Next Irish general election


The next Irish general election to elect the 35th Dáil must be held no later than January 2030.

Date of election

The 34th Dáil first met on 18 December 2024. Electoral law provides that the "same Dáil shall not continue for a longer period than five years from the date of its first meeting". It must therefore be dissolved no later than 17 December 2029. The taoiseach may advise the president to dissolve at any time. If a taoiseach has ceased to retain the support of the majority of the Dáil, the president may in their absolute discretion refuse to dissolve the Dáil. To date, no president has refused to dissolve the Dáil. When the Dáil is dissolved, the Clerk of the Dáil must issue a writ of election to the returning officer for each constituency. The election must take place on a date set by the Minister for Housing, [Local Government and Heritage] 18 to 25 days after the writs have been issued.

Electoral system

There are currently 174 TDs returned in 43 Dáil constituencies of between three and five seats each. The Electoral Commission will be required to review the size of the Dáil and the arrangement of constituencies after the 2027 census. Under the system of single transferable vote, each voter may mark any number of the candidates in order of preference. The quota is determined at the first count in each constituency by dividing the number of valid ballots by one more than the number of seats and then adding one vote. Any candidate reaching or exceeding the quota is elected.
If in the first count fewer candidates reach the quota than the number of seats to be filled, if any successful candidates have more votes than the quota, their surplus is distributed to remaining candidates based on the next usable marked preference on the ballot papers. If it still happens that fewer candidates have reached the quota than the number of seats to be filled, the last-placed candidate is excluded from the count and those ballot papers are transferred to the next usable marked preference. This is repeated until sufficient candidates have reached the quota to fill the available seats, or where a seat remains to be filled in a constituency and no candidate is capable of achieving a quota as there is nobody left to eliminate for a distribution, then the highest place candidate, even if not having quota, is deemed elected. The Ceann Comhairle immediately before the dissolution of the 34th Dáil will automatically be deemed to be elected a member of the 35th Dáil, unless she decides not to seek re-election. This is provided for under the Constitution and electoral law.

Opinion polls

Opinion polling for Irish general elections
Previous
2024 polling

Graphical summary

Polls

Last date
of polling
CommissionerPolling firmSample
size
Margin
of error
SourcesFFFGSFSDLabAonIIGP
Last date
of polling
CommissionerPolling firmSample
size
Margin
of error
Sources
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks1,2482.8181820104663411
Business PostRed C1,0103.0151824105542314
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks~1,000~3.0181722104652411
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks1,0693.120172485552311
Business PostRed C1,0103.018172284643215
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks1,6092.518192395652310
Business PostRed C1,012~3.017192394453312
The Irish TimesIpsos B&A1,2002.817182756323217
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks1,5002.320212184641311
Business PostRed C1,0033.018192174363415
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks~1,5002.322212074442313
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks1,3192.720202084451314
The Irish TimesIpsos B&A1,2002.82217226423222
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks1,5322.319202085562311
Business PostRed C1,0083.019182174553314
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks1,8572.321212095551310
Business PostRed C1,0003.020192275443313
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks1,6492.52320228445239
Business PostRed C1,0003.020202473553310
The Irish TimesIpsos B&A1,2002.82216267413317
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks2,0722.22521218444239
Business PostRed C1,0023.022172274443313
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks1,3732.722222174352211
Business PostRed C1,0293.020202374443311
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks1,5912.52420228444329
Business PostRed C1,0033.122202273433213
Sunday IndependentIreland Thinks1,2062.923.822.319.37.33.85.34.92.32.28.8
29 November 2024General election21.920.819.04.84.73.93.63.02.815.5

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