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Uimhir 30 de 1977
AN tACHT UM THOGHCHÁIN DO THIONÓL NA hEORPA, 1977
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
Léiriú.
1.—San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1963” an tAcht Toghcháin, 1963;
ciallaíonn “an Tionól” Tionól na gComhphobal Eorpach;
tá le “toghchán Tionóil” an bhrí a shanntar dó le halt 2 (1);
ciallaíonn “toghthóir Tionóil” duine atá i dteideal vótáil i dtoghchán Tionóil;
ciallaíonn “na Comhphobail Eorpacha” Comhphobal Eacnamaíochta na hEorpa, an Comhphobal Eorpach do Ghual agus Cruach agus an Comhphobal Eorpach do Fhuinneamh Adamhach;
ciallaíonn “ceann comhairimh áitiúil” duine is ceann comhairimh áitiúil, de bhun alt 14 (2), chun críche an Achta seo;
ciallaíonn “Ballstát” (ach amháin i Riail 47 (1) den Chéad Sceideal) Ballstát de na Comhphobail Eorpacha;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Comhshaoil;
ciallaíonn “achainí” achainí arna tíolacadh don Ard-Chúirt faoin Acht seo;
tá le “an lá vótaíochta”, ach amháin mar a n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt, an bhrí a shanntar dó le halt 6 (1);
ciallaíonn “liosta na bpostvótálaithe” an liosta a ullmhófar de bhun alt 7 (4) d'Acht 1963;
ciallaíonn “ceann comhairimh” duine arna cheapadh ag an Aire faoi alt 14 (1) chun bheith ina cheann comhairimh chun críocha an Achta seo;
ciallaíonn “na conarthaí” na conarthaí, an coinbhinsiún agus an cinneadh a luaitear in alt 1 (1) d'Acht na gComhphobal Eorpach, 1972, arna bhforlíonadh nó arna leasú mar a luaitear san alt sin.
Modh toghcháin.
2.—(1) Déanfar toghcháin ionadaithe don Tionól agus déanfar gach toghchán díobh (dá ngairtear “toghchán Tionóil” san Acht seo) a stiúradh de réir an Achta seo, agus i gcás toghchán Tionóil a bheith faoi iomaidh tógfar an vótaíocht de réir phrionsabal na hionadaíochta cionúire, agus beidh vóta inaistrithe amháin ag gach toghthóir.
(2) Gabhann forálacha an Achta seo ionad an dlí á fhoráil go gceapfadh an tOireachtas toscairí chun an Tionóil a raibh feidhm aige díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, ach ní fhorléireofar aon ní san fho-alt seo mar ní a choiscfidh ar an Oireachtas na toscairí sin a cheapadh tráth ar bith sa tréimhse dar tosach lá an Achta seo a rith agus dar críoch an lá díreach roimh an lá a bheidh ceaptha do chéad suí an Tionóil a mbeidh ionadaithe arna dtoghadh dó don chéad uair faoin Acht seo.
(3) Is le rúnbhallóid a dhéanfar vótáil i dtoghchán Tionóil.
(4) San alt seo ciallaíonn “vóta inaistrithe” vóta—
(a) is féidir a thabhairt chun rogha an vótálaí ar na hiarrthóirí a thaispeáint de réir oird, agus
(b) is féidir a aistriú go dtí an chéad rogha eile nuair nach bhfuil an vóta ag teastáil chun an cuóta riachtanach vótaí a thabhairt do rogha roimhe sin, nó nuair a tharlóidh, mar gheall ar an easnamh i líon na vótaí a tugadh do rogha roimhe sin, go gcuirfear an rogha sin amach as liosta na n-iarrthóirí.
Toghchóras agus clárú.
3.—(1) Beidh duine i dteideal a chláraithe mar thoghthóir Tionóil i dtoghlach, má tá ocht mbliana déag d'aois slán aige agus go raibh sé, ar an dáta cáilitheach, ina ghnáthchónaí sa toghlach sin agus go raibh sé—
(a) ina shaoránach d'Éirinn, nó
(b) ina náisiúnach de Bhallstát seachas an Stát.
(2) Beidh feidhm ag Cuid II d'Acht 1963 (ar leith ó fho-ailt (1) agus (2) d'alt 5), arna leasú le halt 1 den Acht Toghcháin (Leasú), 1966, agus ag alt 4 d'Acht na nGiúiréithe, 1976, maidir le clárú toghthóirí Tionóil de bhun an ailt seo agus is é an clár dá dtagraítear in alt 6 (1) d'Acht 1963, a mhéid a bhaineann sé le daoine i dteideal vótáil i dtoghcháin Tionóil, a bheidh mar chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa.
(3) Chun éifeacht a thabhairt d'fho-alt (2) den alt seo, forléireofar gach tagairt dá bhfuil i bhfo-ailt (4), (5), (5A) (a cuireadh isteach le halt 1 den Acht Toghcháin (Leasú), 1966)) nó (6) d'alt 5 d'Acht 1963 do “críocha an ailt seo” mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt do chríocha an ailt seo.
(4) San alt seo—
tá le “náisiúnach de Bhallstát” an bhrí atá leis sna conarthaí;
ciallaíonn “an dáta cáilitheach” an dáta a shonróidh an tAire faoi alt 5 (6) d'Acht 1963.
Ceart vótála.
4.—Faoi réir Riail 47 den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo, beidh gach duine a mbeidh a ainm ar an gclár do thoghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire do thoghlach, agus ní bheidh aon duine eile, i dteideal vótáil sa vótaíocht i dtoghchán Tionóil sa toghlach sin.
Modh vótála.
5.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2) den alt seo, duine atá i dteideal vótáil i dtoghchán Tionóil, is go pearsanta amháin a bheidh sé i dteideal vótáil agus is sa stáisiún vótaíochta a bheidh ceaptha dó nó, i gcás údarás a bheith aige faoi Riail 36 den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo ó cheann comhairimh áitiúil, sa stáisiún vótaíochta a bheidh sonraithe san údarás, a dhéanfaidh sé an vótáil sin.
(2) Gach toghthóir Tionóil a mbeidh a ainm, tráth toghcháin Tionóil, ar liosta na bpostvótálaithe do chontae nó do chontae-bhuirg i dtoghlach, beidh sé i dteideal vótáil sa toghlach sin ag an vótaíocht sa toghchán sin trína pháipéar ballóide a chur leis an bpost chuig an gceann comhairimh áitiúil don chontae nó don chontae-bhuirg sin agus ní bheidh sé i dteideal vótáil ar aon dóigh eile.
Lá vótaíochta agus tosú an chomhairimh.
6.—(1) Maidir leis an vótaíocht i dtoghchán Tionóil—
(a) tógfar í cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú (ordú nach foláir a dhéanamh cúig lá is tríocha ar a laghad roimh an lá a bheidh ceaptha leis an ordú),
(b) leanfar di ar feadh cibé tréimhse, nach lú ná dhá uair déag a chloig, idir 8.30 a chlog a.m. agus 10:30 a chlog p.m. a shocróidh an tAire le hordú, faoi réir na sriantachta gurb í an tréimhse chéanna a shocróidh sé do gach toghlach,
agus gairtear “an lá vótaíochta” san Acht seo den lá a cheapfar amhlaidh.
(2) Tosóidh comhaireamh na vótaí i dtoghchán Tionóil an lá agus an t-am a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú.
(3) Foilseofar ordú faoin alt seo san Iris Oifigiúil a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta.
Cáilíocht iarrthóirí.
7.—(1) Duine nach bhfuil cáilithe le bheith ina chomhalta de Dháil Éireann, ní bheidh sé cáilithe lena thoghadh faoin Acht seo don Tionól.
(2) Más rud é, le linn duine a bheith ina ionadaí sa Tionól de bhua an Achta seo, go dtiocfaidh sé faoi aon dícháilíochtaí dá bhfuil infheidhme maidir le comhaltas i nDáil Éireann, scoirfidh sé as a aithle sin de bheith ina ionadaí sa Tionól.
Clár na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta.
8.—(1) Faoi réir na bhforálacha anseo ina dhiaidh seo den alt seo, déanfaidh Cláraitheoir na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta (dá ngairtear “an Cláraitheoir” anseo feasta san alt seo) clárú, chun críocha alt 13 d'Acht 1963, i gClár na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta, mar pháirtí atá eagraithe chun bheith san iomaidh i dtoghchán Tionóil, ar aon pháirtí polaitíochta a iarrfaidh clárú air, más é a thuairim gur páirtí polaitíochta fíorcheart é agus go bhfuil sé eagraithe sa Stát chun bheith san iomaidh i dtoghchán den sórt sin.
(2) Páirtí a bhí cláraithe i gClár na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta i dtosach feidhme an Achta seo agus—
(a) a bhí cláraithe de bhun fho-alt (4) d'alt 13 d'Acht 1963, nó
(b) a bhí, ar é a chlárú, eagraithe chun bheith san iomaidh i dtoghchán Dála i dtuairim an Chláraitheora nó an bhord achomhairc dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (8) den alt sin 13,
cláróidh an Cláraitheoir é sa Chlár sin, a luaithe is féidir tar éis an tosach feidhme sin, mar pháirtí atá eagraithe chun bheith san iomaidh i dtoghchán Tionóil.
(3) Nuair a shásóidh páirtí arna chlárú de bhun an ailt seo i gClár na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta don Chláraitheoir go bhfuil comhalta den pháirtí ar toscaire nó ionadaí é sa Tionól ina chomhalta de ghrúpa polaitíochta a bunaíodh de réir rialacha nós imeachta an Tionóil, taifeadfaidh an Cláraitheoir ar an gClár maidir leis an bpáirtí, ainm an ghrúpa.
(4) Bainfidh fo-ailt (3), (5), (6) agus (7) d'alt 13 d'Acht 1963 le clárú, nó le páirtithe polaitíochta arna gclárú faoin alt seo, de réir mar is cuí.
(5) Beidh feidhm ag fo-alt (10) d'alt 13 d'Acht 1963 maidir le comhlíonadh a dhualgas ag an gCláraitheoir faoin alt seo amhail mar atá feidhm aige maidir le comhlíonadh a dhualgas aige faoin alt sin.
Ainmniú iarrthóirí.
9.—(1) I dtoghchán Tionóil féadfaidh duine é féin a ainmniú mar iarrthóir nó, le toiliú uaidh, féadfaidh duine eile (is duine atá cláraithe mar thoghthóir Tionóil sa toghlach a bhfuil beartaithe aige an t-iarrthóir a ainmniú dó), mar mholtóir, é a ainmniú.
(2) I dtoghchán Tionóil ní fhéadfar duine a ainmniú mar iarrthóir do níos mó ná toghlach amháin.
Éarlais ó iarrthóirí.
10.—Déanfaidh iarrthóir i dtoghchán Tionóil, nó duine éigin thar a cheann, suim míle punt a thaisceadh mar éarlais leis an gceann comhairimh roimh dheireadh na tréimhse a bheidh ceaptha leis an Acht seo chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh, agus mura ndéanfaidh sé amhlaidh measfar a iarrthóireacht a bheith tarraingthe siar.
Stiúradh toghchán.
11.—Beidh éifeacht ag na rialacha atá sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo, ach amháin Cuid V de, maidir le toghcháin Tionóil.
Toghlaigh.
12.—(1) Is iad na toghlaigh a luaitear sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo na toghlaigh dá dtoghfar iarrthóirí faoin Acht seo le bheith ina n-ionadaithe sa Tionól agus is é líon ionadaithe a bheidh le toghadh amhlaidh don toghlach sin an líon a shonraítear ina leith sa tríú colún den Sceideal sin.
(2) Déanfaidh an tAire, laistigh de thréimhse dhá bhliain déag dar tosach lá an Achta seo a rith agus uair amháin ar a laghad gach dhá bhliain déag dá éis sin, tograí a chur faoi bhráid an Oireachtais chun athchóiriú a dhéanamh ar na toghlaigh dá dtoghfar iarrthóirí faoin Acht seo le bheith ina n-ionadaithe sa Tionól.
(3) Limistéar a shonraítear sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo, is tuigthe gurb é an limistéar sin é mar a bhí sé comhdhéanta an lú lá d'Eanáir, 1977.
An príomhcheann comhairimh.
13.—(1) A luaithe is féidir tar éis an tAcht seo a rith, agus ó am go ham dá éis sin de réir mar is gá, ceapfaidh an tAire duine cuí oiriúnach le bheith ina phríomhcheann comhairimh chun críocha an Achta seo.
(2) Is é dualgas an phríomhcheann comhairimh na freagraí a ghlacadh a sholáthróidh an ceann comhairimh do gach toghlach dó, de bhun an Achta seo, freagra san fhoirm fhorordaithe a thabhairt don Tionól i dtaobh na ndaoine a toghadh de bhun an Achta seo, agus cibé nithe eile a dhéanamh maidir le toghchán Tionóil a mbeidh ceangal dlí air iad a dhéanamh.
(3) Muirearófar ar an bPríomh-Chiste nó a thoradh fáis, agus íocfar as an gcéanna leis an bpríomhcheann comhairimh, cibé suimeanna a cheadóidh Aire na Seirbhíse Poiblí, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, i gcóir seirbhísí agus caitcachais an oifigigh sin maidir le toghchán Tionóil.
Cinn chomhairimh agus cinn chomhairimh áitiúla.
14.—(1) Chun críocha an Achta seo, ceapfaidh an tAire ceann comhairimh do gach toghlach a shonraítear sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo, agus an ceann comhairimh a cheapfar faoin alt seo don toghlach sin is é a bheidh ann duine de na daoine is ceann comhairimh áitiúil, de bhua fho-alt (2) den alt seo, do chontae nó do chontae-bhuirg sa toghlach.
(2) Chun críocha an Achta seo beidh ceann comhairimh áitiúil ann do gach contae nó contae-bhuirg i dtoghlach, agus is é a bheidh ina cheann comhairimh áitiúil—
(a) i gcás contae nó contae-bhuirg ag a bhfuil sirriam, an sirriam, agus
(b) i ngach chás eile, an cláraitheoir contae.
(3) Is é dualgas ginearálta an cheann comhairimh gach gníomh agus ní a dhéanamh, seachas gníomhartha nó nithe a gouireann an tAcht seo de cheangal ar cheann comhairimh áitiúil iad a dhéanamh, de réir mar is gá chun toghchán Tionóil a stiúradh go héifeachtúil ina thoghlach de réir an Achta seo, torthaí an toghcháin a chinntiú agus a dhearbhú agus freagra i dtaobh na ndaoine a toghadh don toghlach a thabhairt don phríomhcheann comhairimh.
(4) Faoi réir fho-alt (5) (a) den alt seo, beidh de dhualgas ar cheann comhairimh áitiúil,
(a) an vótaíocht a thógáil i dtoghchán Tionóil sa chuid den toghlach arb é is ceann comhairimh áitiúil dó,
(b) cibé gníomhartha agus nithe a dhéanamh a gcuireann an tAcht seo de cheangal air ar dhóigh eile iad a dhéanamh, agus
(c) cabhair a thabhairt do cheann comhairimh an toghlaigh sin de réir mar a bheidh ag teastáil ón gceann comhairimh sin,
agus má éiríonn aon amhras i dtaobh dualgais cheann comhairimh áitiúil, cinnfidh an tAire an t-amhras sin.
(5) (a) Nuair a cheapfar ceann comhairimh áitiúil faoin alt seo le bheith ina cheann comhairimh do thoghlach, is dleathach dó, le toiliú an Aire, leascheann comhairimh áitiúil a cheapadh chun a dhualgais go léir mar cheann comhairimh áitiúil, nó aon chuid áirithe díobh, a chomhlíonadh.
(b) Folóidh tagairtí ina dhiaidh seo san Acht seo don cheann comhairimh áitiúil, tagairtí do leaschinn chomhairimh áitiúla.
(6) Ullmhóidh an tAire Airgeadais scála uastáillí do chinn chomhairimh agus do chinn chomhairimh áitiúla agus íocfaidh an tAire sin, as an bPríomh-Chiste nó a thoradh fáis, a tháillí réasúnacha le gach ceann comhairimh agus le gach ceann comhairimh áitiúil i leith a sheirbhísí agus a chaiteachais i ndáil le gach toghchán Tionóil arb é is ceann comhairimh nó is ceann comhairimh áitiúil dó ach gan na táillí sin a dhul thar na huastáillí a bheidh sonraithe sa scála a ullmhófar faoin alt seo agus a mbeidh feidhm acu de thuras na huaire.
(7) Forléireofar aon tagairt san alt seo do chontae mar thagairt do chontae riaracháin.
Corrfholúntais.
15.—(1) Nuair a tharlóidh corrfholúntas i measc na ndaoine a bheidh tofa don Tionól faoin Acht seo nó a bheidh ceaptha faoin alt seo, is é seo a leanas an nós imeachta chun an folúntas a líonadh:
(a) faoi réir mhír (b) den fho-alt seo, líonfaidh Dáil Éireann an folúntas trí dhuine a cheapadh atá cáilithe lena thoghadh faoin Acht seo don Tionól,
(b) más rud é de bhíthin an toghcháin Tionóil deiridh roimhe sin go raibh an t-ionad iomchuí sa Tionól á shealbhú ag duine a ba iarrthóir sa toghchán sin do pháirtí polaitíochta a bhí tráth an toghcháin sin, agus atá de thuras na huaire, cláraithe de bhun an Achta seo i gClár na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta, is duine arna ainmniú ag an bpáirtí polaitíochta sin a cheapfar faoin bhfo-alt seo chun an folúntas a líonadh sa chás, agus sa chás sin amháin, go ndéanfar an t-ainmniú laistigh de thrí mhí ón lá a tharla an folúntas.
(2) Duine a cheapfar faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo, mura dtarlóidh roimhe sin é a éag, nó a éirí as oifig nó a theacht faoi dhícháilíocht lena thoghadh faoin Acht seo don Tionól nó é a chur as oifig nó é a scor ar dhóigh eile de bheith ina ionadaí sa Tionól, sealbhóidh sé oifig mar ionadaí den sórt sin ar feadh a mbeidh gan caitheamh den téarma a bheadh an t-ionadaí a bhfuil sé ag gabháil a ionaid i seilbh oifige dá mba nár scoir sé de bheith i seilbh oifige.
(3) San alt seo ciallaíonn “corrfholúntas”.
(a) folúntas a tharlóidh toisc nach bhfuil duine, cé gur toghadh don Tionól é de bhun an Achta seo, i dteideal gabháil le hoifig mar ionadaí sa Tionól de bhua aon fhorála a leagadh síos faoi aon cheann nó gach ceann de na conarthaí,
(b) folúntas a tharlóidh toisc duine a scor de bheith ina ionadaí sa Tionól ar dhóigh seachas trí imeacht aimsire nó de dhroim ordú a dhéanamh ag an Ard-Chúirt faoi alt 17 den Acht seo.
Iniúchadh ar pháipéir bhallóide, etc.
16.—(1) Ní cheadófar d'aon duine aon doiciméad dá luaitear i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo a iniúchadh ach amháin faoi ordú ón Ard-Chúirt.
(2) Is iad na doiciméid dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo:
(a) comhdhuillí na bpáipéar ballóide a cuireadh chuig postvótálaithe faoi Riail 26 den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo,
(b) na doiciméid a luaitear i mír (2) nó (3) de Riail 50 den Sceideal sin,
(c) na doiciméid a luaitear i bhfomhír (a) nó (b) de Riail 69 (1) den Sceideal sin, agus
(d) na doiciméid a luaitear i bhfomhír (a) nó (b) de Riail 69 (2) den Sceideal sin.
(3) Ní dhéanfar ordú dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo mura deimhin leis an gcúirt gur gá na doiciméid sin a iniúchadh nó a thabhairt ar aird chun ionchúiseamh a thionscnamh, nó a chothabháil, mar gheall ar chion faoin Acht seo nó le haghaidh achainí.
(4) Féadfar ordú dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo a dhéanamh faoi réir cibé coinníollacha is fóirsteanach leis an gcúirt, maidir le daoine, am, áit agus modh iniúchta na ndoiciméad nó a dtabhartha ar aird, agus beidh foráil ann chun a áirithint nach nochtfar conas a vótáil aon vótálaí.
(5) Nuair a dhéanfar ordú de bhun an ailt seo go dtabharfaidh an príomhcheann comhairimh aon doiciméad ar aird atá ina sheilbh i dtaobh toghchán Tionóil, is leor an doiciméad sin a thabhairt ar aird ag an bpríomhcheann comhairimh chun a chruthú go mbaineann an doiciméad leis an toghchán sonraithe; agus beidh aon fhormhuiniú a bheidh ar aon phaicéad a thabharfaidh an príomhcheann comhairimh ar aird ina fhianaise leormhaith, nó go suífear a mhalairt, go bhfuil inneachair an phaicéid sin mar atá ráite san fhormhuiniú sin.
Toghcháin Tionóil a thabhairt faoi cheist.
17.—(1) Féadfar toghchán Tionóil a thabhairt faoi cheist tri achainí chun na hArd-Chúirte, agus ní fhéadfar é a dhéanamh ar aon dóigh eile.
(2) (a) Faoi réir mhír (b) den fho-alt seo agus Riail 97 (2) den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo, ní ghlacfar achainí lena taisceadh sa chúirt mura dtaiscfidh an t-achainíoch, i dteannta na hachainí, urrús cúig mhíle punt i leith costas ab fhéidir a bheith le híoc aige.
(b) Nuair is deimhin leis an gcúirt nach féidir le hachainíoch an tsuim a luaitear i mír (a) den fho-alt seo a thaisceadh nó go mba chruatan tromchúiseach ar an achainíoch é an tsuim sin a bheith le taisceadh aige, féadfaidh an chúirt ceangal a chur air cibé suim faoina bhun sin is cuí leis an gcúirt a thaisceadh.
(3) Féadfaidh duine ar bith a bhfuil ocht mbliana déag d'aois slánaithe aige achainí a thíolacadh, ach ní fhéadfar í a thíolacadh ach amháin laistigh de thréimhse a shonraítear sna Rialacha i gCuid V den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo agus beidh éifeacht ag na Rialacha sin maidir leis an achainí.
(4) Féadfar toghchán Tionóil a thabhairt faoi cheist mar gheall ar neamhcháilitheacht faoi alt 7 den Acht seo, nó mar gheall ar chosc nó cur isteach nó bacadh eile ar stiúradh an toghcháin, nó mar gheall ar earráid nó mírialtacht eile ar dócha, dá suífí an ní sin, difear a bheith déanta aige do thoradh an toghcháin.
(5) Féadfaidh aon pháirtí in achainí achomharc a dhéanamh ar cheist dlí chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí in aghaidh chinneadh na hArd-Chúirte ar an achainí agus faoi réir na forála sin is cinneadh críochnaitheach cinneadh na hArd-Chúirte agus ní bheidh sé inachomhairc.
(6) I dtriail achainí nach ndéanfaidh an chúirt díbhe uirthi, cinnfidh an chúirt an t-ábhar faoi shaincheist san achainí agus, san ordú uaithi ag cinneadh na hachainí, cuirfidh sí—
(a) dearbhú ar thoradh ceart an toghcháin Tionóil, nó
(b) má mheasann sí nach féidir léi toradh ceart an toghcháin Tionóil a chinneadh, dearbhú go raibh iomlán an toghcháin sin nó cuid shonraithe den toghchán sin ar neamhní maille le ráiteas ar na fáthanna a bhí aici leis an dearbhú a dhéanamh.
(7) Nuair a dhearbhóidh an chúirt an t-iomlán nó aon chuid de thoghchán Tionóil a bheith ar neamhní, déanfar toghchán úr de réir forálacha an Achta seo chun an folúntas nó na folúntais dá dhroim sin sa Tionól a líonadh agus tógfar an vótaíocht sa toghchán úr cibé lá, is lá laistigh den tréimhse trí mhí dar tosach dáta an ordaithe cúirte, a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú; ach ní bheidh sé d'oibleagáid faoin bhfo-alt seo toghchán úr a dhéanamh má dhlitear, ar dhóigh eile, toghchán Tionóil a dhéanamh sa Stát laistigh den tréimhse sé mhí díreach tar éis an dáta sin.
Cosc ar vóta a nochtadh.
18.—In aon imeachtaí dlíthiúla ní bheidh de cheangal ar dhuine a vótáil i dtoghchán Tionóil a rá cén chaoi ná cé dó ar vótáil sé.
Rialacháin.
19.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh ag forordú aon ábhair nó ní dá dtagraítear san Acht seo mar ábhar nó ní atá forordaithe.
(2) Gach rialachán a dhéanfar faoin Acht seo, leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Teach den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta, agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den lá agus fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin, beidh an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar do bhailiocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán.
Caiteachais.
20.—(1) Na caiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo, íocfar iad, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais, as airgead arna sholáthar ag an Oireachtas.
(2) Na caiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire Poist agus Telegrafa de dhroim an Achta seo (cibé acu a bhaineann na caiteachais sin le feidhmiú an chirt chun postas in aisce a thugtar d'iarrthóirí le Riail 18 den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo nó a thabhófar iad amhlaidh ar dhóigh eile i ndáil le toghchán Tionóil), íocfar iad, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais, as an bPríomh-Chiste nó a thoradh fáis.
Leasú ar Acht 1963.
21.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 91 d'Acht 1963 tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh mhír (b) i bhfo-alt (1):
“(bb) an vótaíocht i dtoghchán chun ionadaithe a thoghadh do Thionól na hEorpa faoin Acht um Thoghcháin do Thionól na hEorpa, 1977;”.
