With the General Election scheduled to take place on Friday 29 November, Ireland is mere weeks away from electing a new Dáil. One curious aspect of Ireland’s electoral system is our use of the Proportional Representation by Means of a Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV) model to allocate seats. So how does it work?
With the General Election scheduled to take place on Friday 29 November, Ireland is mere weeks away from electing a new Dáil. The composition of the chamber will reflect the outcome of the election, and will in turn determine the shape of the new Government. Since the 1990s, coalition Governments have been the norm in the Republic.
One curious aspect of Ireland’s electoral system is our use of the Proportional Representation by Means of a Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV) model to allocate seats. Ireland is the only state in the EU, besides Malta, to use this method of distributing votes.
So how does it work? The PR-STV system is designed to ensure that the range of elected representatives is broadly reflective of the proportion of votes received by different parties or candidates. The Republic is divided into 43 constituencies, each of which elects between 3 and 5 Teachtaí Dála (TDs). Larger constituencies, typically in urban areas, elect more TDs, while rural constituencies may have fewer. County Dublin alone is divided into 12 electoral constituencies due to its high population density. The number of TDs a party or candidate receives in each constituency is determined by the proportion of votes they receive.
Voters rank candidates in order of preference (1, 2, 3, etc.). Voters can rank as many or as few candidates as they wish. If a voter only ranks one candidate (i.e., by placing the number 1 in the box beside their name), that is their only preference. If you wish to vote for multiple candidates, you must rank them numerically (i.e., number 1 for your first preference, number 2 for your second preference, etc.).
To be elected, a candidate must receive a certain number of votes, known as the quota. The quota is calculated using a formula: (the total valid poll) divided by (the number of seats plus one).
After the votes are cast, the first preference votes are counted. If a candidate reaches the quota on the first count, they are immediately elected. If no candidate reaches the quota initially, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Their votes are then transferred to the voters' second preferences. This process continues in rounds, with eliminated candidates’ votes being transferred according to voters’ next preferences, until enough candidates reach the quota.
If a candidate reaches the quota, but has votes in excess of the required number, their surplus votes are redistributed. The surplus is transferred based on voters' next preferences, which ensures that no votes are wasted. The process of elimination and redistribution continues until all seats in the constituency are filled. The goal of PR-STV is to produce a result where the number of seats each party or candidate holds in the Dáil reflects the proportion of votes they received.
This ensures that the perspectives of all voters who participated in the election contribute to the eventual outcome, and provides representation to people from a variety of ideological backgrounds. It also ensures that “compromise candidates” can be elected, rather than merely allowing a candidate to win based on receiving a crude majority on the first count without consideration for secondary preferences.
Ireland’s electoral system may appear to be slightly convoluted, but it has numerous arguable benefits and advantages.
Unlike the “First Past the Post” system used in the neighbouring jurisdiction, PR-STV allows for a broad and diverse spectrum of views to be represented in the electoral outcome.
This also means that voters can transfer their vote to a candidate who is at least somewhat agreeable to them in the event that their candidate of first preference is eliminated from the race. It also ensures a greater deal of proportionality between the overall percentage of the vote won by each party, and the share of seats they win in the Oireachtas.
Ireland is a parliamentary democracy, and as such, the legislative and executive branches of government share a symbiotic relationship. That is to say that the composition of the Dáil will reflect the makeup of the Government, and the Government is in turn accountable to the chamber. Consequently, a Government can be removed from office at a General Election. In the United States, where a presidential system is used, the occupant of the White House may not necessarily share the same partisan affiliation as the majority of members of Congress. This bicameral federal legislature comprises the Senate and House of Representatives, and has often been at odds with the sitting administration, rendering the political environment all the more challenging for such a President’s legislative agenda.
Ireland, as a former British colony, follows the Westminster model, and our parliamentary system therefore allows for greater harmony between the executive and legislative branches.
Many former members of the British Empire and Commonwealth use this constitutional system, a legacy from the colonial period. This arguably facilitates enhanced efficacy with respect to policymaking and legislating. However, proponents of the American model argue that their system provides for a more robust “separation of powers,” creating a set of checks and balances that prevent any branch of government from wielding hegemony.
On polling day, head to the polling station specified on your polling card. If you are unsure as to its location, or if your polling card has not arrived yet, you can check online at www.checktheregister.ie. Your polling station will usually be a public facility such as a local national school. Be sure to bring a valid form of photo ID such as a passport, driver’s licence, or your student ID. You must vote at your allotted polling station. You cannot vote in a constituency in which are not registered, and this can only be one constituency.
Do not mark the boxes with anything other than the numerical order of preference in which you are placing your vote (e.g., a tick, cross, or dot), otherwise it may be deemed a spoiled ballot. If you have a visual impairment, you may request a ballot paper template. Further information on disability access accommodations is provided in the helpful links included at the foot of this article.
Remember, even if you do not receive your polling card in the post, it does not mean you cannot vote. Use www.checktheregister.ie, or alternatively, call your local council to see if you are on the register, and where your polling station is. Polling cards are not required for voting, so if it does not arrive in the post due to a mistake, don’t panic, but be sure to confirm that you are on the register.
For more information on voting in the upcoming election, check out the helpful resources included on the following websites:
https://www.electoralcommission.ie/
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/
In the run up to the election, many candidates will promote their views online and in electoral literature (e.g., election pamphlets, party manifestos). While it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with various candidates’ policy proposals, be sure to fact check any claims by cross-referencing them against reliable and trustworthy news sources. Be sure to vote on election day!