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Updated to 23 October 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 506 of 2025)

Electoral Act 1923
No. 12 of 1923

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Ss. 1-50 17 April 1923 Commenced on enactment
S. 51 9 August 1923 Commenced as per s. 51(5)
Ss. 52-67 17 April 1923 Commenced on enactment
Schs. 1-9 17 April 1923 Commenced on enactment

Amendments and other effects

How Affected Affecting Provision
Rep. 23/1992, ss. 1 (6), 5, sch. 1, pt. 1
Adapt. S. I. No. 122 of 1989, arts. 3, 4
Am. 30/1937, s.8
Appl. 38/1923, s.55
Provns. in relation to postal voting appl. with mods. 35/1986, s.16 (1)
Refs. to Seanad rep. 29/1928, s.19, sch. 3
  26/1936, s.6, sch. 2
Pts. 1 (ss. 1-7), 2 (ss. 8-16) rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
S.18 rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
S.19, s. 19/1963, s.19 (1)
S.20, s. 19/1963, s.20
S.20 (1) (2) (4) rep. S. I. No. 321 of 1992, art. 3, sch., pt. 2
S.21 am. 43/1960, s.8 (1)
S.21 (2) rep. 22/1936, s.5, sch.
S.23 (1) rep. 5/1935, s.4 (3)
S.23 (2) rep. 22/1936, s.5, sch.
S. 25 scale of maximum charges prescribed S.I. No. 344 of 1992, reg. 3(a), schedule
  S.I. No. 132 of 1989, art. 4(a), schedule
  S.I. No. 120 of 1983, art. 3, schedule
  S.I. No. 324 of 1982, art. 3, schedule
  S.I. No. 133 of 1982, art. 3, schedule
  S.I. No. 196 of 1981, art. 3, schedule
  S.I. No. 337 of 1980, art. 3, schedule
  S.I. No. 359 of 1979, art. 3, schedule
  S.I. No. 255 of 1975, art. 3, schedule
  S.I. No. 322 of 1974, art. 3, schedule
  S.I. No. 303 of 1973, art. 3, schedule
  S.I. No. 37 of 1973, art. 3, schedule
  S.I. No. 174 of 1972, art. 3, schedule
S.26, s. 19/1963, s.16 (1)
S.28 (1) (2) am. 19/1963, s.31
Ss. 29, 34 rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
S.35, s. 19/1963, s.25 (1)
S.36 am. 19/1963, s.25 (2)
S.37 rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
S.41 rep., provns. substit. 31/1946, ss. 2, 9, sch.
S.42 rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
Pt. 4 (ss. 43-46) rep. 29/1928, s.19, sch. 3
Pt. 5 (ss. 47-49) rep. 8/1942, s.5, sch. 3
S.50 rep. 31/1947, s.8, sch. 2
S.51 (1) am. 14/1933, s.3
Ss. 53, 54 rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
Pt. 7 (s.57) rep. 26/1936, s.6, sch. 2,
  and see 40/1937, s.13 (3)
Ss. 58, 59 (in pt.) rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
S.59 (b) am. 19/1963, s.35
Ss. 61, 62 (1), 63 (in pt.) rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
S.65 (in pt.) rep. 26/1936, s.6, sch. 2
S.65 am. 19/1963, s.9 (1)
Sch. 1 rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
Sch. 2 rep. 22/1936, s.5, sch.
Sch. 3, rl. 2 substit. 19/1963, s.36 (1)
Sch. 3, rl. 6 am. 19/1963, s.37
Sch. 3, rl. 6 (5) (a) am. 19/1963, s.38
Sch. 3, rl. 10, para. 1(b) sum prescribed S.I. No. 120 of 1983, art. 4, schedule (s. 11(3))
Sch. 3, rl. 10 sum prescribed S.I. No. 120 of 1983, art. 4, schedule (s. 7)
Sch. 3, rl. 10 am. 19/1963, s.39
Sch. 3, rl. 12 am. 19/1963, ss. 36 (2), 40
Sch. 4, sch. substit. 35/1986, s.21, sch.