(2) Leasaítear leis seo alt 92 d'Acht 1963 trí,
(a) “, clárú toghthóirí Tionóil” agus “toghchán Tionóil,” a chur isteach i bhfo-alt (1) i ndiaidh “toghthóirí Dála” agus “toghchán uachtaráin,”, faoi seach, agus
(b) tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur isteach i bhfo-alt (3), i ndiaidh mhír (c):
“(b) tá le ‘toghthóirí Tionóil’ agus ‘toghcháin Tionóil’ na bríonna céanna, faoi seach, atá leo san Acht um Thoghcháin do Thionól na hEorpa, 1977.”,
agus tá an fo-alt sin (1), arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.
AN TABLA |
(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, in aon chás inar dóigh leis go mbaineann práinn nó deacracht speisialta leis, cibé oiriúnú nó modhnú a dhéanamh ar aon reacht, ordú nó rialachán maidir le clárú toghthóirí Dála, clárú toghthóirí Tionóil nó clárú toghtnóirí i dtoghcháin áitiúla, maidir le stiúradh toghchán Dála, toghchán uachtaráin, toghchán Tionóil, toghchán áitiúil nó reifreann, is dóigh leis is gá chun go bhféadfaidh éifeacht a bheith aige faoi réir forálacha an Achta seo. |
Leasú ar ailt 48 agus 74 den Acht Cosanta, 1954.
22.—Leasaitear leis seo an tAcht Cosanta, 1954, trí “nó a ghabhfaidh le hoifig mar ionadaí i dTionól na gComhphobal Eorpach” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “Teach den Oireachtas” i bhfo-alt (6) d'alt 48 agus in alt 74, agus tá an fo-alt sin (6) agus an t-alt sin 74, arna leasú amhlaidh, leagtha amach sa Tábla a ghabhann leis an alt seo.
AN TABLA |
(6) Aon oifigeach a thiocfas chun bheith ina chomhalta de cheachtar Teach den Oireachtas nó a ghabhfaidh le hoifig mar ionadaí i dTionól na gComhphobal Eorpach scarfaidh sé air sin lena choimisiún. 74.—I gcás cúltacaire a theacht chun bheith ina chomhalta de cheachtar Teach den Oireachtas nó a ghabhfaidh le hoifig mar ionadaí i dTionól na gComhphobal Eorpach, beidh sé, air sin, arna urscaoileadh de bhuaidh an ailt seo as na hÓglaigh Cúltaca. |
Gearrtheideal.
23.—Féadfar an tAcht um Thoghcháin do Thionól na hEorpa, 1977, a ghairm den Acht seo.
AN CHEAD SCEIDEAL
Na rialacha dá dtagraítear in alt 11 agus in alt 17
CUID I
Ainmniúcháin
1. A luaithe is féidir tar éis ordú a dhéanamh faoi alt 6 den Acht seo, cuirfidh an príomhcheann comhairimh cóip den ordú chuig gach ceann comhairimh agus chuig Cláraitheoir na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta.
2. Déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh, tráth nach déanaí ná an t-ochtú lá is fiche (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) roimh an lá vótaíochta, fógra poiblí san fhoirm fhorordaithe a thabhairt faoin toghchán Tionóil (dá ngairtear “Fógra Toghcháin” sa Sceideal seo) agus luafar ann—
(a) na tráthanna chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh,
(b) méid na héarlaise,
(c) na tráthanna agus an áit ina bhféadfar páipéir ainmniúcháin a fháil,
(d) na tráthanna agus an áit ina bhfreastalóidh sé chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh, agus
(e) an lá agus an tréimhse atá ceaptha chun an vótaíocht a dhéanamh má théitear in iomaidh sa toghchán.
3. An lá (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) roimh an dáta is déanaí chun an Fógra Toghcháin a fhoilsiú, cuirfidh Cláraitheoir na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta cóip de Chlár na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta chuig gach ceann comhairimh.
4. (1) Ní bheidh duine i dteideal a ainm a chur isteach i bpáipéar ballóide mar iarrthóir i dtoghchán Tionóil mura mbeidh sé ainmnithe mar a fhoráiltear leis an Acht seo agus go mbeidh rialaithe ag an gceann comhairimh go bhfuil a pháipéar ainmniúcháin bailí.
(2) Déanfar gach iarrthóir a ainmniú trí pháipéar ainmniúcháin ar leithligh san fhoirm fhorordaithe. Más cuí leis an Aire é, féadfar an méid seo a leanas a chur i bhfoirm an pháipéir ainmniúcháin—
(a) nóta i dtaobh na gcáilíochtaí, na ndícháilíochtaí agus na n-éagumas maidir le duine a thoghadh don Tionól agus lena bheith ina chomhalta den Tionól,
(b) foirm dhearbhaithe, a bheidh le síniú ag an iarrthóir nó ag a mholtóir, á rá gur léigh sé na nótaí agus go gcreideann sé go bhfuil sé féin nó an t-iarrthóir (cibé acu is cuí) cáilithe lena thoghadh agus nach bhfuil sé féin nó an t-iarrthóir (cibé acu is cuí) arna n-ainmniú go bailí d'aon toghlach eile.
(3) Tabharfaidh gach páipéar ainmniúcháin ainmneacha (an sloinne i dtosach), seoladh agus slí bheatha (más ann) an iarrthóra.
(4) Féadfaidh iarrthóir ainm an pháirtí polaitíochta atá cláraithe i gClár na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta agus arb iarrthóir dó é, nó ainm an pháirtí polaitíochta sin maille le hainm aon ghrúpa polaitíochta atá taifeadta sa Chlár sin i ndáil leis an bpáirtí polaitíochta sin, a chur ina pháipéar ainmniúcháin, ar choinníoll go ndéanfar, nuair a sheachadfar an páipéar ainmniúcháin don cheann comhairimh, deimhniú san fhoirm fhorordaithe (dá ngairtear “deimhniú cleamhnachta polaitíochta” sa Sceideal seo) ag fíordheimhniú na hiarrthóireachta a thabhairt ar aird don cheann comhairimh, agus an deimhniú sin a bheith síníthe ag an oifigeach nó na hoifigigh don pháirtí sin a mbeidh a ainm nó a n-ainmneacha sa Chlár sin de bhun alt 13 (3) (c) d'Acht 1963, nó de bhun an ailt sin arna chur chun feidhme le halt 8 den Acht seo. Nuair a thabharfar deimhniú den sórt sin ar aird, cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh faoi deara, más deimhin leis gur cuí sin a dhéanamh maidir leis an iarrthóir, go ndéanfar ráiteas ina luafar ainm an pháirtí polaitíochta iomchuí maidir leis an iarrthóir a shonrú ar gach páipéar ballóide agus ar fhógraí, agus más rud é de bhun alt 8 den Acht seo go gcuirfidh iarrthóir ráitcas ina pháipéar ainmniúcháin ina luafar ainm grúpa polaitíochta mar aon le hainm páirtí polaitíochta, cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh faoi deara, ach é a bheith sásta gur cuí sin a dhéanamh i ndáil leis an iarrthóir, ráiteas ina luafar ainm an ghrúpa polaitíochta sin maille le hainm an pháirtí sin a shonrú ar gach páipéar ballóide agus fógra den sórt sin.
(5) Nuair nach bhfuil iarrthóir ina iarrthóir do pháirtí polaitíochta atá cláraithe i gClár na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta, beidh sé i dteideal an abairt “Neamh-Pháirtí” a chur i ndiaidh a ainm ar an bpáipéar ainmniúcháin agus, má dhéanann sé amhlaidh, cuirfidh an ceann comhainimh faoi deara go ndéanfar ráiteas ina luafar an abairt sin maidir leis an iarrthóir a shonrú ar gach páipéar ballóide agus ar fhógraí.
(6) Soláthróidh an ceann comhairimh páipéir ainmniúcháin le linn gnáthuaire oifige i cibé áit nó áiteanna a bheidh ainmnithe san Fhógra Toghcháin gach dálach ar feadh na tréimhse a thosóidh le foilsiú an fhógra sin agus a chríochnóidh ar 12 a chlog, meán lae, ar an dáta is déanaí chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh agus soláthróidh sé páipéar nó páipéir ainmniúcháin in aisce d'aon duine a iarrfaidh sin, ach ní bheidh sé d'oibleagáid i dtoghchán Tionóil páipéar arna sholáthar ag an gceann comhairimh de bhun na Rialach seo a úsáid más san fhoirm fhorordaithe don pháipéar ainmniúcháin a úsáidtear sa toghchán.
(7) Déanfar aon tagairt sa Riail seo do Chlár na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta a fhorléiriú mar thagairt don chóip den Chlár sin a cuireadh chuig an gceann comhairimh de bhun Riail 3 den Sceideal seo.
5. Féadfar an éarlais a bheidh le taisceadh ag iarrthóir nó thar a cheann de bhun alt 10 den Acht seo a thaisceadh trí dhlíthairiscint nó, le toiliú an cheann comhairimh, ar aon dóigh eile.
6. (1) Tabharfar ar ais an éarlais a thaisc iarrthóir nó a taisceadh thar a cheann, más rud é maidir leis an iarrthóir—
(a) go dtarraingeoidh sé siar a iarrthóireacht de réir Riail 12 den Sceideal seo,
(b) go bhfaighidh sé bás sula gcríochnófar an vótaíocht.
(c) nach mbeidh sé ainmnithe go bailí mar iarrthóir sula mbeidh an t-am caite chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh.
(d) go dtoghfar é, nó
(e) nach dtoghfar é ach gur mhó ná trian den chuóta an t-uaslíon vótaí a creidiúnaíodh dó ar aon chéim de chomhaireamh na vótaí.
(2) Forghéillfear aon éarlais nár tugadh ar ais faoin mír sin roimhe seo.
(3) Nuair a bheidh éarlais le tabhairt ar ais faoi mhír (1) den Riail seo, tabharfar ar ais í don duine a thaisc í: ach is do ionadaí pearsanta an iarrthóra a thabharfar ar ais éarlais a thaisc iarrthóir a d'éag roimh chríochnú na vótaíochta.
(4) Éarlais a fhorghéillfear faoin Riail seo, diúscróidh an ceann comhairimh í de réir mar a ordóidh an tAire Airgeadais.
7. Is é am is luaithe chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh 10 a chlog a.m. an lá (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) díreach tar éis an dáta is déanaí chun an Fógra Toghcháin a fhoilsiú, agus is é am is déanaí chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh 12 a chlog, meán lae, an seachtú lá (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) tar éis an dáta is déanaí sin a dúradh.
8. (1) Seachadfaidh an t-iarrthóir nó a mholtóir gach páipéar ainmniúcháin don cheann comhairimh laistigh de na huaire a shonraítear i Riail 7 den Sceideal seo.
(2) Seachadfaidh an t-iarrthóir an páipéar ainmniúcháin go pearsanta ach amháin, nuair a bheidh an t-iarrthóir molta ag duine eile, go bhféadfar an seachadadh a dhéanamh mar atá ráite thuas nó go bhféadfaidh an moltóir é a dhéanamh go pearsanta.
(3) Freastalóidh an ceann comhairimh chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh san áit a bheidh sonraithe chuige sin san Fhógra Toghcháin idir 10 a chlog a.m. agus 12 a chlog, meán lae, agus idir 2 a chlog p.m. agus 5 a chlog p.m. an lá (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) roimh an dáta is déanaí chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh agus idir 10 a chlog a.m. agus 12 a chlog, meán lae, an dáta is déanaí sin a dúradh.
9. Uimhreoidh an ceann comhairimh na páipéir ainmniúcháin san ord ina bhfaighidh sé iad, agus measfar gurb é an chéad pháipéar ainmniúcháin bailí ag ainmniú iarrthóir don toghchán ainmniú an iarrthóra sin.
10. (1) Tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh rialú ar bhailíocht gach páipéar ainmniúcháin laistigh d'uair a chloig tar éis a sheachadta dó, agus féadfaidh sé a rialú go bhfuil sé neamhbhailí i gcás, agus sa chás sin amháin, go measann sé nach bhfuil sé déanta amach ná sínithe go cuí.
(2) Beidh an t-iarrthóir a ainmníodh le gach páipéar ainmniúcháin agus a mholtóir, más ann dó, agus duine amháin eile arna ainmniú ag an iarrthóir nó ag a mholtóir, cibé acu é, i dteideal freastal nuair a bheidh rialú á dhéanamh ag an gceann comhairimh ar an bpáipéar ainmniúcháin sin, ach ní bheidh aon duine eile i dteideal freastal, ach amháin le cead an cheann comhairimh.
(3) Cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh i gcoinne na tuairisce ar iarrthóir i bpáipéar ainmniúcháin más é a thuairim go bhfuil sí mícheart nó nach leor í chun an t-iarrthóir a aithint, nó go bhfuil sí rófhada. Nuair a chuirfidh an ceann comhairimh i gcoinne tuairisce amhlaidh, ligfidh sé don iarrthóir nó dá mholtóir, de réir mar is iomchuí, an tuairisc a leasú agus, mura leasaítear amhlaidh í chun sástacht an cheann comhairimh. féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh í a leasú nó í a scriosadh, de réir mar is cuí leis, tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an iarrthóir nó lena mholtóir, má bhíonn ceachtar acu i láthair, nó féadfaidh sé a rialú go bhfuil an páipéar ainmniúcháin neamhbhailí mar nach ndearnadh amach i gceart é.
(4) Nuair a bheidh rialú tugtha ag an gceann comhairimh ar bhailíocht páipéir ainmniúcháin, cuirfidh sé nóta i dtaobh a chinneadh ar an bpáipéar ainmniúcháin agus síneoidh sé an nóta. Má rialaíonn sé go bhfuil an páipéar ainmniúcháin neamhbhailí, cuirfidh sé ráiteas sa nóta ag lua na bhfáthanna a bhí aige leis. Is cinneadh críochnaitheach a chinneadh faoin Riail seo agus ní fhéadfar é a fhreaschur ach amháin de thoradh achainí ag tabhairt an toghcháin faoi cheist.
(5) A luaithe is féidir tar éis dó rialú a thabhairt ar bhailíocht páipéir ainmniúcháin, déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh fógra i scríbhinn i dtaobh a rialaithe a thabhairt don iarrthóir, leis an bpost nó ar dhóigh eile.
(6) Gach duine a mbeidh cinneadh déanta ina leith faoin Riail seo go bhfuil a pháipéar ainmniúcháin bailí agus nach mbeidh a iarrthóireacht tarraingthe siar de réir Riail 12 den Sceideal seo, nó nach measfar faoi alt 10 den Acht seo nó faoi Riail 20 (1) den Sceideal seo, í a bheith tarraingthe siar, beidh sé arna ainmniú go bailí mar iarrthóir.
11. Cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh faoi deara, a luaithe is féidir tar éis dó rialú a thabhairt go bhfuil páipéar ainmniúcháin bailí, go ndéanfar fógra ina luafar ainm agus tuairisc an duine atá ainmnithe sa pháipéar agus ainm agus seoladh a mholtóra, más ann, a thaispeáint lasmuigh den áit ina mbeidh sé ag glacadh ainmniúchán.
12. (1) Féadfaidh iarrthóir a iarrthóireacht a tharraingt siar má dhéanann sé fógra, faoina láimh, a sheachadadh go pearsanta nó trína mholtóir don cheann comhairimh tráth nach déanaí ná 12 a chlog, meán lae, an lá (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) díreach tar éis an dáta is déanaí chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh.
(2) Nuair is deimhin leis an gceann comhairimh nach féidir le hiarrthóir, ná lena mholtóir, bheith i láthair agus gur mian leis a iarrthóireacht a tharraingt siar, féadfar í a tharraingt siar trí fhógra faoin tarraingt siar, arna shíniú ag an iarrthóir agus ag an duine a bheidh ag seachadadh an fhógra, a sheachadadh don cheann comhairimh tráth nach déanaí ná an uair sin.
13. Déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh, a luaithe a sheachadfar dó fógra i dtaobh iarrthóir a tharraingt siar faoi Riail 12 den Sceideal seo, fógra poiblí a thabhairt i dtaobh é a tharraingt siar (agus, i gcás tarraingt siar ag iarrthóir a bhí ainmnithe ag duine eile mar mholtóir, i dtaobh ainm an duine eile sin).
14. (1) Má choisctear le foréigean na himeachtaí maidir le, nó i ndáil le, hainmniú iarrthóirí, féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh na himeachtaí a atráthú go dtí an lá dar gcionn (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) agus, má mheasann sé gur gá é, féadfaidh sé na himeachtaí a atráthú tuilleadh go dtí go mbeidh deireadh leis an gcosc sin.
(2) Nuair a dhéanfar atráthú faoin Riail seo ar aon imeachtaí maidir le, nó i ndáil le, hainmniúchán den sórt sin, cuirfear siar an dáta is déanaí chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh go ceann tréimhse is ionann agus tréimhse an atráthaithe sin agus cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh é sin in iúl don Aire agus féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, an lá a cheapadh chun vótaíocht a thógáil sa toghlach sin.
15. (1) Féadfaidh iarrthóir, i ndáil leis an toghlach—
(a) gníomhaire toghcháin amháin a cheapadh chun cabhrú leis go ginearálta, agus
(b) gníomhaire áitiúil amháin a cheapadh do gach contae nó contae-bhuirg sa toghlach chun cabhrú leis sa chontae nó sa chontae-bhuirg sin agus gníomhú mar ionadaí, sa chontae nó sa chontae-bhuirg sin, do ghníomhaire toghcháin an iarrthóra.
(2) Féadfaidh iarrthóir, nó a ghníomhaire toghcháin nó a ghníomhaire áitiúil, leasghníomhaire áitiúil amháin a cheapadh maidir le haon cheantar vótaíochta sa toghlach chun cabhrú leis an iarrthóir sa cheantar vótaíochta agus gníomhú ann mar ionadaí do ghníomhaire toghcháin agus do ghníomhaire áitiúil an iarrthóra.
(3) Beidh ceapachán faoin Riail seo inchúlghairthe,
(a) más faoi mhír (1) den Riail seo a rinneadh an ceapachán, ag an iarrthóir,
(b) más ar dhóigh eile faoin Riail seo a rinneadh an ceapachán. ag an iarrthóir nó ag a ghníomhaire toghcháin nó ag a ghníomhaire áitiúil.
(4) Nuair a chúlghairfear ceapachán faoin Riail seo nó a tharlóidh do ghníomhaire arna cheapadh faoin Riail seo bás a fháil, nó é a éirí as oifig nó a éirí éagumasach ar ghníomhú le linn toghcháin Tionóil, féadfar gníomhaire eile a cheapadh de bhun agus de réir na Rialach seo chun a ionad a ghabháil.
(5) Beidh ainm agus seoladh gach gníomhaire a cheapfar faoin Riail seo (cibé acu ceapachán bunaidh nó ceapachán ionaid é) le cur i bhfios láithreach tar éis an cheapacháin ag an duine a rinne an ceapachán—
(a) i gcás an ghníomhaire toghcháin, don cheann comhairimh.
(b) i gcás gníomhaire áitiúil, nó leasghníomhaire áitiúil, don cheann comhairimh áitiúil.
16. (1) Féadfaidh gach iarrthóir, nó a ghníomhaire toghcháin, nó a ghníomhaire áitiúil, gníomhairí a cheapadh chun bheith i láthair thar ceann an iarrthóra—
(a) le linn páipéir bhallóide a eisiúint chuig postvótálaithe.
(b) i stáisiúin vótaíochta, agus
(c) le linn oscailt na mboscaí postbhallóide.
(2) Féadfaidh gach iarrthóir, nó a ghníomhaire toghcháin, gníomhairí a cheapadh chun bheith i láthair thar ceann an iarrthóra le linn chomhaireamh na vótaí.
(3) Faoi réir forálacha mhír (4) den Riail seo, beidh líon na ngníomhairí a fhéadfar a cheapadh chun bheith i láthair thar ceann aon iarrthóra le socrú,
(a) i gcás gníomhairí a cheapfar chun bheith i láthair le linn chomhaireamh na vótaí, ag an gceann comhairimh,
(b) i gcás aon ghníomhairí eile a cheapfar faoin Riail seo, ag an gceann comhairimh áitiúil,
sa dóigh, áfach, go gceadófar an líon céanna thar ceann gach iarrthóra.
(4) Féadfaidh gach iarrthóir, nó a ghníomhaire toghcháin, nó a ghníomhaire áitiúil, duine amháin a cheapadh (dá ngairtear “gníomhaire pearsanaíochta” sa Sceideal seo) chun bheith i láthair mar ghníomhaire don iarrthóir i ngach stáisiún vótaíochta d'fhonn cabhrú chun pearsanaíocht agus cionta faoi Riail 71 den Sceideal seo a bhrath.
(5) Beidh ceapachán faoin Riail seo inchúlghairthe,
(a) más de bhun mhír (2) den Riail seo a dhéanfar an ceapachán, ag an iarrthóir nó ag a ghníomhaire toghcháin,
(b) más ar dhóigh eile faoin Riail seo a dhéanfar an ceapachán, ag an iarrthóir nó ag a ghníomhaire toghcháin nó ag a ghníomhaire áitiúil.
(6) Déanfaidh gach iarrthóir, nó a ghníomhaire toghcháin, nó a ghníomhaire áitiúil, tráth nach déanaí ná an t-am chun tosú ar pháipéir bhallóide a eisiúint chuig postvótálaithe, fógra i scríbhinn a thabhairt don cheann comhairimh áitiúil i dtaobh ainm agus seoladh gach gníomhaire a bheidh ceaptha ag an iarrthóir, nó ag a ghníomhaire toghcháin, nó ag a ghníomhaire áitiúil, chun bheith i láthair le linn na heisiúna sin agus féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil diúltú aon ghníomhaire nach mbeidh a ainm agus a sheoladh curtha in iúl dó amhlaidh a ligean isteach san áit a bhfuil na páipéir bhallóide le heisiúint.
(7) Déanfaidh gach iarrthóir, nó a ghníomhaire toghcháin, nó a ghníomhaire áitiúil, tráth nach déanaí ná dhá lá (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) roimh an lá vótaíochta, fógra i scríbhinn a thabhairt don cheann comhairimh áitiúil i dtaobh ainm agus seoladh gach gníomhaire pearsanaíochta a bheidh ceaptha ag an iarrthóir, nó ag a ghníomhaire toghcháin, nó ag a ghníomhaire áitiúil, mar aon le hainm an stáisiúin vótaíochta dá mbeidh an gníomhaire pearsanaíochta ceaptha. Beidh gach gníomhaire pearsanaíochta a cheapfar de réir na Rialacha seo agus a mbeidh a ainm agus a sheoladh curtha in iúl go cuí don cheann comhairimh áitiúil i dteideal bheith i láthair sa stáisiún vótaíochta sin le linn na tréimhse a thosóidh tríocha nóiméad roimh an am a bheidh ceaptha ag an Aire chun an vótaíocht a thosú agus a chríochnóidh nuair a bheidh na boscaí ballóide agus na doiciméid séalaithe ag an oifigeach ceannais mar a fhoráiltear le Riail 46 (2) den Sceideal seo.
(8) Déanfaidh gach iarrthóir nó a ghníomhaire toghcháin nó a ghníomhaire áitiúil, tráth nach déanaí ná dhá lá (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) roimh an lá vótaíochta, fógra i scríbhinn a thabhairt don cheann comhairimh áitiúil i dtaobh ainm agus seoladh gach gniomhaire a bheidh ceaptha ag an iarrthóir, nó ag a ghníomhaire toghcháin, nó ag a ghniomhaire áitiúil, chun bheith i láthair le linn oscailt na mboscaí postbhallóide agus féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil diúltú aon ghníomhaire nach mbeidh a ainm agus a sheoladh curtha in iúl dó amhlaidh a ligean isteach san áit a mbeidh na boscaí postbhallóide le hoscailt.
(9) Déanfaidh gach iarrthóir nó a ghníomhaire toghcháin, tráth nach déanaí ná dhá lá (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) roimh an lá vótaíochta, fógra i scríbhinn a thabhairt don cheann comhairimh i dtaobh ainm agus seoladh gach gníomhaire a bheidh ceaptha ag an iarrthóir nó ag a ghníomhaire toghcháin chun bheith i láthair le linn chomhaireamh na vótaí agus féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh diúltú aon ghníomhaire nach mbeidh a ainm agus a sheoladh curtha in iúl dó amhlaidh a ligean isteach san áit a mbeidh na vótaí le comhaireamh.
(10) Nuair a chúlghairfear ceapachán faoin Riail seo nó a tharlóidh do ghníomhaire arna cheapadh faoin Riail seo bás a fháil nó é a éirí as oifig nó a éirí éagumasach chun gníomhú le linn toghcháin Tionóil, féadfar gníomhaire eile a cheapadh de bhun agus de réir na Rialach seo chun a ionad a ghabháil, agus i gcás ceapachán den sórt sin a dhéanamh tabharfaidh an duine a bheidh ag déanamh an cheapacháin fógra i scríbhinn láithreach i dtaobh ainm agus seoladh an ghníomhaire a ceapadh.
(a) más faoi mhír (2) den Riail seo a dhéanfar an ceapachán. don cheann comhairimh.
(b) más ar dhóigh eile faoin Riail seo a dhéanfar an ceapachán, don cheann comhairimh áitiúil.
(11) Féadfaidh iarrthóir, go dleathach, aon ní a dhéanamh nó cabhrú le haon ní a dhéanamh a fhéadfaidh gníomhaire a dhéanamh go dleathach thar a cheann, agus féadfaidh sé bheith i láthair (i dteannta aon ghníomhaire den sórt sin) in aon áit ina bhféadfaidh aon ghníomhaire den sórt sin a bheith i láthair, de bhun an Sceidil seo.
