Electing the President of Ireland
Presidential Election is taking place on Friday 24th October 2025.
Elections are held every 7 years, unless the office becomes vacant earlier (e.g., through resignation or death).
Role of the President:
The president is largely a ceremonial figure, representing Ireland at home and abroad, though they do have some important constitutional powers (such as referring bills to the Supreme Court to check their constitutionality).
A president serves for 7 years and can be re-elected once (so a maximum of two terms, or 14 years).
This is a great opportunity to make sure that the President of Ireland represents your views as a young person. So get ready to vote!
Who can vote in the Presidential election?
- An Irish citizen
- Aged 18 or over
- Ordinarily resident in Ireland* and
- Be registered to vote
Why vote in the Presidential elections?
- Your Voice: The president is chosen directly by the people. Voting means you have a say in who represents Ireland as its head of state.
- Your representative: While the president’s role is not political in the day-to-day sense, they represent represent Irish values, culture, and image on the world stage.
- Your Community: Not voting can leave the decision to a smaller group of people, while voting ensures your perspective is part of the collective choice.
- Your Responsibility: Voting is one of the simplest but most powerful ways to take part in democracy. It shows that you value your right to vote and helps keep the system strong
How do I find out who is standing for election in my area?
- Electoral Commission of Ireland (An Coimisiún Toghcháin) have a dedicated page for Presidential Elections which includes updates, rules, and links to nomination and candidate information.
- Presidential Election2025. For the 2025 election, there is a dedicated site:
- This site will list “candidates seeking nomination”, valid nominations, ballot-paper lists, and eventually election results.
- It also gives procedural information (how nominations work, deadlines, etc.).
- On count day, results from each constituency will be uploaded there.
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!!
Before you decide who to vote for:
- Know what your values and priorities are.
- Know who is running for election
- 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.