of the seats in the constituency are filled with candidates who have reached the quota. |
| What parties stood in the election? | What parties stood in the election? |
| Irish general election: What you need to know about the 2024 vote | Irish general election: What you need to know about the 2024 vote |
| Politics in the Republic was traditionally dominated by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. | Politics in the Republic was traditionally dominated by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. |
| Both parties emerged following a split in nationalist opinion over the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty. | Both parties emerged following a split in nationalist opinion over the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty. |
| Fianna Fáil was once seen as more centrist, Fine Gael as more conservative, but differences have blurred and both are now seen as centre-right parties. | Fianna Fáil was once seen as more centrist, Fine Gael as more conservative, but differences have blurred and both are now seen as centre-right parties. |
| Four years ago Fianna Fáil won 38 seats and Fine Gael ended up with 35. | Four years ago Fianna Fáil won 38 seats and Fine Gael ended up with 35. |
| To gain a governing majority, a coalition government was formed between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. | To gain a governing majority, a coalition government was formed between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. |
| The most prominent parties are Fianna Fáil, led by Micheál Martin (L), Sinn Féin, led by Mary Lou McDonald (M), and Fine Gael, led by Simon Harris (R) | The most prominent parties are Fianna Fáil, led by Micheál Martin (L), Sinn Féin, led by Mary Lou McDonald (M), and Fine Gael, led by Simon Harris (R) |
| This year’s election was the first major electoral test for the Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris. | This year’s election was the first major electoral test for the Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris. |
| He was new to the role in April, when he became the youngest person to lead the Republic of Ireland at 37 after his predecessor Leo Varadkar stepped down. | He was new to the role in April, when he became the youngest person to lead the Republic of Ireland at 37 after his predecessor Leo Varadkar stepped down. |
| Harris entered the Dáil in 2011, aged 24, as TD for Wicklow. | Harris entered the Dáil in 2011, aged 24, as TD for Wicklow. |
| He had a rapid rise through the party ranks, landing his first cabinet role before his 30th birthday. | He had a rapid rise through the party ranks, landing his first cabinet role before his 30th birthday. |
| As health minister, he oversaw the Republic's vote to overturn its abortion ban and was in charge of the country's initial response to the Covid-19 pandemic. | As health minister, he oversaw the Republic's vote to overturn its abortion ban and was in charge of the country's initial response to the Covid-19 pandemic. |
| Fianna Fáil are led by Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Michéal Martin. | Fianna Fáil are led by Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Michéal Martin. |
| He is a seasoned politician, having left a short-lived teaching career in 1985 to work in politics full-time. | He is a seasoned politician, having left a short-lived teaching career in 1985 to work in politics full-time. |
| Martin was first elected as a TD in 1989 and has been re-elected in each election since. | Martin was first elected as a TD in 1989 and has been re-elected in each election since. |
| He took up the mantel as leader of Fianna Fáil in 2011 and was elected taoiseach in 2020 as part of the three-party coalition agreement. | He took up the mantel as leader of Fianna Fáil in 2011 and was elected taoiseach in 2020 as part of the three-party coalition agreement. |
| Sinn Féin, led by Mary Lou McDonald, is an Irish republican and democratic socialist party and the main opposition party. | Sinn Féin, led by Mary Lou McDonald, is an Irish republican and democratic socialist party and the main opposition party. |
| McDonald was the party’s first MEP (member of the European Parliament) in 2004, and won her first seat for the party in Dáil for the Dublin Central constituency in 2011. | McDonald was the party’s first MEP (member of the European Parliament) in 2004, and won her first seat for the party in Dáil for the Dublin Central constituency in 2011. |
| She became vice-president of Sinn Féin in 2009, and took over from Gerry Adams as president in 2018. | She became vice-president of Sinn Féin in 2009, and took over from Gerry Adams as president in 2018. |
| Since then, the Dublin politician has sought to distance her party from criticism about its historic links to IRA violence. | Since then, the Dublin politician has sought to distance her party from criticism about its historic links to IRA violence. |
| In 2020 her party made significant gains and topped the popular vote, winning 37 seats. | In 2020 her party made significant gains and topped the popular vote, winning 37 seats. |
| It has become the largest party across Northern Ireland's councils, as well as in its assembly and at Westminster. | It has become the largest party across Northern Ireland's councils, as well as in its assembly and at Westminster. |
| Other parties putting forward candidates for the election include Labour, Social Democrats, PBP-Solidarity, Aontú and the newly-formed Independent Ireland. | Other parties putting forward candidates for the election include Labour, Social Democrats, PBP-Solidarity, Aontú and the newly-formed Independent Ireland. |
| What have been the key issues for voters? | What have been the key issues for voters? |
| Pressures around housing, immigration and public services have dominated the campaign. | Pressures around housing, immigration and public services have dominated the campaign. |