(12) Aon ní a gceanglaítear leis an Sceideal seo é a dhéanamh i bhfianaise ghníomhairí na n-iarrthóirí, ní bheidh sé ó bhail as siocair amháin gan aon ghníomhaire nó gníomhairí den sórt sin a bheith i láthair san am agus san áit a bheidh ceaptha chun an ní sin a dhéanamh.
17. (1) Aon cheann comhairimh, nó ceann comhairimh áitiúil, nó aon duine a bheidh fostaithe ag aon oifigeach den sórt sin chun aon chríche a bhaineann le toghchán Tionóil, ní ghníomhóidh sé mar ghníomhaire d'aon iarrthóir sa toghchán sin ná ní bheidh baint aige le hiarrthóireacht aon iarrthóra a chur chun cinn ná le leasanna aon pháirtí sa toghchán a chur ar aghaidh.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh ceann comhairimh ná ceann comhairimh áitiúil aon duine a fhostú in aon cháil chun críocha toghchán Tionóil má bhí sé fostaithe ag iarrthóir nó thar ceann iarrthóra sa toghchán nó um an toghchán nó má bhí baint aige le hiarrthóireacht aon iarrthóra a chur chun cinn nó le leasanna aon pháirtí sa toghchán a chur ar aghaidh.
18. (1) Faoi réir mhír (3) den Riail seo, beidh gach iarrthóir i dtoghchán Tionóil, faoi réir cibé coinníollacha a chinnfidh an tAire Poist agus Telegrafa, i dteideal aon phost-teachtaireacht amháin ina mbeidh ábhar a bhaineann go hiomlán leis an toghchán, agus gan thar dhá unsa meáchain inti, a chur saor ó tháille phostais chuig gach duine ar chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa don toghlach.
(2) Ní bheidh iarrthóir i dteideal feidhm a bhaint as an gceart chun postais in aisce a thugtar leis an Riail seo sula mbeidh sé ainmnithe go bailí, mura rud é go mbeidh cibé urrús a cheanglóidh an tAire Poist agus Telegrafa tugtha go n-íocfaidh sé an postas ar an gcomhfhreagras go léir a chuirfidh sé amach faoin Riail seo má tharlaíonn nach n-ainmneofar é i ndeireadh na dála.
(3) Nuair a bheidh dhá iarrthóir nó níos mó i dtoghchán Tionóil ina n-iarrthóirí i dtoghlach don pháirtí polaitíochta céanna, ansin, chun críocha na Rialach seo, measfar gurb aon iarrthóir amháin na hiarrthóirí sin.
19. Más rud é, ar 12 a chlog, meán lae (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh), an lá díreach tar éis an dáta is déanaí chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh—
(a) gur mó líon na n-iarrthóirí a bheidh arna n-ainmniú ná líon na n-ionadaithe a bheidh le toghadh, cuirfidh ar ceann comhairimh an toghchán Tionóil ar atráth agus tógfaidh sé vótaíocht de réir an Achta seo, nó
(b) go mbeidh líon na n-iarrthóirí a bheidh arna n-ainmniú comhionann le líon na n-ionadaithe a bheidh le toghadh, nó níos lú ná an líon sin, dearbhóidh an ceann comhairimh láithreach na hiarrthóirí a bheidh arna n-ainmniú a bheith tofa agus cuirfidh sé a n-ainmneacha i bhfreagra chuig an bpríomhcheann comhairimh agus tabharfaidh sé fógra poiblí de réir forálacha Riail 68 (3) den Sceideal seo.
20. (1) Más rud é, tráth nach déanaí ná dhá uair a chloig is seachtó roimh an am is déanaí chun iarrthóireacht a tharraingt siar faoi Riail 12 den Sceideal seo, gur deimhin leis an gceann comhairimh go bhfuil iarrthóir atá arna ainmniú tar éis bás a fháil, tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh fógra poiblí láithreach dá réir sin agus measfar iarrthóireacht an iarrthóra a bheith tarraingthe siar.
(2) Más rud é, tráth ar bith sa tréimhse a thosóidh dhá uair a chloig is seachtó roimh an am is déanaí chun iarrthóireacht a tharraingt siar faoi Riail 12 den Sceideal seo agus a chríochnóidh ar thosach na vótaíochta gur deimhin leis an gceann comhairimh go bhfuil iarrthóir atá arna ainmniú don toghchán tar éis bás a fháil. beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas i ndáil leis an toghchán Tionóil—
(a) cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh scéala faoi bhás an iarrthóra chuig an Aire agus chuig an bpríomhcheann comhairimh agus san am céanna, má bhíonn fógra tugtha faoin vótaíocht, cuirfidh sé an vótaíocht ar ceal,
(b) tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh fógra poiblí go bhfuil gach gníomh a rinneadh i ndáil leis an toghchán (ach amháin ainmniú na n-iarrthóirí atá fágtha) ar neamhní agus go ndéanfar toghchán úr,
(c) tosófar athuair ar na himeachtaí uile don toghchán, ach ní gá ainmniú úr i leith aon iarrthóra a bhí arna ainmniú an tráth a cuireadh an scéala faoi bhás an iarrthóra chuig an Aire,
(d) sa toghchán úr, is é an t-am is luaithe chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh 10 a.m. an lá (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) díreach tar éis dáta an fhógra phoiblí dá dtagraítear i bhfomhír (b) den mhír seo agus is é an t-am is déanaí chun ainmniúcháin a ghlacadh 12 a chlog, meán lae, an tríú lá (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) díreach tar éis an dáta sin,
(e) socróidh an tAire an lá vótaíochta sa toghchán úr,
(f) ní bheidh feidhm ag Riail 3 den Sceideal seo i ndáil leis an toghchán úr agus déanfar tagairtí do Chlár na bPáirtithe Polaitíochta i Riail 4 den Sceideal seo a fhorléiriú, i ndáil leis an toghchán úr, mar thagairtí don chóip den Chlár a cuireadh chuig an gceann comhairimh i ndáil leis an toghchán a cuireadh ar ceal.
(3) Más rud é, tráth ar bith tar éis tosach na vótaíochta i dtoghlach agus roimh chríochnú na vótaíochta sin, gur deimhin leis an gceann comhairimh go bhfuil iarrthóir tar éis bás a fháil—
(a) tabharfar neamhaird ar na vótaí go léir a caitheadh sa toghchán Tionóil sa toghlach agus díothófar na páipéir bhallóide,
(b) cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh scéala faoi bhás an iarrthóra chuig an Aire agus chuig an bpríomhcheann comhairimh.
(c) beidh feidhm ag forálacha fomhíreanna (b) go (f) de mhír (2) den Riail seo.
(4) Nuair a gheobhaidh iarrthóir i dtoghchán Tionóil bás in imthosca seachas iad siúd dá dtagraítear i mír (1), (2) nó (3), beidh feidhm ag na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) ní chuirfidh a bhás ó bhail a ainmniú ná aon rogha a taifeadadh dó agus, má thoghtar é, ní bheidh a thoghadh ó bhail mar gheall ar a bhás,
(b) measfar gur toghadh é ina chomhalta den Tionól de bhua an Achta seo agus gur éirigh sé as a oifig díreach tar éis dó theacht chun bheith ina ionadaí den sórt sin, agus
(c) beidh feidhm ag alt 15 den Acht seo maidir leis an bhfolúntas dá dhroim sin sa Tionól.
(5) Nuair a chuirfear vótaíocht ar ceal faoin Riail seo, tabharfar neamhaird ar na páipéir bhallóide go léir a eisíodh chuig postvótálaithe agus díothóidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil, gan iad a oscailt, na páipéir bhallóide go léir a fuair sé lena gcur sa vótaíocht a cuireadh ar ceal.
CUID II
An Vótaíocht
21. Nuair a chuirfear toghchán Tionóil ar atráth chun vótaíocht a thógáil, tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh, a luaithe is féidir tar éis an atráthaithe, fógra poiblí (dá ngairtear “fógra vótaíochta” sa Sceideal seo)—
(a) i dtaobh an lae agus na n-uaire a chloig chun an vótaíocht a thógáil,
(b) i dtaobh ainmneacha agus tuairiscí na n-iarrthóirí atá arna n-ainmniú amhail mar atá taifeadta ina bpáipéir ainmniúcháin agus na moltóirí, más ann dóibh, agus
(c) i dtaobh an oird ina gcuirfear ainmneacha na n-iarrthóirí sin ar na páipéir bhallóide.
22. (1) Is é a bheidh i mballóid gach vótálaí, páipéar (dá ngairtear “páipéar ballóide” sa Sceideal seo) san fhoirm fhorordaithe.
(2) Ullmhófar páipéir bhallóide de réir na dtreoracha seo a leanas—
(a) ar gach páipéar ballóide tabharfar ainmneacha agus tuairiscí na n-iarrthóirí atá arna n-ainmniú mar a thaispeántar sin ina bpáipéir ainmniúcháin faoi seach. Cuirfear na hainmneacha in ord aibítre de réir sloinnte, nó má bhíonn dhá iarrthóir nó níos mó ann agus an sloinne céanna orthu de réir ord aibítre a n-ainmneacha eile nó má bhíonn an sloinne agus na hainmneacha eile mar an gcéanna, cuirfear iad i cibé ord a chinnfidh an ceann comhairimh trí chrannadh.
(b) clófar sloinne gach iarrthóra i litreacha móra agus clófar i ngnáthlitreacha a ainm, a sheoladh agus a shlí bheatha, más ann, mar atá tugtha ar a pháipéar ainmniúcháin,
(c) clófar páirtí polaitíochta, más ann, gach iarrthóra, i litreacha móra agus clófar i ngnáthlitreacha ainm a ghrúpa polaitíochta, más ann.
(d) socrófar liosta na n-iarrthóirí i gcolún leanúnach amháin nó in dhá cholún nó níos mó ar an dóigh is fearr, i dtuairim an cheann comhairimh, don mharcáil agus don chomhaireamh (ach gan imeacht ón ord aibítre), ach ní foláir na spásanna ar an bpáipéar ballóide ina mbeidh ainmneacha agus tuairiscí na n-iarrthóirí bheith mar an gcéanna do gach duine de na hiarrthóirí,
(e) uimhreofar na páipéir bhallóide as a chéile ar an gcúl agus is í an uimhir chéanna sin a chuirfear ar chúl an chomhdhuille a bheidh i gceangal le gach páipéar ballóide. Clófar na huimhreacha ar na páipéir bhallóide sna litreacha is lú is inléite agus clófar iad i lár an pháipéir nó gar dó,
(f) amach ó nithe atá ceadaithe leis an bhfoirm fhorordaithe, ní chuirfear aon ní ar an bpáipéar ballóide ach amháin de réir na dtreoracha sin.
(3) Beidh an ceann comhairimh freagrach as leordhóthain páipéar ballóide a chló agus a chur ar fáil agus beidh de dhualgas air líon de pháipéir bhallóide a sholáthar a luaithe is féidir don cheann comhairimh áitiúil de réir mar a theastóidh ón oifigeach sin go réasúnach.
23. (1) Déanfar gach páipéar ballóide a mharcáil tráth a eisithe le marc oifigiúil (dá ngairtear “an marc oifigiúil” sa Sceideal seo) agus é cabhraithe nó breifnithe ar dhóigh go mbeidh sé sofheicthe ar dhá thaobh an pháipéir, agus chun na críche sin soláthróidh an ceann comhairimh leorlíon de ghléasanna marcála.
(2) Déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh deimhin de go gcoimeádfar an marc oifigiúil faoi rún agus nach n-úsáidfear aon mharc áirithe in dhá thoghchán Tionóil chomhleanúnacha sa toghlach.
24. Ní foláir gach bosca ballóide a bheith déanta ar dhóigh go bhféadfar é a ghlasáil go daingean agus go bhféadfar, nuair atá sé faoi ghlas amhlaidh, páipéir bhallóide a chur isteach ann ach nach bhféadfar iad a bhaint amach agus go bhféadfar an bosca agus an oscailt do na páipéir bhallóide a shéalú.
25. Nuair a chuimsítear in aon toghlach an t-iomlán nó aon chuid d'aon dáilcheantar nó d'aon toghlimistéar áitiúil, féadfar aon bhoscaí ballóide, feistis do stáisiúin vótaíochta agus cúilíní a sholáthraítear do thoghcháin Dála nó do thoghcháin áitiúla sa dáilcheantar nó sa toghlimistéar áitiúil sin a úsáid d'aon toghchán Tionóil sa toghlach sin; agus is é dualgas an cheann comhairimh áitiúil in aon toghchán Tionóil sa toghlach sin cibé úsáid is feidir a bhaint as na boscaí ballóide, as na feistis agus as na cúilíní sin agus nuair a bheidh a chuntais á bhfómhas tabharfar aird ar fhorálacha na Rialach seo, agus íocfar mar chuid de chaiteachais an toghcháin aon damáiste, seachas caitheamh agus cuimilt réasúnach, a bhain d'aon bhoscaí ballóide agus feistis agus cúilíní den sórt sin de dhroim a n-úsáidte i dtoghchán Tionóil.
26. (1) A luaithe is féidir tar éis toghchán Tionóil a chur ar atráth chun vótaíocht a thógáil, cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil do chontae nó do chontae-bhuirg i dtoghlach páipéar ballóide agus foirm admhála (san fhoirm fhorordaithe) leis an bpost chuig gach toghthóir Tionóil a bhfuil a ainm ar an liosta postvótálaithe don chontae nó don chontae-bhuirg sin.
(2) Cuirfear an marc oifigiúil ar gach páipéar ballóide a eiseofar faoin Riail seo. Glaofar amach uimhir (lena n-áiritear litir an cheantair vótaíochta), uimhir agus tuairisc an toghthóra Tionóil mar a bheidh ar liosta na bpostvótálaithe, agus cuirfear marc i gcóip de liosta na bpostvótálaithe os coinne uimhir an toghthóra á thaispeáint gur eisíodh páipéar ballóide chuige ach gan uimhir an pháipéir bhallóide a eisíodh amhlaidh a thaispeáint.
(3) Cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil i gclúdach a bheidh dírithe chuig an bpostvótálaí—
(a) an páipéar ballóide.
(b) an fhoirm admhála,
(c) clúdach (dá ngairtear “forchlúdach” sa Sceideal seo) a bheidh dírithe chuig an gceann comhairimh, agus
(d) clúdach níos lú, ar a mbeidh “clúdach an Pháipéir Bhallóide” marcáilte.
agus dúnfaidh sé an clúdach céadluaite go daingean.
(4) Comhairfidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil gach clúdach a dhíreofar chuig na postvótálaithe agus láithreach bonn seachadfaidh sé na clúdaigh san ardoifig phoist is cóngaraí nó i cibé postoifig cile a shocróidh sé féin agus an príomh-mháistir poist; agus buailfidh an máistir poist dátstampa na postoifige ar ráiteas, a bheidh le tiolacadh ag an gceann comhairimh áitiúil, faoin méid clúdach a seachadadh amhlaidh agus láithreach bonn cuirfidh sé na clúdaigh ar aghaidh lena seachadadh do na daoine a bhfuil siad dírithe chucu.
(5) Nuair a dhéanfar clúdach a eisíodh chuig postvótálaí de réir na Rialach seo a sheoladh ar ais chuig an gceann comhairimh áitiúil roimh an lá vótaíochta mar chlúdach nár seachadadh don phostvótálaí, féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil an clúdach a athdhíriú agus é a chur leis an bpost chuig an vótálaí sin.
(6) A luaithe is féidir tar éis na páipéir phostbhallóide go léir a bheith eisithe i dtoghchán Tionóil, déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil an chóip mharcáilte de liosta na bpostvótálaithe agus comhdhuillí na bpáipéar ballóide a shéalú i bpaicéid ar leith, i bhfianaise ghníomhairí na n-iarrthóirí, agus formhuineoidh sé ar gach paicéad tuairisc ar a inneachair, maille le hainm an toghlaigh agus an chontae nó na contae-bhuirge arb é is ceann comhairimh áitiúil dó agus dáta an toghcháin Tionóil lena mbaineann sé.
(7) Tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil do gach iarrthóir i dtoghchán Tionóil fógra ceithre huaire a chloig is fiche ar a laghad i scríbhinn faoin am agus faoin áit a ndéanfaidh sé, má bhíonn toghchán iomaidh ann, páipéir bhallóide a eisiúint chuig postvótálaithe agus faoin líon daoine a fhéadfaidh gach iarrthóir a cheapadh mar ghníomhairí chun bheith i láthair le linn na heisiúna sin.
(8) Féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil, a chúntóirí agus a chléirigh, comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána ar dualgas agus gníomhairí na n-iarrthóirí, ach ní fhéadfaidh aon duine eile gan cead ón gceann comhairimh áitiúil, bheith i láthair le linn eisiúint na bpáipéar postbhallóide.
27. (1) Cuirfidh, an ceann comhairimh áitiúil boscaí ballóide ar fáil chun na forchlúdaigh a ghlacadh a bheidh curtha ar ais ag postvótálaithe. Taispeánfaidh sé gach bosca ballóide díobh agus é ar oscailt do ghníomhairí na n-iarrthóirí a bheidh i láthair le linn na bpáipéar postbhallóide a eisiúint agus ansin séalóidh sé é agus cuirfidh an marc “Bosca Postbhallóide” (an t-ainm a ghairtear den bhosca sin feasta sa Sceideal seo) agus ainm an toghlaigh air. Déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil socrú chun gach bosca postbhallóide a choimeád slán sábháilte.
(2) Tar éis don cheann comhairimh áitiúil forchlúdach a fháil, cuirfidh sé é láithreach bonn, gan é a oscailt, isteach sa bhosca postbhallóide.
28. (1) Nuair a bheidh vótaíocht le tógáil de bhun an Achta seo i dtoghlach, cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil chuig gach toghthóir Tionóil a bhfuil a ainm ar chlár na dtoghthóirí don chontae nó don chontae-bhuirg arb é is ceann comhairimh áitiúil dó, i gcás gan an toghthóir sin a bheith ar liosta na bpostvótálaithe, cárta (dá ngairtear “cárta vótaíochta” sa Riail seo) san fhoirm fhorordaithe á chur in iúl dó cad é a uimhir (lena n-áirítear litir an cheantair vótaíochta) ar chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa agus cén áit a bhfuil sé i dteideal vótáil ann.
(2) Díreofar cárta vótaíochta chuig an toghthóir Tionóil ag an seoladh a mbeidh sé cláraithe ina leith i gclár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa agus cuirfear amach é in am chun go seachadfar é i ngnáthchúrsa an phoist ag an seoladh sin tráth nach déanaí ná an tríú lá roimh an lá vótaíochta.
(3) Cuirfear cárta vótaíochta chun bealaigh leis an bpost agus seolfar ar aghaidh é in aisce leis an bpost is luaithe is féidir.
(4) Ní fhéadfar aon chaingean ná imeacht eile a thabhairt i gcoinne ceann comhairimh áitiúil mar gheall ar aon fhaillí i gcárta vótaíochta a chur chun bealaigh, ná toisc nár seachadadh é nó go raibh aon earráid nó míráiteas ann.
29. (1) Féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil chun an vótaíocht a thógáil, agus féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh chun na vótaí i dtoghchán Tionóil a chomhaireamh, aon scoil nó aon seomra i scoil agus aon áitreabh a bhfuil a chostas cothabhála iníoctha as aon ráta a úsáid saor ó tháille.
(2) Slánóidh an ceann comhairimh nó an ceann comhairimh áitiúil aon damáiste a tharlóidh don scoil, don seomra nó don áitreabh sin de dhroim a úsáidte aige i dtoghchán Tionóil agus féadfaidh sé aon chaiteachais a íoc a thabhaigh an duine i bhfeighil na scoile, an tseomra nó an áitribh sin de dhroim na húsáide sin.
(3) Má úsáidtear aon áitreabh neamháitithe nó aon chuid de chun an vótaíocht a thógáil agus na vótaí a chomhaireamh i dtoghchán Tionóil, ní fhágfaidh sin go mbeidh an t-áitreabh inchurtha faoi rátaí ná go ndlífidh aon duine aon ráta a íoc ar an áitreabh.
(4) Duine a bheidh i bhfeighil scoile atá i gceangal, nó in aice, le heaglais nó le clochar nó foras crábhaidh eile, nó is cuid d'aon cheann acu sin, féadfaidh sé, laistigh de cheithre huaire a chloig is fiche tar éis fógra a fháil ón gceann comhairimh nó ón gceann comhairimh áitiúil go bhfuiltear ar intinn an scoil sin nó aon chuid di a úsáid i dtoghchán Tionóil, agóid a dhéanamh i gcoinne na húsáide sin trí ráiteas i dtaobh na hagóide sin a chur chuig an oifigeach áirithe díobh a thug an fógra. Ar iarratas a fháil ón gceann comhairimh nó ón gceann comhairimh áitiúil, cibé acu é, féadfaidh an tAire, más dóigh leis gur ceart é, rialú in aghaidh aon agóide faoin mír seo, ach mura ndéanfar, agus go dtí go ndéanfar, rialú amhlaidh in aghaidh na hagóide sin, ní fhéadfar aon chuid den scoil dá dtagraítear san agóid sin a úsáid faoin Riail seo.
(5) Sa Riail seo ciallaíonn “scoil” aon scoil a fhaigheann deontas as airgead arna sholáthar ag an Oireachtas agus folaíonn sé scoil náisiúnta, meánscoil, gairmscoil nó scoil eile iarbhunoideachais.
30. (1) Cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil ar fáil i ngach áit vótaíochta leorlíon de stáisiúin vótaíochta agus suíomh áiseach orthu chun freastal do na toghthóirí Tionóil a bheidh i dteideal vótáil san áit sin. Más rud é, de dheasca aon deacrachta, nach féidir stáisiún vótaíochta nó leorlíon de stáisiúin vótaíochta a chur ar fáil san áit vótaíochta atá ceaptha, féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil stáisiún nó stáisiúin vótaíochta a chur ar fáil in aon áit áiseach eile.
(2) Dáilfidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil na toghthóirí Tionóil ar na stáisiúin vótaíochta is dóigh leis is áisiúla dóibh.
(3) Tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil fógra poiblí i dtaobh suíomh na stáisiún vótaíochta i ngach áit vótaíochta agus tuairisc na dtoghthóirí Tionóil a dáileadh chun vótáil i ngach áit díobh sin.
(4) Déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil socrú leormhaith chun teas agus solas a sholáthar do gach stáisiún vótaíochta agus chun iad a ghlanadh.
(5) I ngach stáisiún vótaíochta soláthróidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil—
(a) cibé líon cúilíní a mheasfaidh sé is gá le go bhféadfaidh na vótálaithe a bpáipéir bhallóide a mharcáil gan faire orthu,
(b) cibé troscán a mheasfaidh sé is gá.
(c) leorlíon de bhoscaí ballóide,
(d) cibé líon de pháipéir bhallóide a mheasfaidh sé is gá,
(e) gléasanna chun an marc oifigiúil a chur ar pháipéir bhallóide,
(f) cóipeanna den chlár nó de cibé cuid de ina mbeidh ainmneacha na dtoghthóirí Tionóil a dáileadh le vótáil sa stáisiún,
(g) cibé ábhair a mheasfaidh sé is gá le go bhféadfaidh vótálaithe a bpáipéir bhallóide a mharcáil,
(h) cibé doiciméid, foirmeacha, stáiseanóireacht agus ábhair eile a mheasfaidh sé is gá.
(6) Coimeádfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil cuntas ar na páipéir bhallóide a sholáthraigh sé i ngach stáisiún vótaíochta.
31. (1) Ceapfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil oifigeach ceannais le bheith i gceannas ar gach stáisiún vótaíochta agus féadfaidh sé cléireach nó cléirigh a cheapadh freisin chun cabhrú le gach oifigeach ceannais. Féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil aon cheapachán den sórt sin a chúlghairm tráth ar bith, agus más ceapachán oifigigh cheannais a chúlghairfear ceapfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil láithreach, oifigeach ceannais nua le bheith i gceannas sa stáisiún vótaíochta iomchuí.
(2) Ceadóidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil, arna iarraidh sin air, do dhuine a bhfuil sé sásta ina thaobh gur duine é a bhfuil leas bona fide aige sa toghchán Tionóil mar iarrthóir nó mar dhuine atá le bheith ina iarrthóir, nó mar ghníomhaire do dhuine den sórt sin, scrúdú a dhéanamh ar liosta na ndaoine a ndearna sé, nó a bhfuil beartaithe aige, ceapacháin mar oifigigh cheannais nó mar chléirigh vótaíochta a thairiscint dóibh.
(3) Coimeádfaidh oifigeach ceannais ord ina stáisiún, rialóidh sé an líon toghthóirí Tionóil a ligfear isteach d'aon iarracht agus eisiafaidh sé gach duine eile ach amháin na daoine sin a mbeidh údarás acu le Riail 35 den Sceideal seo bheith i láthair sa stáisiún.
(4) Féadfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais, trí chléireach a bheidh ceaptha chun cabhrú leis, aon ghníomh a dhéanamh a cheanglaítear air nó a údaraítear dó leis an Sceideal seo a dhéanamh, ach amháin ordú a thabhairt aon duine a ghabháil, a eisiamh nó a chur amach as an stáisiún vótaíochta.
(5) Féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil gach feidhm nó aon fheidhm de chuid oifigigh cheannais a chomhlíonadh agus le linn a dhéanta sin dó beidh sé faoi réir forálacha an Sceidil seo ionann is dá mbeadh sé ceaptha ina oifigeach ceannais.
