02.02.2011
INTRODUCTION
The legislation governing the NUI Seanad Éireann elections stems from Bunreacht na hÉireann, Art. 18.4(i). The relevant acts may be referred to as the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Acts, 1937 – 2001.
For the convenience of prospective candidates an election pack of relevant documents for candidates is available for download which includes the following:
- Form of Nomination (Irish and English versions)
- A sample completed Form of Nomination
- An Post postal specification document for free postage scheme
- List of NUI member institutions
- Graduate Registration/ Update Form ( Irish and English versions)
- Frequently asked questions as listed below
All forms to which the FAQ section refers are contained in the election pack download
:
Who is the Registration Officer in the NUI constituency?
The Registrar of NUI, Dr. Attracta Halpin is, ex officio, the Registration Officer.
Who is the Returning Office for the NUI Seanad Éireann Elections?
The Senate has appointed Dr Maurice Manning, Chancellor NUI, as Returning Officer for the April 2011 Seanad Éireann Election.
When does the Seanad Éireann election take place?
The Seanad Election takes place whenever a General Election occurs, and within 90 days of the dissolution of the Dáil.
What institutions comprise the NUI constituency?
The Constituent Universities, Recognised Colleges and Colleges which were formerly Recognised Colleges (the latter only for the period when they were within the NUI federation) (see election pack).
Are all NUI graduates automatically eligible to vote in Seanad elections?
No. Graduates must be citizens of Ireland and must claim to be registered . The register in use for the April 2011 election is the register published on 1 June 2010 .
NUI SEANAD ÉIREANN CANDIDATES
Who can be a candidate?
‘A person to be eligible for membership of Seanad Éireann must be eligible to become a member of Dáil Éireann’. Bunreacht na hÉireann, Art. 18.2 (Every citizen without distinction of sex who has reached the age of twenty-one years, and who is not placed under disability or incapacity by this Constitution or by law, shall be eligible for membership of Dáil Éireann. Bunreacht na hÉireann, Art. 16.1)
What does a candidate have to do?
A candidate has to be nominated, that is, must submit one completed Form of Nomination as prescribed on or before the date of close of nominations. Candidates may find it helpful to refer to sample of completed Form of Nomination (see election pack).
Do candidates have to pay a deposit or other fee?
No.
NOMINATIONS
What information is required in a Form of Nomination?
The candidate must give his/her name and address, and a description, which, ‘in the opinion of the Returning Officer, is calculated sufficiently to identify the candidate’. (Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act, 1937)
He/She must have a Proposer and Seconder and Eight Assentors. All ten must be registered NUI graduates (i.e. listed in the Seanad Éireann Register)
He/She must submit one completed Form of Nomination as prescribed. (see election pack)
May a registered graduate be Proposer, Seconder or Assentor for more than one candidate?
Yes, an elector may act as proposer, seconder or assentor for up to three candidates.
How does a candidate know the date of close of nominations?
The information will be available on the NUI website and will be published in the national press.
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will issue an Order, within a week of the dissolution of the Dáil, establishing three dates:
The last day on which the returning officers shall receive nominations in university constituencies shall be the 3rd day of March 2011.
- the date of close of nominations, usually approximately three weeks from the date of dissolution
- the date of issue (ie posting) of ballot papers
- the date of the election (close of poll)
What happens on the day of Close of Nominations?
All duly completed Forms of Nomination must be received by the Returning officer at or before 12:00 noon at the NUI Office, 49 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 on the date of close of nominations.
While the Form of Nomination may be received prior to the official date, in any event all prospective candidates and/or, where relevant, their agents, will be invited to be present at the NUI Office on the day, and an information session for candidates and/or their agents will be held in NUI immediately following the close of nominations. The relevant officials from An Post will be invited to the information session to answer any queries about the free mailing-out of candidates’ election material.
Can anyone object to a Form of Nomination?
Yes. Any objections to a Form of Nomination will be considered and ruled upon by the Returning Officer not later than one o'clock in the afternoon on the last day for receiving nominations.
‘The ruling of the Returning Officer on an objection to a Form of Nomination or on any other question arising in relation to the nomination of the candidates shall be final and shall not be open to review by any Court.’
AN POST FREE POSTAGE SCHEME FOR CANDIDATES' LITERATURE
How does a candidate avail of the free postage scheme?
Candidates will deal directly with An Post. (Contact:s: Tommy Dunne, Key Account Manager - Government Sector, An Post, Sales & Marketing, GPO, O Connell St, Dublin 1; Mobile: 086-8151108; Fax : 01 809082 email: tommy.dunne@anpost.ie
Gerry Davis, Key Account Manager – Government Sector: Mobile: 086-6062752; email: gerry.davis@anpost.ie,
Caroline Corcoran – Sales Executive – Government Sector: Mobile: 086-3880592; email: caroline.corcoran@anpost.ie
Each candidate is responsible for the production and printing of his/her own election material for this purpose. The material must be in accordance with An Post’s specifications (see election pack)
All other mailing of campaign material, plus design, printing and packing, are at the discretion of the candidate and at his/her own expense.
An Post will require to approve final artwork not later than Monday 7th March by close of business. Once approved the candidate can proceed with arranging to print their material and to transport finished material to one of An Post’s list of assigned printers for personalisation. Finished material should be with An Post’s printer not later than Thursday 10th March by close of business.