Sch. 4, rl. 1 am. 43/1960, s.8 (2) (a)
Sch. 4, rl. 2 (1) am. 19/1963, s.41 (2)
Sch. 4, rl. 3 am. 43/1960, s.8 (2) (a)
  19/1963, ss. 19 (2), 29
  4/1972, s.1 (a) (b)
Sch. 4, rl. 3 (3) del. 4/1972, s.1 (k)
Sch. 4, rl. 3 (5) am. 24/1983, s.8 (1), sch. 4, pt. 1
Sch. 4, rl. 6 am. 43/1960, s.8 (2) (a) (b)
  4/1972, s.1 (c)-(e)
Sch. 4, rl. 6 (6) (7) del. 4/1972, s.1 (k)
Sch. 4, rl. 7 am. 43/1960, s.8 (2) (a)-(c)
Sch. 4, rl. 8 substit. 4/1972, s.1 (f)
Sch. 4, rl. 9 am. 43/1960, s.8 (2) (a)
Sch. 4, rl. 10 am. 19/1963, s.42 (2)
Sch. 4, rl. 12 rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
Sch. 5, power to substit. cert. forms. 19/1963, s.15
Sch. 5, rl. 1 (2) am. 24/1983, s.8 (1), sch. 4, pt. 1
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rls. 1-12 substit. 19/1963, s.21 (1)
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 9, par. (1A) added. 35/1986, s.17 (a)
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 9, par. (2) am. 35/1986, s.17 (b)
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 13 am. 19/1963, s.22 (9)
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rls. 17 (in pt.) 19, 20 rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 22 am. 19/1963, s.29
  4/1972, s.1 (g)
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 24 substit. 19/1963, s.27 (1)
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 25 substit. 19/1963, s.28
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 26, saving for. 5/1982, s.1
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 27 substit. 19/1963, s.30
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 28 (in pt.) rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rls. 29-33 substit. 19/1963, s.41 (1)
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rls. 34-36 rep. in pt. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 37 am. 19/1963, s.42 (1)
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 39 am. 4/1972, s.1 (h)
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rl. 41 am. 4/1972, s.1 (i)
Sch. 5, pt. 1, rls. 42, 48, 50, 52, 54 rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
Sch. 5, pt. 2 rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
Sch. 5, pt. 3 am. 19/1963, s.16 (2), sch. 2, pt. 2
  4/1972, s.1 (j)
Sch. 5, pt. 3, rep. (in pt). 22/1936, s.5, sch.
  19/1963, s.3, sch. 1
Sch. 5, rl. 22 extended S.I. No. 141 of 1984, reg. 10
Sch. 6 rep. 29/1928, s.19, sch. 3
Sch. 7 rep. 8/1942, s.5, sch. 3
Sch. 8 rep. 31/1947, s.8, sch. 2
Sch. 9 rep. 19/1963, s.3, sch. 1

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
Whole Act Electoral (Amendment) Order 1951 (S.I. No. 242 of 1951)
  Electoral Order 1946 (S.I. No. 96 of 1946)
  Electoral (Amendment) Order 1942 (S.I. No. 557 of 1942)
  Electoral Order 1936 (S.I. No. 21 of 1936)
  24/10/1924: Registration Of Electors (Electors Lists) Order 1924
S. 11(2) Electoral Act (Alteration of Registration Rules) Order 1948 (S.I. No. 342 of 1948)
  Electoral Act (Alteration of Registration Rules Order 1940 (S.I. No. 341 of 1940)
  Electoral (Amendment ) Order 1934 (S.I. No. 17 of 1934)
  Electoral Act (Alteration of Registration Rules) Order 1933 (S.I. No. 177 of 1933)
  11/10/1924: Electoral Order 1924
  09/08/1923: Registration of Electors (Forms No. 2) Order 1923
  20/04/1923: Registration of Electors (Forms) Order 1923
S. 12(3) Registration Expenses (Alteration) Scale 1961 (S.I. No. 96 of 1961)
  Registration Expenses Scale 1952 (S.I. No. 19 of 1952)
  Registration Expenses Order 1924 (Amendment) Order 1950 (S.I. No. 91 of 1950)
  Registration Expenses Order 1924 (Amendment) Order 1948 (S.I. No. 76 of 1948)
  Registration Expenses Order 1924 (S.I. No. 6 of 1924)
S. 18(1)(b) Dáil Éireann (Dublin North-East) Bye-Election Order 1963 (S.I. No. 75 of 1963)