32. (1) Beidh feidhm ag an Riail seo nuair a bheidh vótaíocht le tógáil i dtoghlach agus gurb é tuairim an cheann comhairimh áitiúil áirithe, i gcás stáisiún vótaíochta ar oileán, gur dóigh, mar gheall ar dhrochaimsir nó deacrachtaí iompair—
(a) nach féidir nó nach bhféadfaí an vótaíocht a thógáil an lá vótaíochta, nó
(b) dá dtógfaí an vótaíocht an lá sin, nárbh fhéidir na boscaí ballóide a bheith san áit le haghaidh comhaireamh na vótaí san am, nó roimh an am, a bheidh ceaptha chun tosú ar an gcomhaireamh faoi alt 6 den Acht seo.
(2) Nuair a bheidh feidhm ag an Riail seo, tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil fógra poiblí sa cheantar vótaíochta á rá go dtógfaidh sé an vótaíocht sa stáisiún vótaíochta ar an oileán lá sonraithe, nach é an lá vótaíochta é ach é a bheith laistigh den tréimhse ina mbeidh na toghcháin iomchuí le déanamh don Tionól i ngach Ballstát agus, d'ainneoin aon ní san Acht seo, beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas—
(a) féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil an vótaíocht a thógáil sa stáisiún vótaíochta ar an oileán an lá a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra nó, más é a thuairim nach féidir, mar gheall ar dhrochaimsir, an vótaíocht a thógáil an lá sin, an chéad lá i ndiaidh an lae sin is dóigh leis a bheidh cúrsaí iompair idir an t-oileán agus an mórthír réasúnta sábháilte.
(b) mura féidir, mar gheall ar dheacrachtaí iompair, tosú ar an vótaíocht ag an am a bheidh socraithe ag an Aire do thosú na vótaíochta, tosófar uirthi a luaithe is féidir tar éis an ama sin.
(c) más rúd é, tar éis an vótaíocht a bheith ar siúl ar feadh ceithre huaire an chloig ar a laghad, gur dóigh leis an oifigeach ceannais, dá leanfaí níos faide leis an vótaíocht, nárbh fhéidir na boscaí ballóide a bheith ag an áit le haghaidh comhaireamh na vótaí san am, nó roimh an am, a bheidh ceaptha chun tosú ag comhaireamh, féadfaidh sé críoch a chur leis an vótaíocht ansin.
(3) Ní dhéanfar aon athrú ar fhoirm ná ar inneachair an fhógra i dtaobh vótaíochta a bheidh le foilsiú faoi Riail 21 den Sceideal seo mar gheall ar athrú faoin Riail seo ar lá agus uaire na vótaíochta sa cheantar vótaíochta sin.
33. Nuair a bheidh vótaíocht le tógáil i dtoghlach, seachas vótaíocht a bheidh le tógáil lá sonraithe faoi Riail 32 den Sceideal seo, ansin, d'ainneoin aon ní san Acht seo, beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas maidir le stáisiún vótaíochta ar oileán—
(a) mura féidir, mar gheall ar dheacrachtaí iompair, tosú ar an vótaíocht ag an am a bheidh ceaptha ag an Aire do thosú na vótaíochta, tosófar ar an vótaíocht a luaithe is féidir tar éis an ama sin,
(b) más rud é, tar éis an vótaíocht a bheith ar siúl ar feadh ceithre huaire a chloig ar a laghad, gur dóigh leis an oifigeach ceannais, dá leanfaí níos faide leis an vótaíocht, nárbh fhéidir na boscaí ballóide a bheith ag an áit le haghaidh comhaireamh na vótaí san am, nó roimh an am, a bheidh ceaptha chun tosú ag comhaireamh, féadfaidh sé críoch a chur leis an vótaíocht ansin.
34. Díreach roimh thosú na vótaíochta, déanfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais i ngach stáisiún vótaíochta gach bosca ballóide faoina chúram a thaispeáint do cibé daoine a bheidh i láthair sa stáisiún, ionas go bhfeicfidh siad go bhfuil sé folamh, agus ansin glasálfaidh sé an bosca agus séalóidh sé é sa dóigh nach bhféadfar é a oscailt gan an séala a bhriseadh agus leagfaidh sé é in áit a mbeidh radharc aige air chun páipéir bhallóide a ghlacadh agus coimeádfaidh sé amhlaidh faoi ghlas, faoi shéala agus faoina radharc le linn na vótaíochta.
35. Ní ligfear aon duine isteach i stáisiún vótaíochta ach amháin—
(a) an ceann comhairimh áitiúil agus aon ionadaí dó,
(b) an t-oifigeach ceannais agus an cléireach vótaíochta don stáisiún,
(c) na gníomhairí pearsanaíochta a bheidh ceaptha go cuí don stáisiún ag na hiarrthóirí nó thar a gceann,
(d) toghthóirí Tionóil a ligfear isteach chun vótáil sa stáisiún vótaíochta,
(e) compánaigh do thoghthóirí Tionóil a bhfuil mallachar radhairc chomh mór sin orthu nó atá chomh mór sin faoi éagumas eile coirp nach féidir leo vótáil gan chabhair, le linn do na compánaigh sin bheith ag cabhrú leis na toghthóirí sin,
(f) comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána ar dualgas,
(g) teachtairí arna gcur chuige ag an gceann comhairimh áitiúil nó thar a cheann agus,
(h) daoine ag a bhfuil údarás ón gceann comhairimh áitiúil bheith i láthair sa stáisiún.
36. Nuair a bheidh toghthóir Tionóil do thoghlach fostaithe ag ceann comhairimh áitiúil chun aon chríche a bhaineann le toghchán Tionóil don toghlach sin agus, mar gheall ar imthosca fostaíochta an toghthóra sin, nach féidir leis, i dtuairim an cheann comhairimh áitiúil, vótáil sa stáisiún vótaíochta a mbeadh an toghthóir Tionóil sin i dteideal vótáil ann murach sin, féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil a údarú don toghthóir Tionóil sin, trí dheimhniú arna thabhairt san fhoirm fhorordaithe, vótáil in aon stáisiún vótaíochta eile sa toghlach.
37. (1) Faoi réir forálacha alt 5 (2) den Acht seo, agus Rialacha 39, 40, 41 agus 47 den Sceideal seo, seachadfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais páipéar ballóide do thoghthóir Tionóil a iarrfaidh é agus a dhearbhóidh cad is ainm agus seoladh dó.
(2) Díreach sula seachadfar páipéar ballóide do thoghthóir Tionóil—
(a) glaofar amach uimhir (lena n-áirítear litir an cheantair vótaíochta) agus ainm an toghthóra mar a bheidh tugtha sa chlár,
(b) marcálfar an páipéar ballóide leis an marc oifigiúil,
(c) cuirfear marc sa chlár os coinne uimhir an toghthóra á thaispeáint gur eisíodh páipéar ballóide don toghthóir sin ach gan uimhir an pháipéir bhallóide a eisíodh amhlaidh a thaispeáint.
(3) Nuair a gheobhaidh toghthóir Tionóil páipéar ballóide rachaidh sé (faoi réir forálacha Riail 39 den Sceideal seo) ina aonar isteach i gceann de na cúilíní sa stáisiún vótaíochta agus taifeadfaidh sé a vóta go rúnda ann ar an bpáipéar ballóide agus fillfidh sé an páipéar sa dóigh go mbeidh a vóta ceilte. Tiocfaidh sé ar ais ansin go dtí tábla an oifigigh cheannais, taispeánfaidh sé cúl an pháipéir fhillte don oifigeach ceannais chun an marc oifigiúil a thaispeáint dó agus ansin cuirfidh sé an páipéar fillte isteach sa bhosca ballóide. Ní dhéanfaidh sé moill mhíchuí ag vótáil agus fágfaidh sé an stáisiún vótaíochta a luaithe a bheidh a pháipéar ballóide curtha isteach aige sa bhosca ballóide.
38. Vótálaí a mhillfidh a pháipéar ballóide de thaisme, féadfar, nuair a thabharfaidh sé ar ais don oifigeach ceannais é, páipéar ballóide eile a thabhairt dó. Marcálfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais “Millte” láithreach ar an bpáipéar ballóide millte agus ar a chomhdhuille. Coinneoidh sé an páipéar ballóide millte agus an comhdhuille agus déileálfaidh sé leo de réir Riail 46 den Sceideal seo.
39. (1) Nuair is deimhin le hoifigeach ceannais go bhfuil toghthóir Tionóil a iarrfaidh páipéar ballóide chomh mór sin faoi mhallachar radhairc nó chomh mór sin faoi éagumas eile coirp nó chomh neamhliteartha sin nach féidir leis vótáil gan chabhair, beidh feidhm ag an Riail seo.
(2) Chun críocha mhír (1) den Riail seo, féadfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais agus, má iarrann aon iarrthóir nó gníomhairc pearsanaíochta a bheidh i láthair sa stáisiún vótaíochta air é, déanfaidh sé, sula seachadfaidh sé an páipéar ballóide, an toghthóir Tionóil a chur faoi mhionn nó (i gcás duine a chuirfidh i gcoinne mionn a ghlacadh ar an bhforas nach bhfuil aon chreideamh aige nó go bhfuil sé in aghaidh a chreidimh mionn a ghlacadh) faoi dhearbhasc san fhoirm seo a leanas:—
“Bheirim Dia Uilechumhachtach (nó—Dearbhaím agus dearbhascaim go sollúnta, go fírinneach agus go hionraic—de réir mar a bheidh) go bhfuil mallachar radhairc chomh mór sin orm (nó—go bhfuil mé chomh mór sin faoi éagumas coirp nó—go bhfuil mé chomh neamhliteartha sin—de réir mar a bheidh) nach féidir liom vótáil gan chabhair”
agus má dhiúltaíonn an toghthóir Tionóil an mionn a ghlacadh nó an dearbhasc a dhéanamh, ní bheidh feidhm ag an Riail seo.
(3) Nuair a bheidh feidhm ag an Riail seo i gcás toghthóir Tionóil ar deimhin leis an oifigeach ceannais go bhfuil mallachar radhairc chomh mór sin air nó go bhfuil sé chomh mór sin faoi éagumas eile coirp nach féidir leis vótáil gan chabhair, féadfaidh an toghthóir cead a iarraidh chun go marcálfadh compánach a pháipéar ballóide dó agus, faoi réir mhír (4) den Riail seo, féadfaidh an compánach dul leis an toghthóir isteach i gceann de na cúilíní sa stáisiún vótaíochta agus an páipéar ballóide a mharcáil don toghthóir ann agus fillfidh sé é agus taispeánfaidh sé cúl an pháipéir fhillte don oifigeach ceannais chun an marc oifigiúil a thaispeáint agus cuirfidh sé isteach sa bhosca ballóide é láithreach.
(4) Féadfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais agus, má cheanglaíonn aon iarrthóir nó gníomhaire pearsanaíochta a bheidh i láthair sa stáisiún vótaíochta air é, déanfaidh sé, na ceisteanna seo a leanas nó aon cheann nó cinn díobh a chur ar an gcompánach sula seachadfaidh sé an páipéar ballóide:
(i) An bhfuil sé bliana déag d'aois slán agat?
(ii) An bhfuil níos mó ná páipéar ballóide amháin marcáilte agat mar chompánach sa toghchán seo?
(iii) An iarrthóir sa toghchán seo thú?
(iv) An gníomhaire d'iarrthóir sa toghchán seo thú?
agus mura rud é, maidir leis na ceisteanna sin a chuirfear ar an gcompánach, gur freagra dearfach a thabharfar i gcás an chéad cheist díobh agus gur freagra diúltach a thabharfar i gcás aon cheist eile díobh, ní cead don chompánach an páipéar ballóide a mharcáil.
(5) Nuair a bheidh feidhm ag an Riail seo agus—
(a) go bhfuil an toghthóir Tionóil neamhliteartha, nó
(b) nach n-iarrfaidh an toghthóir Tionóil cead chun go marcálfaidh compánach a pháipéar ballóide dó, nó
(c) ar sin a bheith iarrtha ag an toghthóir Tionóil, go mbeadh marcáil an pháipéir bhallóide ag an gcompánach ina shárú ar mhír (4) den Riail seo.
déanfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais, i bhfianaise na ngníomhairí pearsanaíochta agus gan aon duine eile i láthair, páipéar ballóide a mharcáil de réir mar a threoróidh an toghthóir sin agus as a aithle sin fillfidh sé é agus cuirfidh isteach sa bhosca ballóide é.
(6) I gcás ina n-iarrfaidh toghthóir Tionóil, laistigh de cheithre huaire a chloig roimh an am a bheidh ceaptha ag an Aire do chríochnú na vótaíochta, cead go ndéanfaí a pháipéar ballóide a mharcáil dó faoin Riail seo ar dhóigh seachas ag compánach, féadfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais an cead sin a dhiúltú, más é a thuairim, mar gheall ar an méid toghthóirí Tionóil a bheidh ag teacht isteach an uair sin chun vótáil nó ar dóigh dóibh teacht isteach chun vótáil roimh chríochnú na vótaíochta, go gcuirfeadh sé as do chomhlíonadh cuí a dhualgas aige nó go gcuirfeadh sé cosc míchuí ar vótáil ag toghthóirí Tionóil eile dá dtugadh sé an cead sin.
(7) Nuair a bheidh páipéar ballóide le marcáil de bhun mhír (5) den Riail seo, féadfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais cuidiú leis an toghthóir Tionóil trí na sonraí a bheidh luaite i leith gach iarrthóra a léamh amach go hiomlán as an bpáipéar ballóide, ach ní ghníomhóidh sé de bhun aon teagasc i scríbhinn.
(8) Más rud é, de bhun na Rialach seo, go mbeidh dhá pháipéar ballóide marcáilte ag duine mar chompánach i dtoghchán Tionóil, ní mharcálfaidh sé aon pháipéar ballóide eile mar chompánach sa toghchán sin.
(9) Ní dhéanfaidh duine páipéar ballóide a mharcáil mar chompánach i dtoghchán Tionóil más iarrthóir nó gníomhaire iarrthóra é sa toghchán sin.
40. (1) Nuair a bheifear, i dtoghchán Tionóil, tar éis páipéar ballóide a eisiúint chuig duine a chuir in iúl gur toghthóir Tionóil áirithe é a bhí ainmnithe ar chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa agus go ndéanfaidh duine eile a chuirfidh in iúl gurb eisean an toghthóir Tionóil sin páipéar ballóide a iarraidh agus go bhfreagróidh sé go cuí aon cheisteanna a chuirfear air faoi Riail 47 den Sceideal seo agus go dtabharfaidh sé an mionn nó go ndéanfaidh sé an dearbhasc faoin Riail sin, beidh an duine eile sin i dteideal páipéar ballóide a fháil agus é a mharcáil agus é a chur sa bhosca ballóide ar an gcuma chéanna le haon toghthór Tionóil eile.
(2) Déanfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais amach ráiteas ag taispeáint líon iomlán na bpáipéar ballóide a eisíodh de bhun na Rialach seo agus ainm agus uimhir (lena n-áirítear litir an cheantair vótaíochta), ar chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa gach duine chun ar eisíodh páipéir den sórt sin.
41. (1) Nuair a bheidh cúis réasúnach ag oifigeach ceannais chun a chreidiúint go bhfuil pearsanú nó cion faoi Riail 71 den Sceideal seo á dhéanamh, nó déanta, ag aon duine a iarrfaidh, nó a d'iarr, páipéar ballóide, féadfaidh sé, sula bhfágfaidh an duine sin an stáisiún vótaíochta, a ordú do chomhalta den Gharda Síochána an duine sin a ghabháil ar an gcúiscamh go ndearna sé pearsanú nó cion faoin Riail sin 71, cibé acu is iomchuí, agus déanfaidh an comhalta den Gharda Síochána de réir an ordaithe sin.
(2) Más rud é, san am a n-iarrfaidh duine páipéar ballóide i dtoghchán Tionóil, nó tar éis dó páipéar ballóide a iarraidh agus roimh imeacht as an stáisiún vótaíochta dó, go ndearbhóidh gníomhaire pearsanaíochta don oifigeach ceannais go gcreideann sé agus go ngeallfaidh sé i scríbhinn a chruthú, go ndearna an t-iarratasóir pearsanú nó cion faoi Riail 71 den Sceideal seo, ordóidh an t-oifigeach ceannais do chomhalta den Gharda Síochána an t-iarratasóir a ghabháil ar an gcúiseamh go ndearna sé pearsanú nó cion faoin Riail sin 71, cibé acu is iomchuí, agus déanfaidh an comhalta den Gharda Síochána de réir an ordaithe sin.
(3) Féadfaidh aon chomhalta den Gharda Síochána, gan aon bharántas, aon duine a ghabháil má chreideann sé go bhfuil pearsanú nó cion faoi Riail 71 den Sceideal seo á dhéanamh nó déanta aige.
(4) Féadfar aon ghabháil a údaraítear leis an Riail seo a dhéanamh in aon áit, laistigh de stáisiún vótaíochta nó lasmuigh den stáisiún sin.
(5) Ní luífidh aon chaingean ná imeacht eile in aghaidh oifigigh cheannais mar gheall ar aon duine a ghabháil ar ordú uaidh, gan mhailís, ar chúiseamh go ndearna sé pearsanú nó cion faoi Riail 71 den Sceideal seo.
42. (1) Aon duine a mhí-iompróidh é féin i stáisiún vótaíochta nó nach ngéillfidh do na horduithe dleathacha a thabharfaidh oifigeach ceannais an stáisiúin sin, féadfaidh aon chomhalta den Gharda Síochána, nó aon duine eile arna údarú i scríbhinn ag an oifigeach ceannais chun é a chur amach, an duine sin a chur amach láithreach ar ordú ón oifigeach ceannais sin as an stáisiún vótaíochta. Aon duine a chuirfear amach amhlaidh, ní rachaidh sé isteach arís sa stáisiún vótaíochta gan cead ón oifigeach ceannais.
(2) Na cumhachtaí a thugíar leis an mír sin roimhe seo d'oifigeach ceannais, is tuigthe go bhfolaíonn siad cumhacht chun gach uile litríocht toghcháin ag taobhú le hiarrthóireacht duine nó daoine áirithe nó le hiarrthóireacht comhaltaí de pháirtí polaitíochta a chur amach as an stáisiún vótaíochta.
(3) Chun críocha na Rialach seo, measfar go bhfolaíonn stáisiún vótaíochta gach cuid den fhoirgneamh agus aon talamh i gcúirtealáiste an fhoirgnimh ina bhfuil an stáisiún vótaíochta.
43. (1) Nuair a choiscfear le foréigean an vótaíocht in aon stáisiún vótaíochta, féadfaidh oifigeach ceannais an stáisiúin sin an vótaíocht sin a chur ar atráth go dtí an lá dar gcionn (gan aon lá eisiata a áireamh) agus athchromfar an lá sin ar an vótaíocht sin ag am a fhreagróidh don am a bheidh ceaptha chun tosú ar an vótaíocht agus leanfaidh sí ar aghaidh go dtí am a fhreagróidh don am a bheidh ceaptha do chríochnú na vótaíochta an lá vótaíochta. Déanfar tagairtí san Acht seo do chríochnú na vótaíochta a fhorléiriú dá réir sin i ndáil leis an stáisiún vótaíochta sin.
(2) Má tharlaíonn cosc den sórt sin, ní fhéadfar a chur ar atráth ach an vótaíocht sna stáisiúin vótaíochta sin ar bhain an cosc leo iarbhír, agus leanfar leis an vótaíocht i ngach stáisiún vótaíochta eile gan atráthú.
(3) Nuair a chuirfear vótaíocht ar atráth faoin Riail seo, tabharfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais fógra láithreach faoin atráthú sin don cheann comhairimh áitiúil, agus cuirfidh seisean in iúl é láithreach don cheann comhairimh. Ní osclóidh an ceann comhairimh aon bhoscaí ballóide a úsáideadh sa toghlach go dtí go mbeidh an vótaíocht atráthaithe críochnaithe.
(4) Bainfidh an Riail seo le haon chosc a tharlóidh de bhíthin daoine a choimeád le foréigean ó dhul isteach in aon stáisiún vótaíochta agus le cosc a tharlóidh ar aon dóigh eile de dheasca foréigin.
44. Faoi réir Rialacha 14, 20, 32, 33, 43 agus 45 den Sceideal seo, mura féidir ar chúis ar bith, lena n-áirítear damáiste do stáisiún vótaíochta, an vótaíocht a thógáil, nó leanúint leis an vótaíocht, de réir alt 6 den Acht seo in aon stáisiún vótaíochta, beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil fógra poiblí láithreach dá réir sin, agus déanfaidh sé gach beart agus tabharfaidh sé gach ordú a mheasfaidh sé is cuí chun an vótaíocht a thógáil nó a chríochnú sa stáisiún vótaíochta sin,
(b) tógfar vótaíocht úr nó leanfar leis an vótaíocht, de réir mar is iomchuí, sa stáisiún vótaíochta sin lá (nach déanaí ná seacht lá tar éis an lá vótaíochta) a cheapfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil chuige sin,
(c) bainfidh forálacha an Achta seo leis an vótaíocht úr sin nó leis an vótaíocht ar leanúint, amhail mar a bhaineann siad leis an vótaíocht bhunaidh, agus
(d) ní osclóidh an ceann comhairimh aon bhosca ballóide dár úsáideadh sa toghlach go dtí go mbeidh an vótaíocht úr nó an vótaíocht ar leanúint críochnaithe.
45. Má tharlaíonn i dtoghchán Tionóil go dtógfar aon bhoscaí ballóide nó aon pháipéir bhallóide, gan údarás dleathach, as bheith faoi choimeád ag an gceann comhairimh nó ag ceann comhairimh áitiúil nó ag oifigeach ceannais nó má dhéantar crioscáil leo nó má scriostar iad nó (i gcás páipéar ballóide) má stróictear nó má aghloitear iad go mailíseach, beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) beidh an vótaíocht i ngach stáisiún vótaíochta inar úsáideadh aon bhoscaí ballóide nó páipéir bhallóide díobh sin ar neamhní,
(b) cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh in iúl láithreach don Aire agus don phríomhcheann comhairimh go bhfuil an vótaíocht ar neamhní amhlaidh,
(c) ar an bhfaisnéis sin a fháil, déanfaidh an tAire láithreach gach beart agus tabharfaidh sé gach treoir a mheasfaidh sé is cuí chun vótaíocht úr a thógáil i ngach stáisiún vótaíochta díobh sin,
(d) tógfar vótaíocht úr i ngach stáisiún vótaíochta díobh sin lá a cheapfaidh an tAire chuige sin,
(e) bainfidh forálacha an Achta seo leis an vótaíocht úr sin amhail mar a bhaineann siad leis an vótaíocht bhunaidh,
(f) ní osclóidh an ceann comhairimh aon bhoscaí ballóide a úsáideadh sa toghlach go dtí go mbeidh an vótaíocht úr críochnaithe.
46. (1) Ag an am a bheidh ceaptha do chríochnú na vótaíochta déanfaidh an t-oifigeach ceannais bearta chun a áirithint nach ligfear a thuilleadh toghthóirí Tionóil isteach sa stáisiún vótaíochta, ach aon toghthóir a bheidh san áitreabh san am sin beidh sé i dteideal, faoi réir forálacha an Achta seo, páipéar ballóide a fháil agus vótáil.
(2) A luaithe is féidir tar éis críochnú na vótaíochta, séalóidh an t-oifigeach ceannais gach bosca ballóide faoina chúram sa dóigh nach féidir a thuilleadh páipéar ballóide a chur isteach ann agus ceanglóidh sé an eochair de agus séalóidh sé i bpaicéid ar leith—
(a) na páipéir bhallóide neamhúsáidte agus na páipéir bhallóide mhillte, i dteannta a chéile,
(b) na cóipeanna marcáilte de chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa,
(c) comhdhuillí na bpáipéar ballóide,
(d) cuntas páipéar ballóide arna dhéanamh amach aige san fhoirm fhorordaithe agus ráiteas arna ullmhú de réir Riail 40 (2) den Sceideal seo,
(e) aon deimhnithe a thug an ceann comhairimh áitiúil faoi Riail 36 den Sceideal seo á údarú do dhaoine vótáil sa stáisiún vótaíochta, agus aon ghealltanais ó ghníomhaire pearsanaíochta á chruthú go ndearna duine pearsanú nó cion faoi Riail 71 den Sceideal seo, agus
(f) an gléas marcála, stáiseanóireacht neamhúsáidte agus doiciméid agus ábhair eile a bhaineann leis an toghchán Tionóil,
agus seachadfaidh sé na boscaí ballóide agus na paicéid sin go léir don cheann comhairimh áitiúil.
(3) Déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil socruithe leordhóthanacha chun na boscaí ballóide a sheachadfar de bhun na Rialach seo agus na doiciméid go léir a bhaineann leis an vótaíocht a choimeád slán.
(4) Déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil gach bosca ballóide agus gach cuntas páipéar ballóide a seachadadh dó de bhun mhír (2) den Riail seo a sheachadadh láithreach don cheann comhairimh.
47. (1) Chun críocha alt 4 den Acht seo—
(a) glacfar leis go bhfuil ainm duine ar chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa má tá ainm sa chlár ar dóigh leis an gceann comhairimh áitiúil nó leis an oifigeach ceannais go raibh sé ceaptha dó gurb é ainm an duine sin é.
(b) féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil nó an t-oifigeach ceannais agus, má cheanglaíonn aon iarrthóir nó gníomhaire pearsanaíochta a bheidh i láthair sa stáisiún vótaíochta air é, déanfaidh sé, na ceisteanna seo a leanas nó aon cheann nó cinn díobh a chur ar aon duine nuair a iarrfaidh sé páipéar ballóide, ach ní féidir é a dhéanamh ina dhiaidh sin:
(i) An tusa an duine a bhfuil an t-ainm A B curtha síos dó ar chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa atá anois i
bhfeidhm do thoghlach .............................................
