Who does what in a polling station?

A polling station is the location in a public building where voting takes place during an election. Each voter is assigned a polling station to vote at. This information is provided on their polling information card in which each voter will receive in the post. It is important to note however, that you do not need your polling information card in order to vote on polling day and the information you need is also available on checktheregister.ie

1 Poll Clerk

2 Presiding Officer

3 Ballot Paper Template

4 Ballot Box

The Returning Officer is the official who is in charge of the running of the election in their constituency. Returning officers have the following responsibilities:

• Receiving and ruling on candidate nominations;

• The organisation of the poll, the printing of ballot papers and the counting of votes in each constituency;

• Sending a polling information card to each voter, informing the voter of their number on the register of electors and the polling station at which they may vote;

• Making the necessary arrangements for voting by postal and special voters.

A supervisory presiding officer is appointed where there are more than four polling stations in the same building. The supervisory presiding officer provides assistance to electors by directing them to their relevant polling station, offering advice on any voting related issues and providing general supervision of the polling centre. Supervisory presiding officers are representatives of the returning officer.

The presiding officer is responsible for the smooth and efficient running of a polling station. Presiding officers are appointed by the returning officer and assisted by poll clerks. Presiding Officers are responsible for the opening, closing and of the running of the poll station throughout the day.

Presiding officers have responsibility for the issuing of ballot papers, making sure that each one has been stamped with the official mark (this is a stamp which marks each ballot paper and is required for a vote to be counted). The Presiding Officer may request ID before the Polling Clerk marks your name from the register.

The Presiding Officer can assist some categories of voters if requested. This includes assisting voters with a disability, literacy issue or a visual impairment if necessary. Please see the Accessible Voting section for more information.

Poll clerks are appointed by the returning officer to assist the presiding officer. The poll clerk helps to ensure that each ballot paper is stamped with the official mark. A poll clerk can carry out many of the duties of a presiding officer.

Ballot papers are issued by presiding officers and/or poll clerks. They will:

1. Ask the voter for their name and address
2. Search the register for the name
3. Ask 1-in-4 electors for ID
4. Strike off the name on the register
5. Stamp the ballot paper before issuing to the voter

It is important to note that if the ballot paper does not have the official mark stamped on it the ballot paper will be considered invalid, and the vote will not be counted.

If the voter makes a genuine mistake with their ballot paper they can return this ballot paper to the presiding officer/poll clerk and be issued a new ballot paper.

The paper used to cast a vote in an election. This will include instructions on how to vote, the candidates’ names, address and the name of the party and emblem that they represent if applicable.

This is a transparent plastic device that is placed on top of a ballot paper. The template has raised print and braille on it, so that visually impaired people can vote independently.

• The Returning Officer or a representative on their behalf;
• Presiding Officer (including supervisory presiding officer) and poll clerks;
• Candidates can attend in their own constituencies;
• An appointed personation agent;
• Electors attending to vote;
• Children can attend with their parents/guardians;
• A person acting as a “companion” to a voter with a disability, literacy issue or visual impairment. Please see the Accessible Voting section for more information;
• Gardaí on duty;
• Any other person authorised by the Returning Officer to be present.

*This list is subject to review.