| Ireland will have a total budget surplus this year of €25bn (£20.8bn), which is made up in part by a huge tax windfall from Apple the parties are making big spending pledges and the parties are making big spending pledges. | Ireland will have a total budget surplus this year of €25bn (£20.8bn), which is made up in part by a huge tax windfall from Apple the parties are making big spending pledges and the parties are making big spending pledges. |
| But some voters say they “don't see” the country’s healthy bank balance. | But some voters say they “don't see” the country’s healthy bank balance. |
| The huge cost of renting or buying a home has been a major theme in the campaign while this is the first Irish general election where immigration has been a mainstream issue. | The huge cost of renting or buying a home has been a major theme in the campaign while this is the first Irish general election where immigration has been a mainstream issue. |
| It rose up the agenda following the riots in Dublin in November 2023 however it has not been the defining election topic. | It rose up the agenda following the riots in Dublin in November 2023 however it has not been the defining election topic. |
| How did the election campaign played out? | How did the election campaign played out? |
| This campaign saw its fair share of viral moments. | This campaign saw its fair share of viral moments. |
| An awkward encounter between a care worker and Simon Harris while canvassing in County Cork last weekend was viewed millions of times across social media platforms during the last week of the campaign. | An awkward encounter between a care worker and Simon Harris while canvassing in County Cork last weekend was viewed millions of times across social media platforms during the last week of the campaign. |
| In his first campaign as leader of Fine Gael, Harris had plenty of practice trying to put out election fires. | In his first campaign as leader of Fine Gael, Harris had plenty of practice trying to put out election fires. |
| The party had been running its campaign under a "new energy" slogan after his election as leader and Taoiseach earlier this year. | The party had been running its campaign under a "new energy" slogan after his election as leader and Taoiseach earlier this year. |
| Commentators mused over how the ‘Harris Hop’ may have turned into something resembling a ‘flop’. | Commentators mused over how the ‘Harris Hop’ may have turned into something resembling a ‘flop’. |
| Fianna Fáil, on the other hand, managed to avoid any negative viral moments. | Fianna Fáil, on the other hand, managed to avoid any negative viral moments. |
| Under the leadership of Micheál Martin, the party had what's been referred to as a steady campaign, no big breakthroughs but also no big gaffes. | Under the leadership of Micheál Martin, the party had what's been referred to as a steady campaign, no big breakthroughs but also no big gaffes. |
| Sinn Féin had faced questions over its handling of recent internal controversies on both sides of the border, but these events do not appear to have had a particularly significant impact during the campaign as the party's polling position recovered marginally. | Sinn Féin had faced questions over its handling of recent internal controversies on both sides of the border, but these events do not appear to have had a particularly significant impact during the campaign as the party's polling position recovered marginally. |
| It focused on delivering its policy positions around key issues such as its proposed solutions to the country's housing crisis. | It focused on delivering its policy positions around key issues such as its proposed solutions to the country's housing crisis. |
| What could a new government look like? | What could a new government look like? |
| The exit poll suggests it’s tight - Fine Gael 20%, Sinn Féin 21.1%, Fine Gael 20%, Fianna Fáil 19.5%. | The exit poll suggests it’s tight - Fine Gael 20%, Sinn Féin 21.1%, Fine Gael 20%, Fianna Fáil 19.5%. |
| The two main parties in the outgoing Irish government have again ruled out Sinn Féin as a potential coalition partner. | The two main parties in the outgoing Irish government have again ruled out Sinn Féin as a potential coalition partner. |
| Polling also suggests more independent candidates will be elected than in 2020 and if parliamentary arithmetic is tight, their role in government formation could be critical. | Polling also suggests more independent candidates will be elected than in 2020 and if parliamentary arithmetic is tight, their role in government formation could be critical. |
| If it is to get into government for the first time, it is likely Sinn Féin will have to look to smaller parties or like-minded independents to find the majority. | If it is to get into government for the first time, it is likely Sinn Féin will have to look to smaller parties or like-minded independents to find the majority. |
| Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, led by Micheál Martin and Simon Harris respectively, have both ruled out Sinn Féin as a potential coalition partner | Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, led by Micheál Martin and Simon Harris respectively, have both ruled out Sinn Féin as a potential coalition partner |
| The first meeting of the new Dáil is on 18 December but it is unlikely coalition negotiations will have finished by then. | The first meeting of the new Dáil is on 18 December but it is unlikely coalition negotiations will have finished by then. |
| Few expect the new government to be in place before 2025. | Few expect the new government to be in place before 2025. |
| A government will be officially formed when the Dáil passes a vote to install a new taoiseach. | A government will be officially formed when the Dáil passes a vote to install a new taoiseach. |
| When will votes be counted? | When will votes be counted? |
| Ballot boxes were sent to the constituency count centre after the polls close on Friday, but counting will not start until 09:00 local time on Saturday. | Ballot boxes were sent to the constituency count centre after the polls close on Friday, but counting will not start until 09:00 local time on Saturday. |
| The count can sometimes last several days. | The count can sometimes last several days. |