................................................................................?
(ii) Ar vótáil tú sa toghchán seo cheana féin?
(iii) An raibh ocht mbliana déag d'aois slán agat an..........
..............................................................(an dáta a
tháinig an clár i bhfeidhm)?
(iv) An ceachtar díobh seo a leanas nó iad araon thú:
(A) saoránach d'Éirinn,
(B) náisiúnach Ballstáit de na Comhphobail Eorpacha seachas Éire?
agus mura rud é go dtabharfar ar na ceisteanna díobh sin a chuirfear ar an duine, i gcás an chéad cheann agus and tríú ceann agus an ceathrú ceann de na ceisteanna sin, freagra dearfach agus, i gcás an dara ceann díobh, freagra diúltach, ní cheadófar don duine sin vótáil,
(c) féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil nó an t-oifigeach ceannais agus, má cheanglaíonn aon iarrthóir nó gníomhaire pearsanaíochta a bheidh i láthair sa stáisiún vótaíochta sin air é, déanfaidh sé, nuair a iarrfaidh aon duine páipéar ballóide, ach ní féidir é a dhéanamh ina dhiaidh sin, an duine sin a chur faoi mhionn nó (i gcás aon duine a chuirfidh i gcoinne mionn a ghlacadh ar an bhforas nach bhfuil aon chreideamh aige nó go bhfuil sé in aghaidh a chreidimh mionn a ghlacadh) faoi dhearbhasc san fhoirm seo a leanas:— “Bheirim Dia Uilechumhachtach (nó— Dearbhaím agus dearbhascaim go sollúnta, go fírinneach agus go hionraic—de réir mar a bheidh) gur mise an duine a bhfuil an t-ainm A B curtha síos dó ar chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa atá i bhfeidhm anois do thoghlach..........................................agus nár vótáil mé cheana sa toghchán seo, agus go raibh ocht mbliana déag d'aois slán agam an.................................(an dáta a tháinig an clár i bhfeidhm) agus gur saoránach d'Éirinn mé (nó—gur náisiúnach Ballstáit de na Comhphobail Eorpacha seachas Éire mé—nó—gur saoránach d'Éirinn mé agus gur náisiúnach Ballstáit de na Comhphobail Eorpacha seachas Éire mé—cibé acu é).”
agus má dhiúltaíonn an duine sin an mionn a thabhairt nó an dearbhasc a dhéanamh ní cheadófar dó vótáil.
(2) Ach amháin mar a fhoráiltear leis an Riail seo agus le Riail 39 den Sceideal seo, ní chuirfear ná ní cheadófar aon cheist, mionn, dearbhasc ná agóid tráth na vótaíochta i dtoghchán Tionóil i dtaobh ceart aon duine chun vótáil agus ní dhéanfaidh ná ní ghlacfaidh aon cheann comhairimh áitiúil ná oifigeach ceannais aon agóid ina choinne.
(3) Ní fhorléireofar aon ní sa Riail seo mar ní a thugann teideal vótála d'aon duine nach bhfuil an teideal sin aige, ná ní shaorfaidh sé é ó aon phionós a bheidh inchurtha air mar gheall ar vótáil.
CUID III
Comhaireamh na Vótaí
Caibidil I
Doiciméid a bhaineann le postvótálaithe
48. (1) Tráth nach déanaí ná ceithre lá roimh an lá vótaíochta, tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil fógra i scríbhinn do gach iarrthóir i dtaobh an ama agus na háite a n-osclóidh sé na boscaí postbhallóide agus i dtaobh an líon gníomhairí a fhéadfaidh gach iarrthóir a cheapadh chun bheith i láthair le linn na hoscailte. Tabharfaidh sé do na gníomhairí sin gach saoráid réasúnach chun bheith ag faire ar na himeachtaí le linn oscailt na mboscaí agus gach faisnéis ina thaobh sin is féidir leis a thabhairt dóibh i gcomhréir le stiúradh ordúil na n-imeachtaí agus le comhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna.
(2) Osclóidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil na boscaí postbhallóide i bhfianaise ghníomhairí na n-iarrthóirí.
(3) Osclófar na boscaí postbhallóide roimh an am a bheidh ceaptha ag an Aire, faoi alt 6 den Acht seo, chun tosú ar an gcomhaireamh.
(4) Féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil, a chúntóirí agus a chléirigh, comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána ar dualgas agus na gníomhairí d'iarrthóirí a bheidh ceaptha go cuí chuige sin faoi na Rialacha seo, ach ní fhéadfaidh aon duine eile, gan cead ón gceann comhairimh áitiúil, bheith i láthair le linn oscailt na mboscaí postbhallóide.
49. (1) Nuair a osclófar bosca postbhallóide, tógfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil na forchlúdaigh amach as agus comhairfidh sé agus scríofaidh sé síos líon na bhforchlúdach a tógadh amach as amhlaidh. Osclóidh sé ansin gach forchlúdach ar leith agus scrúdóidh sé an admháil.
(2) Má bhíonn an admháil sínithe go cuí, cuirfidh sé an admháil agus an clúdach páipéir bhallóide i ngabhdáin ar leith a bheidh curtha ar fáil aige chuige sin.
(3) Mura deimhin leis gur síníodh an admháil go cuí, formhuineoidh sé “Diúltaithe” ar an admháil agus cuirfidh sé an clúdach páipéir bhallóide (gan an clúdach sin a oscailt) i gceangal léi nó, mura mbeidh aon chlúdach mar sin ann, an páipéar ballóide.
(4) Déanfar bosca ballóide ar leith (a bheidh le seachadadh ina dhiaidh sin ag an gceann comhairimh áitiúil don cheann comhairimh agus déileálfaidh an ceann comhairimh leis mar bhosca ballóide le haghaidh comhaireamh na vótaí sa toghchán) a chur ar fáil agus taispeánfar é agus é oscailte agus folamh do ghníomhairí na n-iarrthóirí a bheidh i láthair agus glasálfaidh agus séalóidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil é.
(5) Má dhealraíonn sé nach bhfuil admháil ag gabháil leis an gclúdach páipéir bhallóide osclóidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil an clúdach agus má bhíonn an admháil ann déileálfar leis an admháil agus leis an bpáipéar ballóide de réir na Caibidle seo.
(6) Formhuineoidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil “Diúltaithe” ar aon admháil nach mbeidh páipéar ballóide ag gabháil léi agus ar aon pháipéar ballóide nach mbeidh admháil ag gabháil leis.
(7) Nuair a gheofar páipéar agus admháil le chéile, ní dhiúltófar don pháipéar ballóide de bhíthin amháin nár cuireadh an páipéar ballóide agus an admháil, nó ceachtar díobh, sna clúdaigh chuí nó nach raibh aon chlúdach díobh dúnta.
(8) Má iarrann gníomhaire iarrthóra é taispeánfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil dó aon admháil a bhfuil sé ag diúltú di ar an bhforas nach bhfuil sí sínithe go cuí.
(9) Déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil na hadmhálacha diúlaithe go léir, mar aon leis na clúdaigh nó na páipéir bhallóide, cibé acu é, a bhí ag gabháil leo, a choimeád ar leith ó dhoiciméid eile.
50. (1) Nuair a bheidh na forchlúdaigh in aon bhosca postbhallóide oscailte agus go mbeidh déileáilte lena n-inneachair faoin Riail sin roimhe seo, osclóidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil gach clúdach páipéir bhallóide nár osclaíodh (seachas na clúdaigh pháipéar ballóide dá dtagraítear i Riail 49 (3) den Sceideal seo) agus cuirfidh sé gach páipéar ballóide isteach sa bhosca ballóide dá dtagraítear i Riail 49 (4) den Sceideal seo.
(2) Nuair a bheidh na páipéir phostbhallóide curtha isteach ag an gceann comhairimh áitiúil sa bhosca ballóide de réir na Rialach seo, séalóidh sé i bpaicéid ar leith—
(a) na hadmhálacha a bhí ag gabháil leis na páipéir bhallóide ar glacadh leo go cuí,
(b) na hadmhálacha diúltaithe mar aon leis na clúdaigh, más ann, a bhí ag gabháil leo, agus
(c) na páipéir bhallóide dhiúltaithe mar aon leis na clúdaigh, más ann, a bhí ag gabháil leo.
(3) Nuair a gheobhaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil forchlúdaigh tar éis críochnú na vótaíochta, nó nuair a chuirfear ar ais mar chlúdaigh nár seachadadh clúdaigh a díríodh chuig postvótálaithe, ní osclóidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil na clúdaigh sin ach, faoi réir na cumhachta atá aige chun iad a dhíriú ar ais, séalóidh sé iad i bpaicéid ar leith.
(4) Formhuineoidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil ar gach paicéad dá luaitear i míreanna (2) agus (3) den Riail seo tuairisc ar a inneachair, ainm an toghlaigh, ainm an chontae nó na contae-bhuirge arb é is ceann comhairimh áitiúil do, agus dáta an toghcháin Tionóil lena mbaineann na hinneachair sin.
51. Gach páipéar ballóide a ghcobhaidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil leis an bpost roimh chríochnú na vótaíochta agus é marcáilte go cuí ag postvótálaí agus an admháil, arna síniú go cuí ag an vótálaí sin, ag gabháil leis, déileálfar leis sin amhail mar a dhéanfaí le páipéar ballóide a cuireadh isteach i mbosca ballóide sa ghnáthshlí.
Caibidil II
Socruithe do chomhaireamh na vótaí
52. Ceapfaidh an ceann comhairimh áit laistigh den toghlach nó gar dó mar áit ina gcomhairfidh sé na vótaí, agus cuirfidh sé ar fáil san áit a bheidh ceaptha aige amhlaidh cóiríocht oiriúnach agus an troscán agus an trealamh go léir is gá chun na vótaí a chomhaireamh de réir na coda seo den Sceideal seo agus déanfaidh sé leorshocruithe chun na páipéir bhallóide agus na doiciméid eile a bhaineann leis an toghchán Tionóil a choimeád slán.
53. (1) Ceithre lá ar a laghad roimh an lá vótaíochta tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh fógra i scríbhinn do gach iarrthóir i dtaobh an ama agus na háite a dtosóidh sé ag comhaireamh na vótaí agus i dtaobh an líon gníomhairí a fhéadfaidh gach iarrthóir a cheapadh le bheith i láthair le linn chomhaireamh na vótaí.
(2) Féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh, a chúntóirí agus a chléirigh, comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána ar dualgas agus gníomhairí na n-iarrthóirí a bheidh ceaptha go cuí chuige sin faoin Sceideal seo, agus ní fhéadfaidh aon duine eile, gan cead ón gceann comhairimh, bheith i láthair le linn chomhaireamh na vótaí.
(3) Tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh do ghníomhairí na n-iarrthóirí gach saoráid réasúnach chun bheith ag faire ar na himeachtaí le linn chomhaireamh na vótaí (lena n-áirítear, go háirithe, saoráidí chun iad féin a shásamh go sortáiltear na páipéir bhallóide i gceart) agus gach faisnéis ina thaobh sin is féidir leis a thabhairt dóibh i gcomhréir le stiúradh ordúil na n-imeachtaí agus le comhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna.
54. (1) Ar an lá agus ag tosú ag an am a bheidh ceaptha ag an Aire faoi alt 6 den Acht seo agus san áit a bheidh ceaptha faoi Riail 52 den Sceideal seo, osclóidh an ceann comhairimh na boscaí ballóide agus bainfidh sé na páipéir bhallóide amach astu i bhfianaise ghníomhairí na n-iarrthóirí.
(2) Déanfar na páipéir bhallóide a thógfaidh an ceann comhairimh amach as gach bosca ballóide a chomhaireamh agus cuirfear a líon iomlán i gcomórtas leis an líon a thaispeántar sa chuntas páipéar ballóide iomchuí. Ullmhóidh an ceann comhairimh ráiteas a léireoidh toradh an chomórtais sin i gcás gach bosca ballóide agus, má iarrtar air é, ligfidh sé do ghníomhaire aon iarrthóra cóip a dhéanamh den ráiteas.
(3) Déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh ansin na páipéir bhallóide go léir a mheascadh ar a chéile agus tosóidh sé láithreach ag comhaireamh na vótaí de réir an Sceidil seo.
55. Chomh fada agus is féidir sin. rachaidh an ceann comhairimh ar aghaidh go leanúnach le comhaireamh na vótaí gan sos a lamháil ach amháin chun pronnlach a ghlacadh agus ag eisceadh na n-uaire a chloig idir 11 p.m. agus 9 a.m. (ach amháin sa mhéid go gcomhaontóidh sé féin agus na hiarrthóirí ar a mhalairt).
56. (1) Cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh faoi deara na páipéir bhallóide a iniúchadh chun teacht ar aon pháipéir a ndlífear diúltú dóibh mar pháipéir neamhbhailí agus, de réir na coda seo den Sceideal seo, déanfaidh sé amach agus taifeadfaidh sé an líon vótaí a tugadh do gach iarrthóir.
(2) Le linn líon na bpáipéar ballóide a chomhaireamh agus a thaifeadadh, cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh faoi deara na páipéir sin a choimeád aghaidh in airde agus cibé réamhchúraimí is cuí a ghlacadh chun nach bhféadfaidh aon duine na huimhreacha a bheidh clóite ar chúl na bpáipéar sin a fheiceáil.
57. Ní láimhseoidh iarrthóirí ná gníomhairí páipéir bhallóide le linn comhaireamh na vótaí.
Caibidil III
Rialacha do chomhaireamh na vótaí
58. (1) Sa Chaibidil seo—
ciallaíonn “iarrthóir leanúnach” aon iarrthóir nach meastar a bheith tofa agus nach bhfuil eisiata;
ciallaíonn “comhaireamh”—
(a) na hoibríochtaí go léir a bhaineann le comhaireamh na bpríomhroghanna a taifeadadh d'iarrthóirí; nó
(b) na hoibríochtaí go léir a bhaineann le haistriú an bharrachais ó iarrthóir a mheastar a bheith tofa; nó
(c) na hoibríochtaí go léir a bhaineann le haistriú vótaí iarrthóra eisiata;
ciallaíonn “a mheastar a bheith tofa” a mheastar a bheith tofa chun críche chomhaireamh na vótaí ach gan dochar don dearbhú ar thoradh na vótaíochta;
ciallaíonn “cinneadh trí chrannadh” cinneadh de réir na dtreoracha seo a leanas, is é sin, tar éis ainmneacha na n-iarrthóirí áirithe a scríobh ar stialla cosúla páipéir agus na stialla sin a fhilleadh chun nach bhféadfaí iad a aithint thar a chéile agus iad a mheascadh agus a tharraingt ar corr, déanfar an t-iarrthóir nó na hiarrthóirí, i gcás eisiamh a bheith le déanamh, a eisiamh san ord ina dtarraingeofar a n-ainmneacha, agus, i gcás barrachas, déanfar na barrachais a aistriú san ord ina dtarraingeofar na hainmneacha;
ciallaíonn “marc” figiúr, focal nó marc ar nós “X”;
ciallaíonn “páipéar neamh-inaistrithe” páipéar ballóide nach bhfuil aon dara rogha ná aon rogha dá éis sin taifeadta air d'iarrthóir leanúnach; ach measfar páipéar a theacht chun bheith ina pháipéar neamh-inaistrithe aon uair—
(a) a bheidh ainmneacha beirt iarrthóir nó níos mó (cibé acu is iarrthóirí leanúnacha iad nó nach ea) marcáilte le marcanna a thaispeánann, i dtuairim an cheann comhairimh, an t-ord céanna rogha agus gurb iad is neasa san ord rogha, nó
(b) a bheidh ainm an iarrthóra is neasa san ord rogha (cibé acu is iarrthóirí leanúnacha iad nó nach ea) marcáilte le nach bhfuil, i dtuairim an cheann comhairimh, ag teacht go leantach i ndiaidh marc éigin eile ar an bpáipéar ballóide, nó le dhá mharc nó níos mó; nó
(c) a bheidh sé ar neamhní mar gheall ar neamhchinnteacht;
ciallaíonn “bunvóta” maidir le haon iarrthóir vóta as páipéar ballóide ar ar taifeadadh príomhrogha don iarrthóir sin;
léireofar “rogha” mar a leanas—
(a) ciallaíonn “príomhrogha” aon mharc is dóigh leis an gceann comhairimh a thaispeánann príomhrogha go soiléir;
ciallaíonn “dara rogha” aon mharc is dóigh leis an gceann comhairimh a thaispeánann dara rogha go soiléir, agus é ina sheasamh ar leanúint as príomhrogha;
ciallaíonn “tríú rogha” aon mharc is dóigh leis an gceann comhairimh a thaispeánann tríú rogha go soiléir agus é ina sheasamh ar leanúint as dara rogha agus mar sin de;
(b) ciallaíonn “rogha is neasa ar fáil” rogha ar dóigh leis an gceann comhairimh gur dara rogha nó rogha ina dhiaidh sin í a taifeadadh in ord leantach d'iarrthóir leanúnach, gan bacadh leis na roghanna is neasa in ord ar an bpáipéar ballóide d'iarrthóirí a mheastar a bheith tofa nó atá eisiata cheana féin;
ciallaíonn “barrachas” an líon vótaí de bhreis ar an gcuóta atá ag líon iomlán na vótaí, idir bhunvótaí agus vótaí aistrithe, a creidiúnaíodh d'aon iarrthóir;
ciallaíonn “páipéar inaistrithe” páipéar ballóide ar a ndearnadh, tar éis príomhrogha, dara rogha nó rogha ina dhiaidh sin a thaifeadadh in ord uimhreach leantach d'iarrthóir leanúnach.
ciallaíonn “vóta aistrithe” maidir le haon iarrthóir, vóta as páipéar ballóide ar ar taifeadadh dara rogha nó rogha ina dhiaidh sin don iarrthóir sin.
(2) Aon pháipéar ballóide—
(a) nach mbeidh an marc oifigiúil air, nó
(b) nach mbeidh an figiúr 1 ina sheasamh leis féin nó an focal “aon”, nó marc ar bith eile is dóigh leis an gceann comhairimh a thaispeánann príomhrogha go sóiléir, curtha air ar chor ar bith nó nach mbeidh sé curtha air ar dhóigh a thaispeánann príomhrogha d'iarrthóir éigin, nó
(c) a mbeidh an figiúr 1 ina sheasamh leis féin ag taispeáint príomhrogha, nó an focal “aon”, nó marc ar bith eile is dóigh leis an gceann comhairimh a thaispeánann príomhrogha go soiléir, curtha air os coinne ainm níos mó ná iarrthóir amháin, nó
(d) a mbeidh ní ar bith scríofa nó marcáilte air as ar féidir an vótálaí a aithint,
beidh sé neamhbhailí agus ní chomhairfear é, ach ní bheidh an páipéar ballóide neamhbhailí de bhíthin amháin go bhfuil air na focail “aon”, “dó”, “trí” (agus mar sin de), nó marc ar bith eile is dóigh leis an gceann comhairimh a thaispeánann rogha nó roghanna go soiléir.
(3) Formhuineoidh an ceann comhairimh an focal “Diúltaithe” ar aon pháipéar ballóide nach bhfuil le comhaireamh faoin Riail seo. Ullmhóidh an ceann comhairimh ráiteas san fhoirm fhorordaithe a thaispeánfaidh an líon páipéar ballóide a dhiúltaigh sé faoi gach ceann d'fhomhíreanna (a), (b), (c) agus (d) de mhír (2) den Riail seo agus, má iarrtar air é, ligfidh sé d'aon iarrthóir nó do ghníomhaire iarrthóra cóip a dhéanamh den ráiteas sin.
59. (1) Tar éis na páipéir bhallóide a mheascadh de réir Riail 54 (3) den Sceideal seo, déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh, tar éis diúltú d'aon cheann atá neamhbhailí, iad a shocrú i mbeartáin de réir na bpríomhroghanna a taifeadadh do gach iarrthóir.
(2) Comhairfidh an ceann comhairimh ansin líon na bpáipéar i ngach beartán agus creidiúnóidh sé do gach iarrthóir líon vótaí is ionann agus líon na bpáipéar bailí ar ar taifeadadh príomhrogha don iarrthóir sin agus cinnteoidh sé líon na bpáipéar bailí go léir.
60. (1) Déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh ansin líon na bpáipéar bailí go léir a roinnt ar uimhir ar mó d'aon í ná líon na n-ionadaithe a bheidh le toghadh. An toradh as an roinnt sin móide a haon, gan aon fhuílleach codánach a áireamh, is é an líon vótaí é is leor chun iarrthóir a thoghadh. “An cuóta” a thugtar ar an uimhir sin sa Sceideal seo.
(2) Ag deireadh aon chomhairimh, más ionann agus an cuóta, nó más mó ná an cuóta, an líon vótaí a bheidh creidiúnaithe d'iarrthóir measfar an t-iarrthóir sin a bheith tofa.
61. (1) Ag deireadh aon chomhairimh, más mó ná an cuóta an líon vótaí a bheidh creidiúnaithe d'iarrthóir, aistreofar an barrachas de réir na Rialach seo chuig an iarrthóir leanúnach nó na hiarrthóirí leanúnacha a thaispeántar ar na páipéir bhallóide i mbeartán nó i bhfobheartán an iarrthóra a mheastar a bheith tofa de réir na roghanna is neasa ar fáil a bheidh taifeadta orthu.
(2) Nuair is bunvótaí amháin na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh d'iarrthóir a mheastar a bheith tofa agus a bhfuil a bharrachas le haistriú, scrúdóidh an ceann comhairimh na páipéir go léir i mbeartán an iarrthóra sin agus socróidh sé na páipéir inaistrithe i bhfobheartáin de réir na roghanna is neasa ar fáil a bheidh taifeadta orthu.
(3) Más bunvótaí agus vótaí aistrithe, nó más vótaí aistrithe amháin, na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh d'iarrthóir a mheasfar a bheith tofa agus a bhfuil a bharrachas le haistriú, scrúdóidh an ceann comhairimh na páipéir a bheidh san fhobheartán is déanaí a fuair an t-iarrthóir sin agus socróidh sé na páipéir inaistrithe ann i bhfobheartáin bhreise de réir na roghanna is neasa ar fáil a bheidh taifeadta orthu.
(4) I gceachtar cás dá dtagraitear i míreanna (2) agus (3) den Riail seo déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh fobheartán ar leith de na páipéir neamh-inaistrithe agus cinnteoidh sé an líon páipéar i ngach fobheartán de pháipéir inaistrithe agus san fhobheartán de pháipéir neamh-inaistrithe.
(5) Más ionann an barrachas agus líon iomlán na bpáipéar sna fobheartáin de pháipéir inaistrithe, nó más mó ná sin é, aistreoidh an ceann comhairimh gach fobheartán de pháipéir inaistrithe chuig an iarrthóir leanúnach a thaispeántar orthu mar rogha is neasa ar fáil ó na vótálaithe. Ach nuair is mó an barrachas ná an líon iomlán sin, déanfar fobheartán den líon páipéar neamh-inaistrithe is ionann agus an difríocht idir an líon iomlán sin agus an barrachas agus cuirfear i leataobh na páipéir san fhobheartán sin agus ní chuirfear san áireamh iad a thuilleadh agus, chun críocha Riail 68 (3) den Sceideal seo, tabharfar páipéir neamh-inaistrithe gan éifeacht de thuairisc orthu, agus déanfar fobheartán d'fhuílleach na bpáipéar neamh-inaistrithe agus cuirfear iad le páipéir an iarrthóra a mheastar a bheith tofa.
(6) Más lú an barrachas ná líon iomlán na bpáipéar inaistrithe, aistreoidh an ceann comhairimh, as gach fobheartán de pháipéir inaistrithe chuig an iarrthóir leanúnach a thaispeántar orthu mar rogha is neasa ar fáil ó na vótálaithe, an líon páipéar a mbeidh idir é agus an líon páipéar san fhobheartán an coibhneas céanna atá idir an barrachas agus líon iomlán na bpáipéar inaistrithe. Déanfar amach an líon páipéar a bheidh le haistriú as gach fobheartán trí líon na bpáipéar san fhobheartán a iolrú faoin mbarrachas agus an toradh a roinnt ar líon iomlán na bpáipéar inaistrithe. Déanfar nóta de na codáin, más ann dóibh, i gach comhrann a fuarthas amach maidir le gach iarrthóir. Má tharlaíonn de bharr na gcodán sin a bheith ann gur lú ná an barrachas an líon páipéar a bheidh le haistriú, áireofar aon mar luach don oiread sin de na codáin sin, arna dtógáil in ord a méide (ón gceann is mó anuas), is gá chun líon iomlán na bpáipéar a bheidh le haistriú a dhéanamh comhionann leis an mbarrachas, agus ní bhacfar leis na codáin a bheidh fágtha. I gcás dhá chodán nó níos mó a bheith ar cóimhéid, measfar gurb é an codán a thiocfaidh as an bhfobheartán is mó an codán is mó, agus i gcás na fobheartáin sin a bheith ar aon mhéid, measfar gurb é an codán a bhaineann leis an iarrthóir dar creidiúnaíodh an líon is mó bunvótaí an codán is mó. Nuair is ionann líon na mbunvótaí sin, tabharfar aird ar líon iomlán na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh do na hiarrthóirí sin sa chéad chomhaireamh inar creidiúnaíodh líon neamhionann vótaí dóibh agus measfar gurb é an codán a bhaineann leis an iarrthéir dar creidiúnaíodh an líon is mó vótaí sa chomhaireamh sin an codán is mó. Nuair is ionann líon na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh do na hiarrthóirí sin i ngach comhaireamh, cinnfidh an ceann comhairimh trí chrannadh cé acu codán a measfar gurb é an codán is mó é.