  Dáil Éireann General Election Order 1961 (S.I. No. 202 of 1961)
  Dáil Éireann (Sligo-Leitrim) Bye-Election Order 1961 (S.I. No. 26 of 1961)
S. 21 Forms (Dáil Elections, Presidential Elections and Referenda) (Amendment) Regulations 1972 (S.I. No. 115 of 1972)
  Forms (Dáil Elections, Presidential Elections and Referenda) Regulations 1963 (S.I. No. 246 of 1963)
  Electoral (Amendment) Order 1961 (S.I. No. 27 of 1961)
S. 22 Forms (Dáil Elections, Presidential Elections and Referenda) Regulations 1963 (S.I. No. 246 of 1963)
  Local Elections Order 1945 (S.I. No. 123 of 1945)
S. 25 Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Charges Order 1948 (S.I. No. 23 of 1948)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Charges Order 1947 (S.I. No. 341 of 1947)
  Regulations Relative to the Accounts of Constituency Returning Officers at Seanad Elections (S.I. No. 37 of 1925)
S. 25(5) Returning Officers' Charges (12th, 13th and 14th Amendments of the Constitution and General Election to Dáil Éireann) Regulations 1992 (S.I. No. 344 of 1992)
  Returning Officers' and Local Returning Officers' Charges Order 1989 (S.I. No. 132 of 1989)
  Returning Officers' Charges (General Elections To Dáil Éireann) Order 1987 (S.I. No. 21 of 1987)
  Returning Officers' and Local Returning Officers' Charges Regulations 1984 (S.I. No. 138 of 1984)
  Returning Officers' Charges (Bye-Elections To Dáil Éireann) (No. 2) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 342 of 1983)
  Returning Officers' Charges (Bye-Elections to Dáil Éireann) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 120 of 1983)
  Returning Officers' Charges (General Elections to Dáil Éireann) Order 1982 (S.I. No. 324 of 1982)
  Returning Officers' Charges (Bye-Elections to Dáil Éireann) Order 1982 (S.I. No. 133 of 1982)
  Returning Officers' Charges (General Elections to Dáil Éireann) Order 1981 (S.I. No. 196 of 1981)
  Returning Officers' and Local Returning Officers' Charges (European Assembly and Local Elections, Bye-Elections to Dáil Éireann and Referendum) Order 1981 (S.I. No. 189 of 1981)
  Returning Officers' Charges (Bye-Elections to Dáil Éireann) Order 1980 (S.I. No. 337 of 1980)
  Returning Officers' Charges (Bye-Elections to Dáil Eireann) Order 1979 (S.I. No. 359 of 1979)
  Returning Officers' Charges (General Elections to Dáil Éireann) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 165 of 1977)
  Returning Officers' Charges (Bye-Elections to Dáil Éireann) Order 1975 (S.I. No. 255 of 1975)
  Returning Officers' Charges (Bye-Elections to Dáil Éireann) Order 1974 (S.I. No. 322 of 1974)
  Returning Officers' Charges (Bye-Elections to Dáil Éireann) Order 1973 (S.I. No. 303 of 1973)
  Returning Officers' Charges (General Elections to Dáil Éireann) Order 1973 (S.I. No. 37 of 1973)
  Returning Officers' Charges (Bye-Elections to Dáil Éireann) Order 1972 (S.I. No. 174 of 1972)
  Returning Officers Charges (Bye-Elections To Dáil Éireann) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 1970 (S.I. No. 256 of 1970)
  Returning Officers' Charges (Bye-Elections To Dáil Éireann) (Amendment) Order 1970 (S.I. No. 70 of 1970)
  Returning Officer's Charges (Bye-Elections To Dáil Eireann) Order 1970 (S.I. No. 27 of 1970)
  Returning Officers' Charges (General Elections To Dáil Éireann) Order 1969 (S.I. No. 95 of 1969)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Bye-Election Charges Order 1966 (S.I. No. 262 of 1966)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Charges Order 1965 (S.I. No. 60 of 1965)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Charges Order 1964 (S.I. No. 134 of 1964)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Charges (No. 2) Order 1961 (S.I. No. 278 of 1961)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Charges Order 1961 (S.I. No. 203 of 1961)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Bye-Election Charges Order 1952 (S.I. No. 275 of 1952)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Charges Order 1951 (S.I. No. 140 of 1951)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Bye-Election Charges Order 1948 (S.I. No. 416 of 1948)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Bye-Election Charges Order 1938 (S.I. No. 142 of 1938)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Charges Order 1937 (S.I. No. 143 of 1937)
