Information for Candidates

Local Elections 2024

Local Elections will be held on Friday, 7 June 2024 to elect 18 members representing three Local Electoral Areas in Longford County Council.

Electoral Areas

There are three Local Electoral Areas within Longford County Council. These are:

  • Longford (7 seats)
  • Ballymahon (6 seats)
  • Granard (5 seats)

Eligibility 

In accordance with the Local Government Act 2001 as amended sections 13 and 13A: every Irish citizen and every person ordinarily resident in the State, who has reached the age of 18, who is not subject to any of the disqualifications outlined below, is eligible for election.

A person is disqualified for election to a local authority if he/she:

  • is a member of the Commission of the European Communities, or
  • is a member of the European Parliament, or
  • is a Judge, Advocate General or Registrar of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, or
  • is a member of the Court of Auditors of the European Communities, or
  • is a member of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann, or
  • is appointed under the Constitution as a Judge or as the Comptroller and Auditor General, or
  • is a member of the Garda Síochána, or
  • is a full-time member of the Defence Forces, or
  • is a civil servant who is not by the terms of his or her employment expressly permitted to be a member of a local authority, or
  • is a person employed by a local authority and is not the holder of a class, description or grade of employment designated by order under section 161(1)(b) of the Local Government Act 2001, or
  • is a person employed by the Health Service Executive and is at a grade or of a description of employment designated by order of the Minister for Health and Children, or
  • is undergoing a sentence of imprisonment for any term exceeding 6 months imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction in the State, or
  • fails to pay any sum or any portion of any sum charged or surcharged by an auditor of the accounts of any local authority upon or against that person, or
  • fails to comply with a final judgement, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, for payment of money due to a local authority, or
  • is convicted of, or has had a conviction confirmed on appeal for, an offence relating to fraudulent or dishonest dealings affecting a local authority or corrupt practice or acting when disqualified.

Nomination Process 

A candidate may be a nominee of a registered political party or may nominate himself or herself or may, with the candidate’s consent, be nominated by a proposer. A proposer must be registered as a local government elector in the local electoral area of the local authority for which he or she proposes to nominate the candidate. 

The period for receipt of nominations commences at 10am on Saturday, 11 May 2024 and ends at 12 noon on Saturday, 18 May 2024.

Nominations will be received in the Council Chamber of Longford County Council, Áras an Chontae, Great Water Street, Longford.

Candidates can make an appointment to lodge their nomination papers with the Returning Officer by emailing localelectionsofficer@longfordcoco.ie or by phone to 043 334 35 11.

Candidates

All candidates must submit a completed nomination form to the Returning Officer during the nomination acceptance period.

A person may nominate him/herself or may be nominated by a local government elector registered in the area concerned. A person can be nominated to stand in more than one area. A nomination form from a candidate of a registered political party must have a certificate of political affiliation attached. If no certificate is attached, one or other of the following procedures must be complied with before the expiration of the time for receiving nominations:

  • the completion of statutory declarations by 15 assentors registered as local electors in the electoral area concerned which must be witnessed by a Commissioner for Oaths, a Peace Commissioner, a Notary Public, a member of the Garda Siochána or an official of the registration authority, or
  • the candidate, or someone on his/her behalf, lodging with the relevant returning officer a deposit of €100.

A candidate may include party affiliation on the nomination paper. If the candidate has no party affiliation, the person may be described as "Non-Party" or may leave the appropriate space blank.

The candidate or proposer is responsible for ensuring that the completed nomination paper is delivered to the returning officer before the closing time for receipt of nominations at the election.

The Returning Officer must rule on the validity of a nomination paper within one hour of its presentation and may rule that it is invalid if:

  • the nomination paper of any candidate is not properly made out or signed, or
  • in the case of a nomination paper of a candidate who is not a member of a political party and who has opted to be nominated by way of assentors, the nomination is not assented to in the manner required.

Candidates must select one of the following options as part of the nomination process: 

1. Certificate of Political Affiliation (Registered Party Candidates only)

Candidates must submit the following to the Returning Officer: 

  • Completed Nomination Paper (Form LE1: Nomination Paper for Local Elections)
  • Certificate of Political Affiliation (must be signed by Authorised Officer(s) of the Party)
  • Photographs (as outlined below)

2. Deposit (Non-Party Candidates)

Candidates may pay a deposit of €100 and submit the following to the Returning Officer: 

  • Completed Nomination Paper (Form LE1: Nomination Paper for Local Elections)
  • Deposit of €100 (The deposit will be accepted in cash only)
  • Photographs (as outlined below)

3. Assentor Statutory Declarations (15) (Non-Party Candidates only)

Candidates must submit the following to the Returning Officer: 

  • Completed Nomination Paper (Form LE1: Nomination Paper for Local Elections)
  • Statutory Declaration Form for each of the 15 assentors* (Form LE1A: Statutory Declaration by Assentors to Nomination)
  • Photographs (as outlined below)

*Each assentor must reside and be registered to vote in the local electoral area for which the candidate wishes to stand and may assent for one candidate only.

Photographs

Requirements on candidates for the provision of photographs for ballot papers are as follows:

  1. One digitised photograph on a storage device shall be delivered with the nomination paper together with two identical printed copies (passport size: 35mm x 45mm). Each copy of the printed photograph must have the candidate’s name clearly shown on the back.
  2. The photograph must be of good quality and in colour showing the candidate’s full face, head and shoulders only, on a light background (any colour) and taken to a professional standard. This photograph will be used on the ballot paper and it is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that a good quality photograph is submitted. 
  3. Photographs presented must have been taken within 12 months before polling day.

Important: Candidates not known to the Returning Officer should bring evidence of identity, such as a passport or driving licence when submitting nomination papers.

Register of Electors

Any person who wishes to become a candidate and/or is making a nomination on behalf of a candidate for the Local Elections must be included on the Register of Electors.

To register to vote or update your details, visit checktheregister.ie.  

Please note that you are now being asked to add your Personal Public Service Number (PPSN), date of birth and Eircode, even if you are already registered to vote. 

This allows Longford County Council to confirm your details and helps to ensure the accuracy of the electoral register. 

You can also complete an application form which can be obtained here.

As the period for receipt of nominations commences at 10am on Saturday, 11 May 2024 and ends at 12 noon on Saturday, 18 May 2024, candidates and/or those making nominations must be included on the Register of Electors before commencement of receipt of nominations.

Queries in relation to the Register of Electors

Any queries in relation to the Register of Electors can be dealt with in one of the following ways:

 

Local Electoral Area Maps

The online map viewer with the electoral area boundaries is available at Local Electoral Area Map on arcgis.com.

Tailte Éireann can be contacted directly to purchase maps. See Professional Products on osi.ie.

European Parliament Elections

Correspondence was issued to Resident EU citizens (who are not Irish citizens) wishing to register to vote at European Parliament elections in Ireland for the first time in 2024. 

If you are one of these electors, you are required to complete a statutory declaration Form EP1 (available on CheckTheRegister.ie) to confirm that you intend to use your vote in Ireland.

If you do not return the completed form, you are unable to vote in the European Parliament elections.

This does not affect your right to vote in the Local Elections.

You must return your completed form to the Franchise section, Longford County Council, Aras an Chontae, Great Water Street, Longford, N39 NH56.

Contact Details for the 2024 Local Elections

For further information email localelectionsofficer@longfordcoco.ie or call 043 334 35 11.

Nomination Papers (Bilingual)