(7) Is iad na páipéir a bheidh le haistriú as gach fobheartán na cinn is déanaí a comhdaíodh san fhobheartán agus déanfar gach páipéar a aistreofar amhlaidh a mharcáil chun uimhir an chomhairimh ina ndearnadh an t-aistriú a thaispeáint.
(8) Déanfar barrachas a bheidh ann i ndeireadh aon chomhairimh a aistriú roimh bharrachas a bheidh ann as comhaireamh dá éis sin; ach—
(a) ní gá don cheann comhairimh barrachas iarrthóra a mheastar a bheith tofa a aistriú nuair is lú an barrachas sin, i dteannta aon bharrachais eile gan aistriú, ná an difríocht idir líon na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh don dá iarrthóir leanúnacha is ísle agus—
(i) gur mó ná trian an chuóta líon na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh don iarrthóir is ísle, nó
(ii) nach mó ná trian an chuóta suim líon na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh don iarrthóir is ísle i dteannta an bharrachais sin agus aon bharrachas eile gan aistriú;
(b) déanfar barrachas is ionann agus an difríocht, nó is mó ná an difríocht, idir líon na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh don dá iarrthóir is ísle a aistriú roimh aon bharrachas is lú ná an difríocht sin;
(c) má bhíonn dhá bharrachas nó níos mó ann, agus gach ceann díobh níos lú ná an difríocht idir líon na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh don dá iarrthóir is ísle, déanfar an barrachas is mó díobh sin a aistriú i dtosach báire gan aird a thabhairt ar an gcomhaireamh as ar éirigh sé.
(9) Nuair a bheidh dhá bharrachas nó níos ann as an gcomhaireamh céanna déileálfar leis an gceann is mó díobh i dtosach báire agus déileálfar leis na cinn eile de réir ord a méide anuas.
(10) Nuair is ionann barrachas beirt iarrthóir nó níos mó as an gcomhaireamh céanna, tabharfar aird ar líon na mbunvótaí a creidiúnaíodh do gach iarrthóir díobh agus déileálfar i dtosach báire le barrachas an iarrthóra dar creidiúnaíodh an líon is mó bunvótaí. Nuair is ionann líon na mbunvótaí sin, tabharfar aird ar líon iomlán na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh do na hiarrthóirí sin sa chéad chomhaireamh ina raibh líon neamhionann vótaí acu, agus déileálfar i dtosach báire le barrachas an iarrthóra ag a raibh an líon is mó vótaí sa chomhaireamh sin. Nuair is ionann líon na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh do na hiarrthóirí sin i ngach comhaireamh, cinnfidh an ceann comhairimh trí chrannadh cé acu barrachas díobh a ndéileálfaidh sé leis i dtosach báire.
62. (1) Má tharlaíonn aon uair nach mbeidh barrachas ag aon iarrthóir (nó nuair a tharlóidh faoi Riail 61 den Sceideal seo nach gá barrachas a bheidh ann a aistriú agus nach n-aistrítear é) agus go mbeidh folúntas nó folúntais fágtha gan líonadh, eisiafaidh an ceann comhairimh an t-iarrthóir a bhfuil an líon is lú vótaí creidiúnaithe dó, agus scrúdóidh sé páipéir uile an iarrthóra sin, agus socróidh sé na páipéir inaistrithe i bhfobheartáin de réir na roghanna is neasa ar fáil a bheidh taifeadta orthu d'iarrthóirí leanúnacha, agus aistreoidh sé gach fobheartán chuig an iarrthóir dar taifeadadh an rogha sin, agus déanfaidh sé fobheartán ar leith de na páipéir neamh-inaistrithe. Cuirfear na páipéir neamh-inaistrithe i leataobh mar pháipéir a bhfuiltear réidh ar fad leo agus, chun críocha Riail 68 (3) den Sceideal seo, tabharfar páipéir neamh-inaistrithe gan éifeacht de thuairisc orthu.
(2) Nuair a bheidh líon iomlán na vótaí a fuair an bheirt nó níos mó de na hiarrthóirí is ísle vótaí, i dteannta aon bharrachas gan aistriú, faoi bhun líon na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh don chéad iarrthóir eile is airde, féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh an bheirt nó níos mó de na hiarrthóirí sin is ísle a eisiamh d'aon iarracht, ar choinníoll—
(a) gur mó ná trian an chuóta líon na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh don dara hiarrthóir is ísle, nó
(b) nuair nach mó ná trian an chuóta líon na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh d'aon duine de bheirt nó níos mó de na hiarrthóirí sin is ísle, gur léir dá n-eisiafaí na hiarrthóirí duine ar dhuine de réir mhír (1) den Riail seo agus dá ndéanfaí aon bharrachas neamhaistrithe a aistriú, nárbh fhéidir dá thoradh líon vótaí ba mhó ná trian an chuóta a chreidiúnú d'aon iarrthóir díobh sin.
(3) Más rud é, nuair a bheidh iarrthóir le heisiamh faoin Riail seo. go mbeidh an líon céanna vótaí ag beirt iarrthóir nó níos mó agus gurb iad is ísle vótaí, tabharfar aird ar líon na mbunvótaí a creidiúnaíodh do gach iarrthóir díobh, agus eisiafar an t-iarrthóir leis an líon is lú bunvótaí, agus nuair is ionann líon na mbunvótaí tabharfar aird ar líon iomlán na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh do na hiarrthóirí sin sa chéad chomhaireamh ina raibh líon neamhionann vótaí acu agus eisiafar an t-iarrthóir leis an líon is lú vótaí sa chomhaireamh sin, agus nuair ab ionann líon na vótaí a creidiúnaíodh do na hiarrthóirí sin i ngach comhaireamh cinnfidh an ceann comhairimh trí chrannadh cé acu díobh a eisiafar.
63. (1) Nuair a aistreofar vótaí faoi Riail 61 nó 62 den Sceideal seo, déanfar gach fobheartán de pháipéir a aistríodh a chur ar bharr an bheartáin, más ann, de pháipéir an iarrthóra chun a ndearnadh an t-aistriú, agus creidiúnófar don iarrthóir sin líon vótaí is ionann agus líon na bpáipéar a aistríodh chuige.
(2) Má bhíonn barrachas ag iarrthóir tar éis aistriú ar bith, déileálfar leis an mbarrachas sin faoi réim agus de réir forálacha Riail 61 den Sceideal seo sula n-eisiafar aon iarrthóir eile.
64. (1) Nuair is ionann líon na n-iarrthóirí leanúnacha agus líon na bhfolúntas atá fágtha gan líonadh, measfar as a aithle sin na hiarrthóirí leanúnacha a bheith tofa.
(2) Nuair nach mbeidh fágtha gan líonadh ach folúntas amháin agus gur mó líon vótaí iarrthóra leanúnaigh áirithe ná líon iomlán vótaí uile na n-iarrthóirí leanúnacha eile, i dteannta aon bharrachas gan aistriú, measfar as a aithle sin an t-iarrthóir sin a bheith tofa.
(3) Nuair is féidir na folúntais deiridh a líonadh faoin Riail seo, ní gá aon aistriú eile vótaí a dhéanamh mura rud é nár creidiúnaíodh líon vótaí is mó ná trian an chuóta d'aon duine de na hiarrthóirí leanúnacha agus gur gá chun críocha Riail 6 den Sceideal seo aistrithe breise a dhéanamh ar vótaí chun a fháil amach an bhféadfaí an líon sin vótaí a chreidiúnú dó.
65. (1) Ag deireadh aon chomhairimh, féadfaidh aon iarrthóir nó aon ghníomhaire d'iarrthóir a iarraidh d'aisce ar an gceann comhairimh gach ceann nó aon cheann de na páipéir lenar déileálaladh sa chomhaireamh sin a athscrúdú agus a athchomhaireamh agus déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh na páipéir sin a athscrúdú agus a athchomhaireamh láithreach dá réir sin gan aon athruithe a dhéanamh ar chóiriú na bpáipéar sna beartáin éagsúla, ach amháin i gcás na hathruithe sin a bheith riachtanach mar gheall ar aon earráid a aimsíodh san athchomhaireamh. Féadfaidh an ceann comhairimh, freisin, dá rogha féin, páipéir a athchomhaireamh uair amháin nó níos minice in aon chás nach deimhin leis cruinneas aon chomhairimh; ach ní chuirfidh aon ní anseo d'oibleagáid ar an gceann comhairimh an beartán céanna páipéar a athchomhaireamh níos mó ná uair amháin.
(2) An chumhacht atá ag ceann comhairimh faoi mhír (1) den Riail seo chun páipéir a chomhaireamh dá rogha féin in aon chás nach deimhin leis cruinneas aon chomhairimh, bainfidh sí le páipéir ar déileáladh leo i gcomhaireamh roimh an gcomhaireamh díreach roimhe sin.
(3) Maidir le gach iarrthóir, féadfaidh sé féin nó a ghníomhaire a iarraidh d'aisce uair amháin (agus sin an méid) athscrúdú agus athchomhaireamh iomlán a dhéanamh ar na beartáin go léir de pháipéir bhallóide agus déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh na beartáin de pháipéir bhallóide a athscrúdú agus a athchomhaireamh láithreach dá réir sin. San athscrúdú agus san athchomhaireamh ní chuirfear isteach ar líon ná ar ord na bpáipéar ballóide in aon bheartán. Ní chuirfidh aon ní sna forálacha sin roimhe seo den Riail seo d'oibleagáid ar an gceann comhairimh an beartán céanna páipéar a athscrúdú nó a athchomhaireamh níos minice ná uair amháin, ach má aimsítear earráid is dóigh leis an gceann comhairimh a bheith tábhachtach go leor chun difear a dhéanamh do thoradh an toghcháin, comhairfidh an ceann comhairimh na páipéir go léir athuair ón bpointe ag ar aimsíodh an earráid.
(4) Nuair a aimseofar earráid, leasóidh an ceann comhairimh, más gá, aon torthaí a d'fhógair sé roimhe sin.
66. Nuair a bheidh comhaireamh na vótaí críochnaithe cinnfidh agus dearbhóidh an ceann comhairimh toradh na vótaíochta agus as a aithle sin beidh na hiarrthóirí a mheastar a bheith tofa arna dtoghadh.
67. Is cinneadh críochnaitheach cinneadh an cheann comhairimh, cibé acu sainráite dó nó intuigthe as a ghníomhartha, ar aon cheist a éireoidh i dtaobh iarrthóir a eisiamh faoi Riail 62 den Sceideal seo nó i dtaobh aon pháipéir bhallóide nó aistriú vótaí, agus ní fhéadfar é a fhreaschur ach amháin le hachainí ag tabhairt an toghcháin Tionóil faoi cheist.
Caibidil IV
Toradh an toghcháin Tionóil etc.
68. (1) Déanfaidh an ceann comhairimh do thoghlach freagra a thabhairt don phríomhcheann comhairimh faoi na daoine a toghadh sa toghlach le bheith ina n-ionadaithe sa Tionól.
(2) Is trí dheimhniú san fhoirm fhorordaithe ar ainmneacha agus tuairiscí na ndaoine sin, arna shíniú ag an gceann comhairimh, a thabharfar an freagra agus tabharfar é a luaithe is féidir tar éis toradh na vótaíochta a dhearbhú de réir Riail 66 den Sceideal seo nó mura mbeidh aon vótaíocht ann, nuair a dhearbhófar na daoine sin a bheith tofa de réir Riail 19 (b) den Sceideal seo.
(3) Tabharfaidh an ceann comhairimh fógra poiblí faoi ainmneacha agus tuairiscí na n-iarrthóirí a toghadh agus freisin, i gcás toghcháin iomaidh, faoi líon iomlán na vótaí a tugadh do gach iarrthóir, cibé acu a toghadh é nó nár toghadh, faoi aon aistriú vótaí agus faoi líon iomlán na vótaí a bhí creidiúnaithe do gach iarrthóir ag deireadh an chomhairimh ina ndearnadh an t-aistriú. Cuirfidh sé cóip den fhógra sin chuig an Aire, chuig an bpríomhcheann comhairimh agus chuig gach duine a toghadh. Cuirfidh sé cóip den ráiteas dá dtagraítear i Riail 54 (2) den Sceideal seo chuig an Aire freisin.
69. (1) Nuair a bheidh comhaireamh na vótaí críochnaithe, cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh isteach i bpaicéid shéalaithe ar leith—
(a) na páipéir bhallóide a comhaireadh,
(b) na páipéir bhallóide ar diúltaíodh dóibh i gcomhaireamh na vótaí,
(c) na cuntais pháipéar ballóide agus an ráiteas arna ullmhú de réir Riail 54 (2) den Sceideal seo, agus
(d) páipéir ainmniúcháin na n-iarrthóirí, idir bhailí agus neamhbhailí, agus aon deimhnithe cleamhnachta polaitíochta,
agus marcálfaidh sé ar gach paicéad sonraí a inneachar, dáta an lae vótaíochta sa toghchán Tionóil agus an toghlach lena mbaineann siad, agus seolfaidh sé na paicéid sin a luaithe is féidir chuig an bpríomhcheann comhairimh.
(2) Cuirfidh an ceann comhairimh áitiúil isteach i bpáicéid ar leith—
(a) na páipéir bhallóide neamhúsáidte agus mhillte.
(b) comhdhuillí na bpáipéar ballóide a eisíodh i stáisiúin vótaíochta,
(c) na cóipeanna marcáilte de chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa, agus
(d) aon deimhnithe údaráis a tugadh do thoghthóirí a bhí fostaithe ag an gceann comhairimh áitiúil chun vótáil i stáisiúin vótaíochta eile,
agus marcálfaidh sé ar gach paicéad sonraí a inneachar, dáta an lae vótaíochta sa toghchán Tionóil, agus an toghlach agus an contae nó an chontae-bhuirg lena mbaineann siad, agus seolfaidh sé na paicéid sin agus na paicéid arna séalú de réir Riail 26 (6) den Sceideal seo agus míreanna (2) agus (3) de Riail 50 den Sceideal seo, a luaithe is féidir, chuig an bpríomhcheann comhairimh.
(3) Coinneoidh an príomhcheann comhairimh na doiciméid dá dtagraítear sa Riail seo go ceann bliana ó dháta na vótaíochta sa toghchán Tionóil. Nuair a bheidh an tréimhse sin caite, cuirfidh an príomhcheann comhairimh faoi deara, mura n-ordaítear a mhalairt le hordú ón Ard-Chúirt, na doiciméid sin a scriosadh.
70. A luaithe is féidir tar éis dó an freagra dá dtagraítear i Riail 68 den Sceideal seo a fháil ó gach ceann comhairimh, tabharfaidh an príomhcheann comhairimh freagra san fhoirm fhorordaithe don Tionól faoi na daoine a toghadh sa Stát le bheith ina n-ionadaithe sa Tionól.
CUID IV
Cionta Toghcháin
71, (1) Ní fhéadfaidh duine, aon bhliain a ndéanfar toghchán Tionóil, an dá ní seo a leanas a dhéanamh,
(a) páipéar ballóide a iarraidh nó vótáil sa toghchán, agus
(b) páipéar ballóide a iarraidh nó vótáil i dtoghchán atá á dhéanamh maidir le haon Bhallstát seachas an Stát de bhun aon fhorála a leagadh síos faoi aon cheann nó gach ceann de na conarthaí.
(2) Duine,
(a) atá cláraithe i gclár na dtoghthóirí do Thionól na hEorpa ag a bhfuil feidhm de thuras na huaire ach nach bhfuil i dteideal a chláraithe amhlaidh, nó
(b) nach bhfuil cláraithe sa chlár sin,
ní vótálfaidh sé i dtoghchán Tionóil.
(3) Duine a sháróidh mír (1) nó (2) den Riail seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(4) Nuair a dhéanfar toghchán Tionóil úr de bhun alt 17 (7) den Acht seo agus go ndéanfar an toghchán sin i mbliain seachas an bhliain a ndearnadh an toghchán Tionóil iomchuí a dhearbhaigh an chúirt a bheith ar neamhní go hiomlán nó go páirteach, ansin chun críocha na Rialach seo measfar gur sa bhliain chéanna a rinneadh an toghchán Tionóil úr agus an toghchán Tionóil lena mbaineann an dearbhú.
(5) Chun críocha na Rialach seo, duine a mharcáil, cibé acu go bailí é nó nach ea, agus a thug ar ais don cheann comhairimh áitiúil páipéar ballóide arna eisiúint de bhun Riail 26 den Sceideal seo, measfar vótáil a bheith déanta aige.
72. (1) Duine a dhéanfaidh, i dtoghchán Tionóil—
(a) vótáil nó páipéar ballóide a iarraidh in ainm duine éigin eile, cibé acu is ainm duine bheo nó ainm duine mhairbh nó ainm duine bhréige an t-ainm sin, nó
(b) tar éis dó vótail cheana féin, páipéar ballóide a iarraidh ina ainm féin sa toghchán céanna.
beidh sé ciontach i gcion pearsanaíochta.
(2) Chun críocha na Rialach seo, duine a mharcáil, cibé acu go bailí é nó nach ea, agus a thug ar ais don cheann comhairimh áitiúil. páipéar ballóide arna eisiúint de bhun Riail 26 den Sceideal seo, measfar vótáil a bheith déanta aige.
(3) Duine a chabhróidh nó a neartóidh le duine, nó a chomhairleoidh dó, nó a thabharfaidh i gcrích, cion pearsanaíochta a dhéanamh, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
73. (1) Maidir le toghchán Tionóil, ní cead do dhuine—
(a) comaoin luachmhar a thabhairt d'fhonn vótálaí a aslú chun vótáil, nó d'fhonn toghadh aon duine nó vótáil aon vótálaí a thabhairt i gcrích, nó mar gheall ar vótáil a bheith déanta ag vótálaí; ná
(b) toghadh aon duine nó vótáil aon vótálaí a thabhairt i gcrích de bhíthin nó de dhroim comaoine luachmhaire, ná
(c) aon duine a aslú, de bhíthin nó de dhroim comaoine luachmhaire, chun tarraingt siar nó staonadh ó tharraingt siar ó bheith ina iarrthóir, nó tarraingt siar nó staonadh ó tharraingt siar, de dhroim aon chomaoine luachmhaire. ó bheith ina iarrthóir; ná
(d) comaoin luachmhar a ghlacadh, nó comhaontú nó conrú comaoin luachmhar a ghlacadh, as vótáil nó as toiliú vótáil.
(2) Duine a sháróidh mír (1) den Riail seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(3) Duine a chabhróidh nó a neartóidh le duine, nó a chomhairleoidh dó, nó a thabharfaidh i gcrích, cion faoin Riail seo a dhéanamh, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(4) Sa Riail seo—
folaíonn “tabhairt”, “aslú” agus “tabhairt i gcrích” comhaontú nó gealladh nó iarracht um thabhairt, um aslú nó um thabhairt i gcrích, de réir mar a bheidh, agus cibé acu go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach é;
folaíonn “comaoin luachmhar” aon airgead, luach airgid nó urrús luachmhar nó aon chomaoin luachmhar nó aon oifig, ionad nó fostaíocht, a thabhairt, a iasachtú, nó comhaontú é a thabhairt nó a iasachtú, d'aon duine, nó tairiscint nó gealltanas aon ní acu sin a thabhairt i gcrích dó nó féachaint lena thabhairt i gcrích dó;
folaíonn “vótáil” vótáil ar dhoigh áirithe nó staonadh ó vótáil.
74. Duine a dhéanfaidh, i ndáil le toghchán Tionóil, go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach, feidhm a bhaint, nó bagairt feidhm a bhaint, as aon fhorneart, foréigean nó srianadh in aghaidh aon duine nó a dhéanfaidh, nó a chuirfidh faoi deara go ndéanfar, nó a bhagróidh go ndéanfaidh nó go gcuirfidh faoi deara go ndéanfar aon díobháil nó dochar, saolta nó spioradálta d'aon duine nó a fhéachfaidh trí fhuadach, éigeantas, nó calaois—
(a) aon duine a aslú nó iallach a chur ar aon duine chun vótáil nó staonadh ó vótáil, nó chun vótáil nó staonadh ó vótáil do dhuine áirithe nó ar dhóigh áirithe, nó
(b) aon duine a aslú nó iallach a chur ar aon duine chun tarraingt siar nó staonadh ó tharraingt siar, ó bheith ina iarrthóir, nó
(c) aon duine a aslú, nó iallach a chur ar aon duine chun bheith ina iarrthóir nó chun aon duine a bhac nó a chosc ó bheith ina iarrthóir, nó
(d) saorchleachtadh an toghchórais ag aon toghthóir Tionóil a bhac nó a chosc,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
75. (1) Duine a bheidh i láthair le linn páipéir bhallóide a eisiúint chuig postvótálaithe nó le linn boscaí postbhallóide a oscailt, beidh sé ciontach i gcion má dhéanann sé, ach amháin chun críche éigin a údaraítear le dlí—
(a) aon fhaisnéis a fuarthas ag an eisiúint sin i dtaobh an mhairc oifigiúil a pháirtiú le haon duine, roimh chríochnú na vótaíochta, nó
(b) iarracht chun a fháil amach ag an eisiúint sin nó ag an oscailt sin cad é an uimhir atá ar chúl aon pháipéir bhallóide nó cé hé an t-iarrthóir dar tugadh aon vóta in aon pháipéar ballóide, nó aon fhaisnéis ina thaobh sin a fuarthas ag an eisiúint sin nó ag an oscailt sin a pháirtiú le haon duine eile.
(2) Duine a ligfear isteach i stáisiún vótaíochta in aon cháil ag toghchán Tionóil, beidh sé ciontach i gcion má dhéanann sé, sula gcríochnófar an vótaíocht, aon fhaisnéis a pháirtiú, ach amháin chun críche éigin a údaraítear le dlí, le haon duine eile i dtaobh an ainm nó an uimhir ar chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa atá ag aon vótalaí a d'iarr, nó nár iarr, páipéar ballóide nó a vótáil i stáisiún vótaíochta, nó i dtaobh an mhairc oifigiúil.
(3) Duine a bheidh i láthair in aon cháil le linn chomhaireamh na vótaí i dtoghchán Tionóil, beidh sé ciontach i gcion má fhaigheann sé amach nó má fhéachann sé lena fháil amach ag an gcomhaireamh sin cad é an uimhir atá ar chúl aon pháipéir bhallóide, nó má dhéanann sé aon uair aon fhaisnéis a pháirtiú a fuarthas sa chomhaireamh sin i dtaobh an iarrthóra a mbeidh aon vóta tugtha dó ar aon pháipéar ballóide.
(4) Beidh duine ciontach i gcion más rud é, i dtoghchán Tionóil, ach amháin chun críche éigin a údaraítear le dlí—
(a) go gcuirfidh sé isteach nó go bhféachfaidh sé le cur isteach ar vótálaí nuair a bheidh a vóta á mharcáil aige, nó go bhfaighidh sé faisnéis, nó go bhféachfaidh sé le faisnéis a fháil, i stáisiún vótaíochta i dtaobh an iarrthóra dá mbeidh vóta le tabhairt nó tugtha ag aon vótálaí sa stáisiún, nó
(b) go ndéanfaidh sé, tráth ar bith, aon fhaisnéis a fuarthas i stáisiún vótaíochta i dtaobh an iarrthóra dá mbeidh vóta le tabhairt nó tugtha ag vótálaí sa stáisiún sin nó i dtaobh na huimhreach ar chúl an pháipéir bhallóide a eisíodh chuig vótálaí sa stáisiún sin, a pháirtiú le haon duine eile, nó
(c) go n-aslóidh sé, go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach, ar aon vótálaí a pháipéar ballóide a thaispeáint, tar éis don vótálaí sin é a mharcáil, ionas go mbeidh a fhios ag aon duine ainm an iarrthóra a mbeidh nó nach mbeidh vóta tugtha dó ag an vótálaí sin, nó
(d) go gcuirfidh sé isteach nó go bhféachfaidh sé le cur isteach ar ghlacadh nó marcáil nó aischur páipéar ballóide ag aon phostvótalaí nó go bhféachfaidh sé le faisnéis a fháil i dtaobh an iarrthóra a mbeidh nó nach mbeidh vóta tugtha dó ag an vótálaí sin.
76. Beidh duine ciontach i gcion—
(a) má dhéanann sé, go toiliúil agus gan údarás dleathach, aon bhosca ballóide nó paicéad páipéar ballóide, nó aon phaicéad páipéar nó doiciméad d'aon chineál a bheidh á úsáid nó le húsáid san am sin chun críocha toghcháin Tionóil, nó aon chuntas páipéar ballóide nó cóip mharcáilte de chlár toghthóirí Thionól na hEorpa arna ullmhú nó arna úsáid chun críocha an toghcháin nó aon pháipéar ballóide neamhúsáidte, a thógáil, a scriosadh, a cheilt nó a oscailt nó baint leo ar dhóigh eile, nó
(b) má dhéanann sé, go mailíseach, páipéar ballóide a scriosadh, a stróiceadh nó a aghlot, nó
(c) má dhéanann sé páipéar ballóide nó an marc oifigiúil ar pháipéar ballóide a bhrionnú nó a ghóchumadh, nó
(d) má dhéanann sé, gan údarás dleathach, páipéar ballóide a sholáthar d'aon duine, nó
(e) má chuireann sé isteach go calaoiseach i mbosca ballóide aon pháipéar seachas an páipéar ballóide a údaraítear le dlí dó a chur isteach ann, nó
(f) má thugann sé páipéar ballóide go calaoiseach amach as stáisiún vótaíochta, nó
(g) má dhéanann sé aon pháipéar ainmniúcháin nó aon deimhniú cleamhnachta polataíochta nó aon deimhniú faoi Riail 36 den Sceideal seo nó aon chlúdach oifigiúil nó foirm admhála a úsáidtear i ndáil le postvótáil, nó aon fhoirm nó doiciméad a úsáidtear i dtoghchán, a bhrionnú nó a aghlot go calaoiseach nó a scriosadh go calaoiseach, nó
(h) má thugann sé ar aird don cheann comhairimh páipéar ainmniúcháin ar feasach dó é a bheith brionnaithe, nó
(i) má ghóchumann sé an marc oifigiúil, nó
(j) má dhéanann sé, gan údarás dleathach, aon ghléas chun an marc oifigiúil a stampáil ar pháipéir bhallóide a thógáil, a scriosadh nó a dhamáistiú nó má dhéanann sé, nó má bhíonn ina sheilbh aige, aon mhacsamhail d'aon ghléas den sórt sin nó aon ghóchumadh air.
