The last general election took place on Friday 29th November 2024. It was a great opportunity to shape the future of the country and make sure that politicians represent your views as a young person. So get ready to vote!
Electing a local Representative to be a Member of the Dail
- General Elections are usually called every five years. The upcoming General Elections will take place on 29th November 2024.
- In a General Election, you are voting for your local representative to becomes a TD (Teachta Dάla) and a Member of Dάil Éireann.
- Voting for your local TD has an impact on who runs the country. Whichever party or parties has the highest number of TDs will be given the opportunity to form a government, and their party leader will be the Taoiseach (Prime Minister).
- This is your opportunity to decide who you want to represent you, make decisions and take actions on various political issues that affect your life.
- The country is divided into different areas called Constituencies. and you vote for your local representative e.g. Dun Laoghaire is a four seat constituency and so after the election there will be 4 TDs representing the people of Dun Laoghaire in Dάil Éireann.
Who can vote in the General election?
- Be 18 years of age or over
- An Irish or British citizen
- Resident in Ireland
- Be listed on the Register of Electors (Electoral Register).
Why vote in the General elections?
- It is your opportunity to vote for someone to represents your local area in the Dail (parliament). .
- Your Future: Don’t put the control of your country into the hands of someone else.
- Your Issues: Voting gives you the power to decide how the country is run. TDs make decisions on issues that you care about including education, housing, jobs, social protection and climate.
- Your Community: TDs aren’t just responsible for national policy. It’s also their job to raise local issues and support you as much as they can.
- Your Money: Vote for the party that spends YOUR money on things that are important to you.
- Your Voice: Politicians pay attention to the concerns and needs of those who vote. If you vote, they will begin to listen!!
How do I find out who is standing for election in my area?
The electoral commission has an online tool to find your constituency for the forthcoming general election. The Online Map allows you to simply enter your Eircode or address to be informed which of the 43 constituencies you are in, and how many TDs you will be electing in this year’s General Election.
The Journal has created a database that contains pictures, biographies and social media profiles of over 500 candidates from the 43 constituencies around the country. The candidates can be searched by constituency or through their party page.
How do I choose who to vote for?
In the run up to an election, it can feel like an information overload. It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed when choosing who to vote for. Check your facts!! Do your own research! Ask your own questions!!
Helpful tool: whichcandidate.ie : Fill out the survey on General Election 2024, which takes about 5 mins and it will show which local politician best matches your views on issues.
Before you decide who to vote for:
- Know what your values and priorities are.
- Know who is running for election in your area: check your local County Council website
- Research what they stand for and compare their values and priorities to yours: through their social media account, speeches they give, and appearances where they greet and talk to voters.
How to know what to trust and what is fair:
Candidates send out messages in the hope people will vote for them. These messages contain campaign promises – things the candidate vows to do once elected. Be aware of disinformation and propaganda campaigns that seek to influence your opinion, including fake news and targeted ads.
The Journal FactCheck, has a media literacy resource to allow members of the public to be their own fact-checker. The Knowledge Bank helps people to navigate complex news topics that are conversation and debate starters across the country. They also have a toolkit with tips and guides on how to inform yourself.