Presidential elections

The President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann) is Ireland’s Head of State. Every seven years the public elect a new President. The President can serve two terms in total.

Some of the President’s constitutional roles include:

• Representing the people of Ireland;
• Appointment of the Taoiseach, members of the Government, judges and other officials;
• Summoning and dissolving the Dáil, and convening the Oireachtas;
• Signing legislation into law and/or referring Bills to the Supreme Court;
• Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces.

Under Article 12(3) of the Constitution, the presidential election must take place by the date on which the current President’s term of office expires. This election may not take place more than 60 days before the end of the current term. The election must also take place within 60 days of resignation, death or removal of the current president.

Michael D. Higgins, the current President was inaugurated for his second term on the 11 November 2018. This means that the next presidential election is scheduled to take place on or up to 60 days before 11 November 2025.
The newly elected President will take up office on the day following the expiration of the term of office of the outgoing President, this will be 12 November 2025.

To vote in a presidential election, you must be:

• An Irish citizen
• Aged 18 or over
• Registered to vote
• Ordinarily resident in Ireland

Once you meet the eligibility criteria, you can register to vote or update your details at www.checktheregister.ie. A polling information card will be sent to your address with details of your local polling station. You do not need to have your polling information card with you when you go to vote. However, you should bring a valid form of personal identification such as a passport, a driving licence, a public services card, or an employee or student identity card with a photograph. Other forms of identification are also acceptable. View the full list of documents you can use to prove your identity when voting.

To be eligible for election as President, you must be:

• Irish citizen
• Aged 35 or older

There are three different methods for a candidate to get nominated:

Be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (this means TDs or Senators).

Be nominated by at least four local authorities (county or city councils).

Former or retiring Presidents can nominate themselves if they have only served one term.

To find out if your name is on the Electoral Register you can

• Check online at checktheregister.ie; or.
• Enquire at local authority office.

When you arrive at your polling station, you will be asked for your name and address. You may also be asked for a valid form of I.D. If polling station staff are satisfied with your details and you are on the electoral register, they will stamp a ballot paper and give it to you. You can then take your ballot paper into a private voting booth.

The ballot paper will show a list of names, in alphabetical order, party emblems and photos of each candidate. There will be a box to the right of each candidate’s name. You mark your preference for each candidate in the box to the right.

Voting in a presidential election is the same as any other election, except for the fact that only one person will be elected.

When marking your ballot paper make sure you start with ‘1’ for your first preference, then ‘2’ for your second preference, ‘3’ for your third preference and so on. You can vote for as many or as few candidates as you wish. This is entirely up to you.

To ensure your vote is counted make sure you mark your preferences as clearly as possible. If you do not want to fill out a preference for all candidates on the ballot paper, the box beside those you are not voting for should be left empty. Do not make any other mark on the ballot paper. Don’t leave your vote up to chance or to be potentially questioned. Make your vote count.

If you have a visual impairment, a Ballot Paper Template will be available at every polling station and you can use it to cast your vote.

When you have voted you should fold your ballot paper, return and place it into the ballot box at the station at which you were issued your ballot paper.

View multilingual voting information about voting in elections in Ireland.