77. (1) Beidh duine ciontach i gcion más rud é, idir dáta foilsithe an Fhógra Toghcháin agus an dáta a gcuirfidh an príomhcheann comhairimh an freagra ar ais faoi Riail 70 den Sceideal seo i dtaol na ndaoine a toghadh le bheith ina n-ionadaithe sa Tionól, ngníomhóidh sé go heasordúil ag cruinniú poiblí dleathach comóradh i ndáil le toghchán don Tionól sin.
(2) Duine a chabhróidh nó a neartóidh le duine nó a chomhairleoidh dó, nó a thabharfaidh i gcrích, cion a dhéanamh faoi mhír (1) den Riail seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
78. (1) Ní foláir ainm agus seoladh an chlódóra agus an fhoilsitheora a bheith ar éadan gach fógra, bille, póstaer nó doiciméad dá samhail a bhainfidh le toghchán Tionóil nó a dháilfear chun iarrthóireacht aon iarrthóra i dtoghchán Tionóil a chur ar aghaidh.
(2) Beidh duine ciontach i gcion má dhéanann sé aon fhógra, bille, póstaer nó doiciméad dá samhail mar atá ráite, gan ainm agus seoladh an chlódóra agus an fhoilsitheora a bheith ar a éadan, a chló, a fhoilsiú nó a chur suas, nó má chuireann sé faoi deara é a chló, a fhoilsiú nó a chur suas.
(3) Ní bheidh feidhm ag forálacha na míreanna roimhe seo den Riail seo maidir le haon fhógra, bille, póstaer nó doiciméad dá samhail a dhéanfaidh ceann comhairimh nó ceann comhairimh áitiúil a chló, a fhoilsíú nó a chur suas.
(4) Chun críocha na Rialach seo folaíonn “cló” aon phróiseas chun cóipeanna a dhéanamh d'fhógra, de bhille, de phóstaer nó de dhoiciméad dá samhail, seachas cóipeáil de láimh.
79. (1) Ní dhéanfaidh duine—
(a) duine eile a ainmniú lena thoghadh faoin Acht seo don Tionól, ná
(b) iarrthóireacht duine eile sa toghchán sin don Tionól a tharraingt siar,
gan toiliú ón duine sin.
(2) Duine a sháróidh mír (1) den Riail seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
80. Duine a thabharfaidh ar aird do cheann comhairimh deimhniú dá dtagraítear i Riail 4 (4) den Sceideal seo agus a fhios aige é a bheith brionnaithe, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
81. (1) Má dhéanann duine is iarrthóir, nó moltóir iarrthóra, i dtoghchán Tionóil dearbhú ar pháipéar ainmniúcháin gur léigh sé na nótaí ar chúl an pháipéir ainmniúcháin agus go gcreideann sé go bhfuil sé féin, nó an t-iarrthóir (cibé acu is iomchuí),
(a) cáilithe lena thoghadh faoin Acht seo, agus
(b) nach bhfuil sé féin, nó an t-iarrthóir (cibé acu is iomchuí) arna ainmniú go bailí i leith aon toghlaigh eile,
ansin, más rud é maidir leis féin nó leis an iarrthóir (cibé acu is iomchuí),
(c) nach bhfuil sé cáilithe lena thoghadh faoin Acht seo, nó
(d) go bhfuil sé arna ainmniú go bailí i leith toghlaigh ar bith eile,
beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion.
(2) In ionchúiseamh mar gheall ar chion faoi mhír (1) den Riail seo, is cosaint mhaith don chosantóir a shuíomh go raibh cúis réasúnach aige chun a chreidiúint go raibh sé féin nó an t-iarrthóir (cibé acu is iomchuí) cáilithe lena thoghadh nó gan bheith arna ainmniú go bailí i leith toghlaigh ar bith eile.
82. Aon cheann comhairimh nó ceann comhairimh áitiúil, nó aon duine ar fostú ag aon oifigeach acu sin chun aon chríche a bhaineann le toghchán Tionóil, a ghníomhóidh mar ghníomhaire d'aon iarrthóir sa toghchán sin nó a mbeidh baint ghníomhach aige le hiarrthóireacht aon iarrthóra a chur ar aghaidh nó le leasanna aon pháirtí sa toghchán a chur chun cinn, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
83. Duine a choiscfidh, le foréigean, ainmniúchán iarrthóirí nó an vótaíocht i dtoghchán Tionóil, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
84. (1) Ní fhágfaidh gníomhaire pearsanaíochta an stáisiún vótaíochta dá mbeidh sé ceaptha le linn na n-uaire a chloig a bheidh ceaptha faoi alt 6 den Acht seo chun vótaíocht a dhéanamh gan cead a fháil roimh ré ón oifigeach ceannais agus gan gach uile chlár, leabhar agus doiciméad, a mbeidh aon nóta nó scríbhinn nó marc curtha aige ann le linn na vótaíochta, a thaisceadh leis an oifigeach ceannais sin.
(2) Gníomhaire pearsanaíochta a sháróidh mír (1) den Riail seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion, agus ina theannta sin, ní fhillfidh sé ar an stáisiún vótaíochta áirithe sin gan cead ón oifigeach ceannais.
85. Duine a sháróidh mír (8) nó (9) de Riail 39 den Sceideal seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
86. Duine a dhéanfaidh go feasach, idir dáta foilsithe an Fhógra Toghcháin agus an dáta a thabharfaidh an príomhcheann comhairimh an freagra faoi Riail 70 den Sceideal seo faoi na daoine a toghadh le bheith ina n-ionadaithe sa Tionól, ráiteas bréagach a fhoilsiú i dtaobh iarrthóir sa toghchán Tionóil do tharraingt siar nó d'fháil bháis, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
87. Aon duine a dhéanfaidh nó a fhoilseoidh, roimh thoghchán Tionóil, nó lena linn, aon ráiteas ar dóigh dó vótálaithe a chur ar míthreoir i dtaobh próiseas iarbhír na vótála, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
88. Iarrthóir nó gníomhaire d'iarrthóir a laimhseoidh páipéar ballóide le linn chomhaireamh na vótaí i dtoghchán Tionóil, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
89. Is cion é iniúchadh neamhúdaraithe a dhéanamh ar aon doiciméad is doiciméad dá luaitear in alt 16 (2) den Acht seo.
90. D'ainneoin alt 10 (4) den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachtaí mar gheall ar chion faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh laistigh de dhá mhí dhéag ó dháta an chiona nó, i gcás an cion bheith déanta i ndáil le toghchán Tionóil a mbeidh imeachtaí ina leith ag tabhairt an toghcháin faoi cheist os comhair na hArd-Chúirte, féadfar iad a thionscnamh laistigh de dhá mhí dhéag ó dháta an chiona nó laistigh de thrí mhí ó chinneadh na cúirte, cibé tréimhse díobh is déanaí a rachaidh in éag, ach ní thionscnófar imeachtaí mar gheall ar chion faoin Acht seo tar éis tréimhse dhá bhliain dar tosach dáta an chíona a dhul in éag.
91. (1) Nuair a bheidh duine ciontach i gcion faoin Acht seo, seachas cion dá luaitear i mír (2) den Riail seo, dlífear—
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair fíneáil nach mó ná £500 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh tréimhse nach faide ná sé mhí, nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar dhíotáil, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh tréimhse nach faide ná dhá bhliain nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
(2) Nuair a bheidh duine ciontach i gcion faoi Riail 78 nó 88 den Sceideal seo, dlífear, ar an duine sin a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £100 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh tréimhse nach faide ná trí mhí, nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
92. Nuair a ghabhfar duine ar bith faoi Riail 41 den Sceideal seo ar chúiseamh a rinne gníomhaire pearsanaíochta go ndearna an duine sin cion pearsanaíochta nó cion faoi Riail 71 den Sceideal seo agus go mainneoidh an gníomhaire pearsanaíochta sin (nó duine éigin thar a cheann) láithriú os comhair na cúirte agus tacú leis an gcúiseamh, nó go n-éigiontóidh an chúirt an duine i ndéanamh an chiona agus go gcinnfidh sí go ndearna an gníomhaire pearsanaíochta an cúiseamh gan cúis a bhí réasúnach nó cóir, féadfaidh an chúirt, ar iarratas ón duine a cúisíodh amhlaidh, agus ar an dóigh sin amháin, a ordú don ghníomhaire pearsanaíochta cibé suim a íoc, i modh damáistí leis an duine sin, nach mó ná £250, is cuí leis an gcúirt, agus nuair a íocfar an tsuim sin go cuí glacfaidh an duine a cúisíodh amhlaidh léi mar lánsásamh sna héilimh go léir uaidh i leith damáistí de dhroim an chúisimh sin agus de dhroim a ghabhála agus a choinneála dá bhíthin.
93. Nuair a mhainneoidh aon duine dá dtugtar aon fheidhmeanna nó dualgais leis an Acht seo, nó faoi, i ndáil le toghchán Tionóil, a fheidmeanna nó a dhualgais ina leith sin a chomhlíonadh gan cúis réasúnach, beidh aon duine arb éagóir leis an mhainneachtain sin i dteideal suim, nach mó ná £200, a ghnóthú i modh damáistí uaidh trí chaingean dlí de réir mar is cóir leis an gcúirt a thriailfidh an chaingean sin.
94. In aon imeachtaí sibhialta nó coiriúla i ndáil le cion líomhnaithe i dtoghchán Tionóil, glacfar le deimhniú an cheann comhairimh don toghlach áirithe go ndearnadh an toghchán go cuí, nó gurbh iarrthóir ann duine áirithe, mar fhianaise prima facie ar na fíorais a bheidh luaite ann agus ní gá cruthúnas ar shíniú an cheann comhairimh ná gurbh é an ceann comhairimh sin é iarbhír.
95. Duine a dhéanfaidh aon chomhaontú nó a rachaidh faoi chuing aon ghealltanais i ndáil le hachainí a tharraingt siar i gcomaoin aon íocaíochta nó i gcomaoin scor de chomhaltas sa Tionól nó ar aon chúis shubstaintiúil eile nach mbeidh luaite sa mhionnscríbhinn dá dtagraítear i Riail 103 (2) den Sceideal seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
Cuid V
Achainíocha Toghcháin Tionóil
96. Nuair is dóigh leis an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí go mb'fhéidir go ndeachaigh cionta toghcháin a rinneadh chun éifeachta ar thoghchán Tionóil, féadfaidh sé an toghchán a thabhairt faoi cheist de bhun an Achta seo.
97. (1) Is trí chúirtbhannaí ina rachaidh aon líon urraí, nach mó ná ceathrar d'urraí chun sástacht na cúirte, nó trí airgead a thaisceadh, nó go páirteach ar dhóigh amháin agus go páirteach ar an dóigh eile, a thabharfar an t-urrús a cheanglaítear a thabhairt le halt 17 (2) den Acht seo.
(2) Más é an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí a thíolacfaidh achainí. ní bheidh feidhm ag alt 17 (2) den Acht seo.
98. (1) Tíolacfar achainí trína taisceadh i bPríomh-Oifig na hArd-Chúirte.
(2) Faoi réir mhír (3) den Riail seo, ní thíolacfar achainí ach amháin laistigh de na hocht lá is fiche díreach tar éis don cheann comhairimh toradh an toghcháin Tionóil a dhearbhú.
(3) Nuair a líomhnóidh achainí go ndearnadh breabaireacht agus go líomhnófar go sonrach gur íocadh nó gur tugadh íocaíocht nó comaoin eile tar éis don cheann comhairimh toradh an toghcháin Tionóil a dhearbhú, ansin, d'ainneoin go mb'fhéidir go ndearnadh achainí eile maidir leis an toghchán céanna a thíolacadh nó a thriail roimhe sin, féadfar an achainí a thíolacadh laistigh de na hocht lá is fiche díreach tar éis an lae a líomhnaíodh gur íocadh nó gur tugadh an íocaíocht nó an chomaoin sin.
(4) Nuair a bheidh achainí taiscthe sa chúirt, tabharfaidh an t-achainíoch cóip den achainí, a luaithe is féidir—
(a) d'aon duine a mbaineann an achainí lena thoghadh,
(b) don Aire,
(c) don phríomhcheann comhairimh,
(d) do cheann comhairimh an toghlaigh lena mbaineann an achainí, agus
(e) don Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí ach amháin i gcás achainí arna tíolacadh ag an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí.
99. (1) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht alt 17 (4) den Acht seo, féadfar aon fhorais díobh seo a leanas a shonrú in achainí:
(a) go ndeachaigh earráid chun éifeachta ar an toghchán Tionóil nó nár críochnaíodh é nó thairis sin nár stiúradh é ag an gceann comhairimh nó ag aon cheann comhairimh áitiúil de réir dlí,
(b) go ndeachaigh cionta toghcháin chun éifeachta ar an toghchán Tionóil,
(c) nach raibh iarrthóir i dtoghchán Tionóil cáilithe lena thoghadh don Tionól faoi alt 7 den Acht seo.
(2) D'ainneoin aon fhorála eile sa Sceideal seo, ní dhéanfar achainí a dhíbhe mar gheall ar neamhfhoirmiúlacht ina inneachair nach ndéanann difear ábhartha dá substaint.
(3) Ní dhearbhófar aon toghchán Tionóil a bheith neamhbhailí mar gheall ar neamhchomhlíonadh aon fhorála san Acht seo nó ar aon earráid in úsáid foirmeacha dá bhforáiltear san Acht seo, más léir leis an Ard-Chúirt gur stiúradh an toghchán de réir na bprionsabal atá leagtha síos san Acht seo, á nglacadh ina n-iomláine, agus nach ndeachaigh an neamhchomhlíonadh nó an earráid sin chun éifeachta ar thoradh an toghcháin.
100. Ní foláir achainí a bheith sínithe ag an achainíoch agus na nithe seo a leanas a bheith sonraithe inti—
(a) an toghchán Tionóil lena mbaineann sí,
(b) na forais ar a bhfuil sí bunaithe,
(c) an leigheas atá á lorg aici,
(d) ainm agus seoladh an achainígh agus a aturnae nó a ghníomhaire, más ann.
101. (1) Is í an Ard-Chúirt a thriailfidh achainí agus déanfar tagairtí don chúirt sa Chuid seo den Sceideal seo a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don Ard-Chúirt.
(2) Beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas i ndáil le triail achainí:
(a) nuair a bheidh an dáta á shocrú don triail agus an triail á stiúradh aici, déileálfaidh an chúirt leis an ábhar a luaithe is féidir le réasún;
(b) d'ainneoin bás aon duine a mbaineann an achainí lena thoghadh, lena éirí as oifig mar ionadaí sa Tionól nó lena scor ar dhóigh eile de bheith ina ionadaí amhlaidh, leanfar leis an triail nó go gcinnfear a toradh;
(c) féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí ag céim ar bith dlíodóir a bheith aige chun feidhmiú ar a shon agus féadfaidh sé páirt a ghlacadh sa triail mar pháirtí, uaidh féin nó ar iarratas ón gcúirt;
(d) beidh an ceann comhairimh don toghlach iomchuí agus aon cheann comhairimh áitiúil lena mbaineann i láthair, má iarrann an chúirt é, ag an triail agus tabharfaidh sé cibé cúnamh a iarrfaidh an chúirt air ach gan dochar do é a bheith ina pháirtí sna himeachtaí nó é a bheith inghlaoite ag aon pháirtí den sórt sin mar fhinné.
102. (1) Chun críocha na trialach ar achainí ag tabhairt toghchán Tionóil faoi cheist, féadfaidh an chúirt más cuí léi, a ordú—
(a) go ndéanfar na vótaí go léir a caitheadh sa toghchán sa toghlach lena mbaineann an achainí a chomhaireamh athuair, nó
(b) go ndéanfar na vótaí go léir a caitheadh amhlaidh agus a taifeadadh ar na páipéir bhallóide i mbeartán áirithe a chomhaireamh amhlaidh,
agus má thugann an chúirt an t-ordú sin, beidh éifeacht ag forálacha na míreanna seo a leanas.
(2) Déanfar vótaí lena mbaineann ordú faoin Riail seo a chomhaireamh athuair faoi threoir na cúirte agus, faoi réir míreanna (3) agus (4) den Riail seo agus cibé modhnuithe (más ann) is riachtanach leis an gcúirt, bainfidh forálacha Chaibidil III de Chuid III den Sceideal seo i dtaobh comhaireamh vótaí i dtoghchán leis an gcomhaireamh sin.
(3) Nuair a chomhairfear vótaí athuair de bhun ordú faoin Riail seo, cuirfidh an chúirt faoi deara nach dtabharfar aird ar na roghanna seo a leanas:
(a) roghanna arna dtaifeadadh ar pháipéir bhallóide atá neamhbhailí de bhua Riail 58 (2) den Sceideal seo,
(b) roghanna arna dtaifeadadh ar pháipéir bhallóide bhrionnaithe nó ghóchumtha, agus
(c) roghanna arna dtaifeadadh d'aon duine a gcinnfidh an chúirt ina leith, maidir leis an toghchán Tionóil iomchuí, nach raibh sé cáilithe faoin Acht seo lena thoghadh don Tionól.
(4) Beidh cumhacht ag an gcúirt aon chinneadh ó cheann comhairimh ag an gcomhaireamh bunaidh a fhreaschur.
(5) Déanfaidh an tAire Airgeadais na costais a bhainfidh le héifeacht a thabhairt d'ordú faoin Riail seo a íoc as an bPríomh-Chiste nó a thoradh fáis agus beidh feidhm ag alt 14 (6) den Acht seo, i gcás seirbhísí agus caiteachais a thug nó a thabhaigh an ceann comhairimh go cuí chun éifeacht a thabhairt nó i ndáil lena thabhairt, don ordú, amhail mar a bhí feidhm aige i gcás na seirbhísí agus na gcaiteachas a thug nó a thabhaigh an ceann comhairimh don toghchán Tionóil iomchuí nó i ndáil leis an toghchán sin.
103. (1) Ní tharraingeofar achainí siar gan cead ón gcúirt agus nuair a bheidh an cead sin á thabhairt ag an gcúirt déanfaidh sí deimhin de go raibh réasún leis an bhfógra a thug an t-achainíoch de bhun míreanna (3) agus (4) den Riail seo, agus ina theannta sin, nuair a bheidh achainí á tíolacadh ag níos mó ná achainíoch amháin, déanfaidh an chúirt deimhin de, sula dtabharfaidh sí an cead sin, go gcomhaontaíonn na hachainígh go léir leis an tarraingt siar.
(2) Ach amháin i gcás achainí arna tíolacadh ag an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí, nuair a bheidh cead á iarraidh ag an achainíoch chun achainí a tharraingt siar, cuirfidh sé mionnscríbhinn faoi bhráid na cúirte ina luafar:
(a) na fáthanna leis an tarraingt siar atá beartaithe, agus
(b) nach bhfuil, de réir mar is fearr is eol don achainíoch agus mar a chreideann sé, comhaontú ná gealltanas déanta ná tugtha i ndáil leis an achainí a tharraingt siar i gcomaoin aon íocaíochta nó i gcomaoin scor de chomhaltas sa Tionól ná ar aon chúis mhaith nach bhfuil luaite sa mhionnscríbhinn.
(3) Tabharfaidh an t-achainíoch fógra go bhfuil ar intinn aige cead a iarraidh chun achainí a tharraingt siar trí fhógra dá réir sin a fhoilsiú in dhá nuachtán laethúla ar a laghad a léitear sa toghlach lena mbaineann an achainí, agus luafaidh an fógra freisin an t-am agus an áit ina ndéanfar an t-iarratas agus go bhféadfaidh aon duine a iarraidh ar an gcúirt go gcuirfí é féin in ionad an achainígh.
(4) Ach amháin i gcás achainí arna tíolacadh ag an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí, tabharfaidh an t-achainíoch cóip den mhionnscríbhinn a luaitear i mír (2) den Riail seo, mar aon le fógra i dtaobh an ama agus na háite ina ndéanfar an t-iarratas, don Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí, agus féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir sin dlíodóir a bheith aige ag feidhmiú ar a shon le linn an iarratais agus féadfaidh sé, más cuí leis, cur ina choinne.
(5) Nuair a bheidh an achainí tíolactha ag níos mó ná achainíoch amháin, beidh ar na hachainígh go léir an mhionnscríbhinn a luaitear i mír (2) den Riail seo a dhéanamh, mura n-ordóidh an chúirt a mhalairt.
(6) Má tharraingtear achainí siar de bhun na Rialach seo, ní dhéanfaidh sin difear do dhliteanas aon duine (nó a eastát) costais a tabhaíodh roimhe sin a íoc.
104. (1) Ar iarratas a éisteacht ag iarraidh cead achainí a tharraingt siar, féadfaidh aon duine a iarraidh ar an gcúirt achainíoch ionadach a dhéanamh de, agus féadfaidh an chúirt, más oiriúnach léi, é a ionadú dá réir sin.
(2) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh an chúirt ionadú ar achainíoch faoi mhír (1) den Riail seo agus gurb é a tuairim go ndearnadh an t-iarratas ag iarraidh cead an achainí a tharraingt siar de thoradh aon chomhaontaithe nó gealltanais a ndearbhaíonn Riail 95 den Sceideal seo gur cion é a leithéid a dhéanamh nó a thabhairt, féadfaidh an chúirt a ordú go bhfanfaidh an t-urrús i leith costas a thug an t-achainíoch bunaidh mar urrús i leith na gcostas a thabhóidh an t-achainíoch ionadaithe agus go ndlífidh an t-achainíoch bunaidh agus a urraí, más ann, costais an achainígh ionadaithe a íoc go feadh méid na suime a bheidh ainmnithe san urrús.
105. (1) Faoi réir Riail 104 (2) den Sceideal seo, beidh, chomh fada agus is féidir, an seasamh céanna ag achainíoch ionadaithe agus na dliteanais chéanna air a bhí ag an achainíoch bunaidh nó air.
(2) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh an chúirt ionadú ar achainíoch faoi Riail 104 den Sceideal seo agus nach dtabharfaidh sí treoir faoi mhír (2) den Riail sin, nó i gcás ina ndéanfaidh an chúirt ionadú ar achainíoch faoi Riail 106 den Sceideal seo, is é an t-achainíoch ionadaithe a thabharfaidh an t-urrús a cheanglaíonn an tAcht seo i gcás achainí nua, agus é faoi réir na gcoinníollacha céanna, agus i gcás nach dtabharfar an t-urrús sin amhlaidh ní ghlacfar aon imeachtaí eile ar an achainí agus rachaidh an achainí ar ceal, ach ní dhéanfaidh an cealú difear do dhliteanas aon duine (nó a eastát) chun costais a tabhaíodh roimhe sin a íoc.
106. (1) Rachaidh achainí ar ceal trí bhás achainígh aonair nó trí bhás an mharthanóra as líon achainíoch.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh cealú achainí de bhua mhír (1) den Riail seo difear do dhliteanas an achainígh nó aon duine eile (nó a eastát) costais a tabhaíodh roimhe sin a íoc.
(3) Tráth ar bith laistigh de na ceithre lá dhéag díreach tar éis lá aon chealaithe den sórt sin, féadfaidh aon duine a iarraidh ar an gcúirt é a ionadú mar achainíoch agus féadfaidh an chúirt, más oiriúnach léi, é a ionadú dá réir sin, agus i gcás go ndéanfaidh an chúirt ordú faoin Riail seo déanfar athbheochan ar an achainí as a aithle sin.
107. (1) Tabharfaidh an chúirt, láithreach, cóip den ordú ag cinneadh na hachainí de réir alt 17 den Acht seo do gach duine díobh seo a leanas, eadhon, aon duine a mbaineann an t-ordú lena thoghadh, an tAire, an ceann comhairimh lena mbaineann, an príomhcheann comhairimh agus an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí.
(2) Beidh cumhacht ag an gcúirt leasuithe a dhéanamh ar an bhfreagra a bheidh curtha ag ceann comhairimh chuig an bpríomhcheann comhairimh faoi na daoine a toghadh de réir mar a mheasfaidh sí is gá de dhroim chinneadh na cúirte ar achainí
108. (1) Nuair a dhearbhóidh ordú na cúirte i dtaobh achainí nár toghadh duine go cuí mar ionadaí don Tionól nó go raibh an t-iomlán nó cuid de thoghchán Tionóil ar neamhní, scoirfidh an duine lena mbaineann an dearbhú, nó aon duine a toghadh sa toghchán neamhnithe sin nó sa chuid neamhnithe sin den toghchán sin (cibé acu é), ar ala na huaire sin, de bheith ina ionadaí sa Tionól.