This will allow sufficient time for An Post to personalise the material and to present the mail for onward delivery by Monday 21st March (the date of issue of ballot papers). An Post are not in the position to provide exclusive deliveries for any candidate given the short timeframe involved.
THE BALLOT PAPER
What is the format of the Ballot Paper?
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order on the ballot paper. Name, address and description (as stated in the respective Forms of Nomination) are required.A candidate may, but is not required, to include a photograph; where a candidate chooses to use a photograph, it must be delivered with the completed Form of Nomination (see election pack).
Note
Section 56(d) of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001 amended section 20 of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 to allow for the inclusion of a photograph of the candidate on the ballot paper in a Seanad election. The Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Prescribed Matters) (Amendment) Regulations 2002, as amended by the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Prescribed Matters) (Amendment) Regulations 2007, set out the required specification of a photograph for inclusion on a ballot paper.
- If a candidate wishes to have his or her photograph included on the ballot paper, they must provide with the nomination paper: A photograph in digitised format (Jpeg) on a CD (passport size – 35mm x 45mm)
AND
- Two identical printed copies of the photograph.
The photograph must be taken not more than 12 months prior to the day for the closing of the poll and must be of good quality, in colour and taken to a professional standard, showing the candidate’s full face, head and shoulders only, on a light background (any colour).
Each printed copy of the photograph must have the candidate’s name clearly shown on the back. If the above requirements are not complied with, the returning officer may not include the photograph on the ballot paper. In these circumstances, or if no photograph is supplied, the space for the candidate’s photograph will be left blank on the ballot paper.
THE ONUS IS ON THE CANDIDATE TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS.
How and when will the ballot papers be sent to the electorate?
Voting Papers are issued by registered post on the date set out in the Minister’s Order. Because of the size of the two university electorates - currently 97,734 for NUI, and approximately 54,000 for University of Dublin (Trinity College) - delivery of the registered post may take a number of days from the date of issue. Delivery of ballot papers sent to addresses overseas may be slower, depending on local postal services. Candidates and their Agents are entitled to attend at the issue of ballot papers.
What happens if the elector is not at the address to sign for the registered post?
The postman will leave a docket informing the addressee that the post can be collected from the Post Office; if uncollected after three days, the envelope will be returned to NUI. On request, the ballot paper will be re-sent, again by registered post, provided the original envelope has been returned undelivered to NUI. The ballot paper will be re-sent to the same address unless the elector requests in writing (elections@nui.ie, fax or ordinary post) that the returned ballot paper be re-sent to a different address. Preferably changes of address should be notified to NUI well in advance of the issue of ballot papers.
How will a candidate or an elector know the date, time and place of the close of poll?
The date of the close of poll will appear on the envelope sent to each elector and on the ballot paper itself. Agents of the candidates will be notified in writing of the time and place at which the count will take place. The information will also be available on the NUI website. The day and hour at which the poll in university constituencies shall be closed shall be the 27th day of April 2011, at 11.00 a.m. (votes must be returned by post)
THE REGISTER OF ELECTORS
What is the Seanad Register?
The Seanad Éireann Register is a list of the names, addresses and qualifications of NUI graduates (other than honorary graduates) who are citizens of Ireland and who have claimed to be registered to vote in the NUI constituency in Seanad Éireann elections. The Register is revised annually, for publication each year on 1st June, to include the names of graduates who have submitted Registration Claim Forms by the 26th February in that year.
How can I check if I am on the Register ?
Copies of the NUI Seanad Éireann Electoral Register are available in the libraries of the institutions within the NUI (see election pack), and in the National Library of Ireland. The register is also available for examination in the reception of the NUI office at 49 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
Once the revised Register has been published, is it possible to amend an address?
Yes, a graduate may, at any time, ensure that his/her details are up-to-date by posting, emailing or faxing (+ 353 1 439 24 77) a change of address form (see election pack).To prevent unnecessary distress to relatives NUI would appreciate being made aware of the deaths of NUI graduates.
Are names ever removed from the Register?
Yes.
- on receipt of written request by a graduate to have his/her name removed
- *on receipt of notification of the death of a graduate
- as provided by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001: ‘after reasonable enquiry by the registration officer, whose address or the address to which the ballot paper is to be sent is unknown’. (S. 56)
Please note that any graduate whose name is removed from the Seanad Register under this provision and who wishes to be listed as an elector again, must submit a Registration Claim Form in the prescribed manner.
*To prevent unnecessary distress to relatives NUI would appreciate being made aware of the deaths of NUI graduates.
What Register will be used for the April 2011 Seanad Election?
Once the Dáil is dissolved, the Seanad Register in use at that time will be the Register used for the Seanad Election. If the date of dissolution occurs a short time before 1st June, the Registration Officer will consult with the Minister of Environment Heritage and Local Government as to whether the newly revised Register may be used. For the April 2011 election the register published on 1 June 2010 will be in use.
Who may purchase a Seanad Register?
Anyone may purchase the Seanad Register, either as a hard copy or on disc (subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Acts). The cost of the Register is calculated on a prescribed formula, and currently costs €147 in either format.The Seanad Register may be used only for electoral purposes.
For any further information please contact National University of Ireland. (see details below)
Follow NUI on X