  Returning Officers (Borough and County Constituencies) Bye-Electon Charges Order 1927 (S.I. No. 72 of 1927)
  Returning Officers' (University Constituencies) Charges Order 1927 (S.I. No. 42 of 1927)
  Returning Officers' (Dail Elections) Accounts Regulations 1927 (S.I. No. 41 of 1927)
  Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Charges Order 1927 (S.I. No. 40 of 1927)
  Seanad Returning Officer's Charges At Seanad Elections Order 1926 (S.I. No. 20 of 1926)
  Constituency Returning Officers' Charges at Seanad Elections Order of 1925 (S.I. No. 35 of 1925)
  University Constituency Returning Officers' Charges At Seanad Elections (S.I. No. 34 of 1925)
S. 41 Elections Order 1960 (S.I. No. 108 of 1960)
S. 41(3) Dáil Éireann (Dublin North-East) Bye-Election Order 1963 (S.I. No. 75 of 1963)
S. 42(2) 27/01/1925: Polling Districts and Polling Places Rules 1925
  20/04/1923: Polling Districts and Polling Places Rules 1923
S. 42(4) 27/01/1925: Polling Districts and Polling Places Rules 1925
  20/04/1923: Polling Districts and Polling Places Rules 1923
S. 43 Regulations Relative to the Accounts of Constituency Returning Officers at Seanad Elections (S.I. No. 37 of 1925)
  Constituency Returning Officers' Charges at Seanad Elections Order of 1925 (S.I. No. 35 of 1925)
  University Constituency Returning Officers' Charges At Seanad Elections (S.I. No. 34 of 1925)
S. 45 Seanad Returning Officer's Charges At Seanad Elections Order 1926 (S.I. No. 20 of 1926)
S. 62(1) 20/04/1923: Registration of Electors (Police) Order 1923
  20/04/1923: Registration of Electors (Defence Force) Order 1923
S. 62(2) Local Elections (Removal of Difficulty) Order 1950 (S.I. No. 239 of 1950)
  Dáil Éireann General Election (Removal of Difficulty) Order 1948 (S.I. No. 44 of 1948)
S. 64(2) Returning Officers' (Borough and County Constituencies) Bye-Election Charges (Amendment) Order 1968 (S.I. No. 104 of 1968)
S. 65 Polling Cards (Dáil Elections, Presidential Elections and Referenda) Regulations 1961 (S.I. No. 245 of 1961)
  Dáil Elections (Polling Cards) Order 1951 (S.I. No. 135 of 1951)
  11/10/1924: The Electoral Order 1924
Sch. 1, rl. 16 Electoral (Amendment) Order 1961 (S.I. No. 27 of 1961)
Sch. 1, rl. 27 11/10/1924: The Electoral Order 1924
  09/08/1923: Electoral Act 1923
Sch. 1, rl. 32 11/10/1924: The Electoral Order 1924
Sch. 2, rl. 2 09/08/1923: Registration of Electors (Forms No. 2) Order 1923
  20/04/1923: Registration of Electors (Forms) Order 1923
Sch. 4, rl. 3(4) Forms (Dáil Elections, Presidential Elections and Referenda) (Amendment) Regulations 1972 (S.I. No. 115 of 1972)
  Forms (Dáil Elections, Presidential Elections and Referenda) Regulations 1963 (S.I. No. 246 of 1963)
Sch. 5, Part 1, rl. 9(3)(a) Forms (Dáil Elections, Presidential Elections and Referenda) Regulations 1963 (S.I. No. 246 of 1963)
Sch. 5, Part 1, rl. 28 Forms (Dáil Elections, Presidential Elections and Referenda) Regulations 1963 (S.I. No. 246 of 1963)
Sch. 5, Part 1, rl. 43 Forms (Dáil Elections, Presidential Elections and Referenda) Regulations 1963 (S.I. No. 246 of 1963)
Sch. 5, Part 3, Form 1 General Elections (Emergency Provisions) (Form of Writ) Order 1943 (S.I. No. 181 of 1943)
Sch. 6, rl. 3 27/08/1925: Electoral Act 1923