Voters are set to go to the polls on Friday, 24 October, with polling stations across the country to open at 7am and close at 10pm, giving the electorate the chance to decide who will serve as Ireland’s next Head of State.
The count will begin the following morning, Saturday, 25 October, when ballot boxes are opened at regional centers.
Counting is expected to continue throughout the day, but election officials have cautioned that the process may extend into Sunday if no candidate reaches the quota on the first count.
The Presidential Election is conducted under the proportional representation system with a single transferable vote.
To be elected, a candidate must secure more than 50 per cent of the valid poll. If no one achieves this on the first count, lower-ranked candidates are eliminated and their votes redistributed until a winner emerges.
To be eligible to run, a candidate must be nominated either by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities. They also must be an Irish citizen over the age of 35.
A presidential election must take place in the 60 days before the second term of Michael D Higgins ends on November 11.
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Housing Minister James Browne will bring a memo to Cabinet on Wednesday confirming the polling date, PA has reported.
Mr Browne spoke to coalition government leaders Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris and Minister Sean Canney on Tuesday afternoon.
So far, left-wing independent Catherine Connolly and former Fine Gael minister Heather Humphreys are the only candidates who have secured the support needed to get on the ballot paper.
Heather Humphreys.
Ms Humphrey’s candidacy was confirmed after Sean Kelly dropped out of contention, having determined he would not reach the required nomination of at least 20 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, 25 councilors and five members of the Fine Gael executive council.
Ms Humphreys was the only candidate to reach that threshold by the time the nomination window closed on Tuesday.
Her name will go forward for ratification at a party event on Saturday September 13, which will be the official campaign launch.
Speaking following the nomination, she said: "I love this country, it has made me everything I am and given me everything I have."
"My campaign will focus on my life experience as I ask citizens to trust me with their vote to be president of this great country.
"I will be a candidate with a vision; with experience and with a track record of supporting communities; bringing people together and representing Ireland on the world stage," she added.
"I’m not promising perfection but I promise honesty, compassion and service.
"I’m excited about the campaign and really looking forward to getting out on the ground to meet the people and set out my vision."
Sinn Fein has yet to announce whether it will support Ms Connolly or run its own candidate, with Fianna Fail’s parliamentary party expected to make a decision on the presidential election in the early autumn.
Former Dublin GAA manager and retired army officer Jim Gavin.
Senior party figures have expressed support for former Dublin GAA manager and retired army officer Jim Gavin, while the party’s MEP Billy Kelleher also announced his intention to seek backing.
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* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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