(2) Nuair a dhéanfaidh ordú a luaitear i mír (1) den Riail seo dearbhú go ndearnadh, in ionad aon duine ar dearbhaíodh leis an ordú nár toghadh é go cuí nó nach raibh sé cáilithe lena thoghadh faoin Acht seo don Tionól, cinntiú ar dhuine sonraithe eile a bheith tofa beidh an duine eile sin arna thoghadh ar ala na huaire sin mar ionadaí don Tionól.
109. Ní dhéanfar, ach amháin trí thoghadh na n-ionadaithe go léir don Tionól, aon ghníomh chun folúntas a líonadh ar líon na n-ionadaithe sa Tionól de bhíthin bás, nó scor mar ionadaí den sórt sin, duine a d'éag nó a d'éirigh as oifig nó a scoir ar dhóigh eile de bheith ina ionadaí sa Tionól le linn triail na hachainí ina leith a bheith ar feitheamh nó ar siúl.
110. (1) Beidh an chúirt i dteideal, dá deoin féin, ordú a thabhairt aon uair le linn achainí a bheith á triail go dtabharfar duine áirithe os comhair na cúirte agus go dtabharfaidh sé fianaise sa triail, agus nuair a ordóidh an chúirt amhlaidh áireofar mar chuid de chostais na hachainí an costas a bhain leis an duine a thabhairt os comhair na cúirte (lena n-áirítear aon airgead is iníoctha leis mar chaiteachais fhinné).
(2) Faoi réir mhír (3) den Riail seo, aon duine a nglaofar air mar fhinné i dtriail achainí, ní shaorfar é ó fhreagra a thabhairt ar aon cheist maidir le haon chion sa toghchán Tionóil iomchuí, nó i ndáil leis an toghchán sin, ar an bhforas go bhféadfadh an freagra ar an gceist é a ionchoiriú nó go dtiocfadh dó é a ionchoiriú nó ar fhorais phribhléide; ar choinníoll,
(a) go mbeidh finné a shásóidh an chúirt gur fhreagair sé go fírinneach na ceisteanna go léir a cheangail an chúirt air a fhreagairt i dteideal deimhniú a fháil ón gcúirt á rá gur fhreagair an finné amhlaidh, agus
(b) nach mbeidh freagra ó fhinné a fuair an deimhniú sin ar cheist a cuireadh sa triail ar achainí inghlactha i bhfianaise ina choinne in aon imeacht, sibhialta nó coiriúil, ach amháin i gcás aon imeacht choiriúil mar gheall ar mhionnú éithigh i leith na fianaise.
(3) Ní fhorléireofar aon ní sa Riail seo mar ní a dhéanann difear do cheart aon pháirtí in achainí chun glaoch ar aon duine mar fhinné.
111. (1) Na costais go léir, seachas na costais chun vótaí a chomhaireamh athuair faoi Riail 102 den Sceideal seo, a bhaineann nó a ghabhann le hachainí, beidh siad faoina rogha ag an gCúirt agus beidh de chumhacht aici a ordú go mbeidh na costais sin nó aon ag aon pháirtí eile den sórt sin, agus, nuair a ordófar amhlaidh costais, nó aon chuid de chostais, aon pháirtí den sórt sin a bheith le híoc ag an achainíoch. déanfaidh an chúirt, más gá, socruithe chun na costais sin a íoc, go feadh méid na suime a bheidh ainmnithe san urrús a thug an t-achainíoch, as an urrús sin nó trí bhíthin an urrúis sin.
(2) Gan dochar do mhír (1) den Riail seo, más léir leis an gcúirt, ar achainí a thriail, go ndearna aon duine nó daoine cionta toghcháin i ndáil leis an toghchán Tionóil iomchuí, féadfaidh an chúirt, tar éis caoi éisteachta a thabhairt don duine nó do na daoine sin chun cúis a shuíomh le nár cheart an t-ordú a dhéanamh, ordú a thabhairt, más oiriúnach léi é, go mbeidh an t-iomlán nó cuid de chostais uile na hachainí, seachas na costais chun vótaí a chomhaireamh athuair faoi Riail 102 den Sceideal seo, le híoc ag an duine sin, nó ag na daoine sin, nó le híoc ag duine nó daoine díobh, agus, mura féidir na costais sin a ghnóthú go hiomlán ón duine nó ó na daoine sin, féadfaidh sí ordú a thabhairt go mbeidh siad le híoc ag duine nó daoine eile díobh sin.
112. (1) Íocfar as an bPríomh-Chiste na costais agus na caiteachais eile a thabhaigh ceann comhairimh nó ceann comhairimh áitiúil nó a tabhaíodh thar a cheann i dtriail achainí.
(2) Is fiach conartha shimplí a bheidh dlite don Aire Airgeadais na costais a dhámhfar do cheann comhairimh nó do cheann comhairimh áitiúil i dtriail achainí agus, mura n-íocfar an fiach sin, féadfaidh an tAire sin é a ghnóthú in aon chúirt dlínse inniúla.
(3) Faoi réir mhír (4) den Riail seo, íocfar as an bPríomh-Chiste na costais a dhámhfar i gcoinne cheann comhairimh nó cheann comhairimh áitiúil i dtriail achainí.
(4) Nuair is deimhin leis an gcúirt go raibh an ceann comhairimh nó ceann comhairimh áitiúil faillíoch go mór ag comhlíonadh a dhualgas, féadfaidh an chúirt ordú a thabhairt go ndlífidh an t-oifigeach sin aon chostais a íoc a dhámhaigh an chúirt ina choinne.
(5) Nuair a dhéanfar ordú faoi mhír (4) den Riail seo, aon chostais a dámhadh i gcoinne oifigigh agus a íoctar as an bPríomh-Chiste beidh siad ina bhfiach a bheidh dlite don Aire Airgeadais ón oifigeach agus beidh an fiach sin, mura n-íocfar é, inghnóthaithe ag an Aire sin in aon chúirt dlínse inniúla mar fhiach conartha shimplí atá dlite dó.
113. (1) Ar aon chéim de thriail achainí, féadfaidh an chúirt, más cuí léi é, uaithi féin nó ar iarratas ó aon pháirtí san achainí, cás a shonrú chun tuairim na Cúirte Uachtaraí a fháil ar aon cheist dlí a d'éirigh sa triail.
(2) D'ainneoin aon ní sa Sceideal seo, nuair a shonrófar cás faoin Riail seo, ní chinnfidh an chúirt an achainí go dtí go mbeidh cinneadh tugtha ag an gCúirt Uachtarach agus féadfaidh sí an triail nó aon chuid den triail a chur ar atráth go dtí go mbeidh an cinneadh sin tugtha.
(3) Na costais a tabhaíodh i ndáil le cás a shonrú faoin Riail seo, is cuid iad, chun gach críche, de na costais a tabhaíodh i ndáil leis an achainí.
Cuid VI
Ginearálta
114. Duine—
(a) a bheidh i láthair le linn páipéir bhallóide a eisiúint chuig postvótálaithe, nó
(b) a bheidh i láthair le linn boscaí postbhallóide a oscailt, nó
(c) a ligfear isteach i stáisiún vótaíochta in aon cháil, nó
(d) a bheidh i láthair in aon cháil le linn chomhaireamh na vótaí, coimeádfaidh sé rúndacht na ballóide agus cuideoidh sé lena coimeád.
115. (1) Nuair nach féidir le ceann comhairimh nó le ceann comhairimh áitiúil a dhualgais go léir nó aon chuid díobh a chomhlíonadh mar gheall ar bhreoiteacht nó ar chúis réasúnach eile, ceapfaidh an tAire duine chun gníomhú mar cheann comhairimh nó mar cheann comhairimh áitiúil leis na dualgais sin a chomhlíonadh le linn na tréimhse nach féidir leis na dualgais sin a chomhlíonadh.
(2) Nuair a tharlóidh folúntas in oifig chláraitheora contae nó sirriam agus gur cheann comhairimh nó ceann comhairimh áitiúil sealbhóir na hoifige sin, féadfaidh an tAire, más cuí leis, duine a cheapadh chun gníomhú mar cheann comhairimh nó mar cheann comhairimh áitiúil fad a bheidh an folúntas ann.
116. (1) Féadfaidh an tAire Airgeadais, más cuí leis, roimh tháillí cheann comhairimh nó cheann comhairimh áitiúil a íoc faoi alt 14 den Acht seo, a iarraidh ar bhreitheamh den Chúirt Chuarda ag a bhfuil dlínse sa toghlach áirithe an cuntas ón gceann comhairimh nó ón gceann comhairimh áitiúil (agus é san fhoirm a ordóidh an tAire Airgeadais) a fhómhas agus déanfaidh an breitheamh sin an cuntas sin a fhómhas agus cinnfidh sé an tsuim is iníoctha faoi.
(2) Má iarrann ceann comhairimh nó ceann comhairimh áitiúil airleacan i gcuntas a tháillí, féadfaidh an tAire Airgeadais, más cuí leis, an t-airleacan sin a thabairt ar cibé téarmaí is cuí leis.
(3) Nuair a bheidh cuntas cheann comhairimh nó cheann comhairimh áitiúil á fhómhas faoin Riail seo, féadfar a áireamh ann, má ordaíonn an breitheamh é ar iarratas ón oifigeach sin, cinneadh ar mhéid aon éilimh a rinne aon duine i gcoinne an oifigigh sin maidir le haon ábhar a cuireadh faoi mhuirear sa chuntas sin.
117. Aon fhógra poiblí a cheanglaítear leis an Acht seo a thabhairt, féadfar é a thabhairt ar aon mhodh a mheasfaidh an ceann comhairimh nó an ceann comhairimh áitiúil áirithe a bheith riachtanach nó inmhianaithe chun aird an phobail a tharraingt ar an ábhar a gceanglaítear é a fhógairt amhlaidh.
118. (1) Féadfaidh an tAire, aon uair is cuí leis é, treoracha i dtaobh stiúradh toghcháin Tionóil (lena n-áirítear oscailt na mboscaí ballóide agus imeachtaí dá dhroim sin) a eisiúint chuig gach uile cheann comhairimh nó cheann comhairimh áitiúil, nó chuig aon duine díobh, de réir mar a mheasfaidh sé a bheith riachtanach nó fóirsteanach chun a áirithint go ndéanfar an toghchán a stiúradh go réidh agus go héifeachtach agus chun comhionannas sa nós imeachta ina leith a chur in áirithe i ngach toghlach.
(2) Faoi réir mhír (3) den Riail seo, beidh de dhualgas ar gach ceann comhairimh nó ceann comhairimh áitiúil na treoracha go léir a thabharfaidh an tAire dó a urramú agus a chomhlíonadh.
(3) Ní bheidh de cheangal ar aon cheann comhairimh nó ceann comhairimh áitiúil, ná d'údarás aige, le haon treoir a thabharfaidh an tAire dó faoin Riail seo, aon ní a dhéanamh (trí ghníomh ná trí neamhghníomh) atá contrártha don Acht seo, nó a sháródh rúndacht na ballóide, go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach.
119. Measfar gach toghlach a shonraítear sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis Acht seo a bheith arna roinnt, chun an vótaíocht a thógáil i dtoghchán Tionóil, i gceantair vótaíochta is ionann agus na ceantair vótaíochta a bhfuil an limistéar a shonraítear sa dara colún den Sceideal sin i leith gach toghiach díobh sin arna roinnt de thuras na huaire chun críche toghcháin Dála agus na háiteanna a bheidh ceaptha de thuras na huaire mar áiteanna vótaíochta i ngach ceantar vótaíochta díobh sin chun críche toghcháin Dála, is iad sin is áiteanna vótaíochta chun an vótaíocht a thógáil i dtoghchán Tionóil. Sa Sceideal seo déanfar tagairtí do cheantair vótaíochta agus d'áiteanna vótaíochta a fhorléiriú dá réir sin.
120. (1) Sa Sceideal seo—
tá le “páipéar ballóide” an bhrí a shanntar dó le Riail 22 (1);
tá le “deimhniú cleamhnachta polaitíochta” an bhrí a shanntar dó le Riail 4 (4);
tá le “forchlúdach” an bhrí a shanntar dó le Riail 26 (3);
ciallaíonn “lá eisiata” lá is Domhnach, Lá Nollag, Aoine an Chéasta nó lá saoire bainc nó lá is lá saoire poiblí de bhua reachta nó forógra;
tá le “Fógra Toghcháin” an bhrí a shanntar dó le Riail 2;
tá le “fógra vótaíochta” an bhrí a shanntar dó le Riail 21;
tá le “marc oifigiúil” an bhrí a shanntar dó le Riail 23 (1);
tá le “gníomhaire pearsanaíochta” an bhrí a shanntar dó le Riail 16 (4);
tá le “bosca postbhallóide” an bhrí a shanntar dó le Riail 27 (1);
tá le “an cuóta” an bhrí a shanntar dó le Riail 60 (1).
(2) Déanfar tagairtí sa Sceideal seo do cheantaír vótaíochta agus do áiteanna vótaíochta a fhorléiriú ag féachaint do Riail 119.
AN DARA SCEIDEAL
Toghlaigh
Ainm | Limistéar | Líon na nIonadaithe | ||
Baile Átha Cliath | .. | Contae riaracháin Bhaile Átha Cliath agus contae-bhuirg Bhaile Átha Cliath | Ceathrar | |
Connachta-Ulaidh | .. | Na contaetha riaracháin seo a leanas: An Cabhán, Dún na nGall, Gaillimh, Liatroim, Maigh Eo, Muineachán, Ros Comáin agus Sligeach. | Triúr | |
Laighin | .. | .. | Na contaetha riaracháin seo a leanas: Ceatharlach, Cill Dara, Cill Chainnigh, Laois, an Longfort, Lú, an Mhí, Uibh Fhailí, an Iarmhí, Loch Garman agus Cill Mhantáin | Triúr. |
An Mhumhain | .. | Na contaetha riaracháin seo a leanas: An Clár, Corcaigh, Ciarraí, Luimneach, Tiobraid Árann (An Trian Thuaidh), Tiobraid Árann (An Trian Theas) agus Port Láirge; agus na contae-bhuirgí seo a leanas: Corcaigh, Luimneach agus Port Láirge. | Cúigear. | |
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Acht na gComhphobal Eorpach. 1972 | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93. |
Number 30 of 1977
EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS ACT, 1977
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Number 30 of 1977
EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS ACT, 1977
Interpretation.
1.—In this Act—
“the Act of 1963” means the Electoral Act, 1963;
“the Assembly” means the Assembly of the European Communities;
“Assembly election” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 (1);
“Assembly elector” means a person who is entitled to vote at an Assembly election;
“the European Communities” means the European Economic Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community;
“local returning officer” means a person who pursuant to section 14 (2) is a local returning officer for the purpose of this Act;
“Member State” (except in Rule 47 (1) of the First Schedule) means a Member State of the European Communities;
“the Minister” means the Minister for the Environment;
“petition” means a petition presented to the High Court under this Act;
“the polling day”, except where the context otherwise requires, has the meaning assigned to it by section 6 (1);
“the postal voters list” means the list prepared pursuant to section 7 (4) of the Act of 1963;
“returning officer” means a person who is appointed by the Minister under section 14 (1) to be a returning officer for the purposes of this Act;
“the treaties” means the treaties, convention and decision mentioned in section 1 (1) of the European Communities Act, 1972, as supplemented or amended in the manner mentioned in that section.
Method of election.
2.—(1) Elections of representatives to the Assembly shall be held and each such election (in this Act referred to as an “Assembly election”) shall be conducted in accordance with this Act, and in case an Assembly election is contested, the poll shall be taken according to the principle of proportional representation, each elector having one transferable vote.
(2) The provisions of this Act replace the law providing for the designation by the Oireachtas of delegates to the Assembly and in force immediately before the commencement of this Act, but nothing in this subsection shall be construed as preventing the designation of such delegates by the Oireachtas at any time during the period commencing on the passing of this Act and ending on the day immediately preceding the day fixed for the first sitting of the Assembly to which representatives are first elected under this Act.
(3) Voting at an Assembly election shall be by secret ballot.
(4) In this section “transferable vote” means a vote which is—
(a) capable of being given so as to indicate the voter's preference for the candidates in order, and
(b) capable of being transferred to the next choice when the vote is not required to give a prior choice the necessary quota of votes, or when, owing to the deficiency in the number of the votes given for a prior choice, that choice is eliminated from the list of candidates.
Franchise and registration.
3.—(1) A person shall be entitled to be registered as an Assembly elector in a constituency, if he has reached the age of eighteen years and if, on the qualifying date, he was ordinarily resident in that constituency and was either,
(a) a citizen of Ireland, or
(b) a national of a Member State other than the State.
(2) Part II of the Act of 1963 (apart from subsections (1) and (2) of section 5), as amended by section 1 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1966, and section 4 of the Juries Act, 1976, shall apply as regards the registration of Assembly electors pursuant to this section and the register referred to in section 6 (1) of the Act of 1963 shall, in so far as it relates to persons entitled to vote at Assembly elections, be the register of European Assembly electors.
(3) For the purpose of giving effect to subsection (2) of this section each of the references in subsections (4), (5), (5A) (inserted by section 1 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1966) or (6) of section 5 of the Act of 1963 to “the purposes of this section” shall be construed as including a reference to the purposes of this section.
(4) In this section—
“national of a Member State” has the meaning it has in the treaties;
“the qualifying date” means the date specified by the Minister under section 5 (6) of the Act of 1963.
Right to vote.
4.—Subject to Rule 47 of the First Schedule to this Act, every person whose name is on the register of European Assembly electors for the time being in force for a constituency, and no other person, shall be entitled to vote at the poll at an Assembly election in that constituency.
Manner of voting.
5.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, a person who is entitled to vote at an Assembly election shall be entitled to vote in person only and at the polling station allotted to him or, in case he is authorised under Rule 36 of the First Schedule to this Act by a local returning officer, at the polling station specified in the authorisation.
(2) Every Assembly elector whose name is, at the time of an Assembly election, in the postal voters list for a county or county borough contained in a constituency shall be entitled to vote in that constituency at the poll at such election by sending his ballot paper by post to the local returning officer for that county or county borough and shall not be entitled to vote in any other manner.
Polling day and commencement of count.
6.—(1) The poll at an Assembly election shall—
(a) be taken on such day as shall be appointed by the Minister by order (which order shall be made not less than thirty-five days before the day thereby appointed),
(b) continue for such period, not being less than twelve hours, between the hours of 8.30 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. as may be fixed by the Minister by order, subject to the restriction that he shall fix the same period for all constituencies,
and the day so appointed is in this Act referred to as “the polling day”.
(2) The counting of the votes at an Assembly election shall begin on the day and at the time appointed by the Minister by order.
(3) An order under this section shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil as soon as may be after it is made.
Qualification of candidates.
7.—(1) A person who is not eligible to become a member of Dáil Éireann shall not be eligible for election under this Act to the Assembly.
(2) If while he is a representative in the Assembly by virtue of this Act a person becomes subject to any of the disqualifications applicable to membership of Dáil Éireann he shall thereupon cease to be a representative in the Assembly.
Register of Political Parties.
8.—(1) The Registrar of Political Parties for the purposes of section 13 of the Act of 1963 (in this section subsequently referred to as “the Registrar”) shall, subject to the subsequent provisions of this section, register in the Register of Political Parties as a party organised to contest an Assembly election, any political party which applies to him for registration and which is, in his opinion, a genuine political party and organised in the State to contest such an election.
(2) A party which was registered in the Register of Political Parties at the commencement of this Act and which either—
(a) was registered pursuant to subsection (4) of section 13 of the Act of 1963, or
(b) when registered was in the opinion of either the Registrar or the appeal board referred to in subsection (8) of the said section 13 organised to contest a Dáil election,
shall, as soon as may be after such commencement, be registered in such Register by the Registrar as a party organised to contest an Assembly election.
(3) Where a party which is registered pursuant to this section in the Register of Political Parties satisfies the Registrar that a member of the party who is a delegate or representative in the Assembly is a member of a political group formed in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Assembly, the Registrar shall note on the Register, in relation to the party, the name of the group.
(4) Subsections (3), (5), (6) and (7) of section 13 of the Act of 1963 shall apply to registration under, or to political parties registered under, this section, as may be appropriate.
(5) Subsection (10) of section 13 of the Act of 1963 shall apply in relation to the performance by the Registrar of his duties under this section as it applies in relation to the performance by him of his duties under that section.
Nomination of candidates.
9.—(1) At an Assembly election a person may nominate himself as a candidate or may, with his consent, be nominated by another person (being a person registered as an Assembly elector in the constituency for which he proposes to nominate the candidate) as proposer.
(2) At an Assembly election a person may not be nominated as a candidate in respect of more than one constituency.
Deposit by candidates.
10.—A candidate at an Assembly election, or someone on his behalf, shall, before the expiration of the time appointed by this Act for receiving nominations, deposit with the returning officer the sum of one thousand pounds and if he fails to do so his candidature shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
Conduct of elections.
11.—The rules contained in the First Schedule to this Act, other than Part V thereof, shall have effect in relation to Assembly elections.
Constituencies.
12.—(1) The constituencies for which candidates shall be elected under this Act to be representatives in the Assembly shall be those specified in the Second Schedule to this Act and the number of representatives to be so elected for such a constituency shall be the number specified in respect thereof in the third column of that Schedule.
(2) The Minister shall, within the period of twelve years commencing on the passing of this Act and at least once in every twelve years thereafter, submit to the Oireachtas proposals for the revision of the constituencies for which candidates shall be elected under this Act to be representatives in the Assembly.
(3) An area specified in the Second Schedule to this Act shall be taken to be that area as constituted on the 1st day of January, 1977.
Chief returning officer.
13.—(1) As soon as may be after the passing of this Act, and from time to time thereafter as occasion requires, the Minister shall appoint a fit and proper person to be the chief returning officer for the purposes of this Act.
(2) It shall be the duty of the chief returning officer to receive the returns furnished to him in pursuance of this Act by the returning officer for each constituency, to make in the prescribed form to the Assembly a return of the persons elected pursuant to this Act and to do such other things in respect of an Assembly election as he is required by law to do.
(3) There shall be charged on and paid out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof to the chief returning officer such sums as the Minister for the Public Service shall with the consent of the Minister for Finance sanction for that officer's services and expenses in respect of an Assembly election.
Returning officers and local returning officers.
14.—(1) The Minister shall for the purposes of this Act appoint a returning officer in respect of each constituency specified in the Second Schedule to this Act and the returning officer appointed under this section for such a constituency shall be one of the persons who by virtue of subsection (2) of this section is the local returning officer for a county or county borough contained in the constituency.
(2) There shall for the purposes of this Act be a local returning officer for every county or county borough contained in a constituency and the local returning officer shall be—
(a) in the case of a county or county borough for which there is a sheriff, the sheriff, and
(b) in every other case, the county registrar.
(3) It shall be the general duty of the returning officer to do all such acts and things, other than acts or things which are by this Act required to be done by a local returning officer, as may be necessary for effectually conducting an Assembly election in his constituency in accordance with this Act, to ascertain and declare the results of the election and to furnish to the chief returning officer a return of the persons elected for the constituency.
(4) Subject to subsection (5) (a) of this section, it shall be the duty of a local returning officer,
(a) to take the poll at an Assembly election in the part of the constituency for which he is the local returning officer,
(b) to do such acts and things as he is otherwise by this Act required to do, and
(c) to render such assistance to the returning officer for the said constituency as that returning officer may require,
and if any doubt arises as to the duties of a local returning officer, the doubt shall be determined by the Minister.
(5) (a) Where a local returning officer is appointed under this section to be the returning officer for a constituency, it shall be lawful for him with the consent of the Minister to appoint a deputy local returning officer for the discharge of all or any particular part of his duties as local returning officer.
(b) Subsequent references in this Act to the local returning officer shall include references to deputy local returning officers.
(6) The Minister for Finance shall prepare a scale of maximum charges for returning officers and local returning officers and every returning officer and local returning officer shall be paid by the said Minister out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof his reasonable charges, in respect of his services and expenses in relation to every Assembly election in respect of which he is the returning officer or local returning officer, not exceeding the maximum charges specified in the scale prepared under this section and applying for the time being.
(7) Any reference in this section to a county shall be construed as a reference to an administrative county.
Casual vacancies.
15.—(1) Where a casual vacancy occurs amongst the persons elected to the Assembly under this Act or appointed under this section, the procedure for filling the vacancy shall be as follows:
(a) subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection, the vacancy shall be filled by the appointment by Dáil Éireann of a person who is eligible for election under this Act to the Assembly,
(b) in case by reason of the last preceding Assembly election the relevant place in the Assembly was held by a person who was at that election a candidate of a political party which at the time of the said election was and for the time being is registered pursuant to this Act in the Register of Political Parties, the person appointed under this subsection to fill the vacancy shall, if, but only if, the nomination is made within three months of the day on which the vacancy occured, be a person nominated by that political party.
(2) A person appointed under subsection (1) of this section shall, unless he sooner dies, resigns, becomes disqualified for election under this Act to the Assembly, is removed from office or otherwise ceases to be a representative in the Assembly, hold office as such a representative for the residue of the term for which the representative whom he replaces would have held office had he not ceased to hold office.
(3) In this section “a casual vacancy” means,
(a) a vacancy occasioned by a person who though elected to the Assembly pursuant to this Act is, by virtue of any provision laid down under any or all of the treaties, not entitled to assume the office of representative in the Assembly,
(b) a vacancy occasioned by a person having ceased to be a representative in the Assembly otherwise than by the effluxion of time or in consequence of the making of an order under section 17 of this Act by the High Court.
Inspection of ballot papers, etc.
16.—(1) No person shall be allowed to inspect any of the documents mentioned in subsection (2) of this section except under an order of the High Court.
(2) The documents referred to in subsection (1) of this section are,
(a) the counterfoils of the ballot papers sent to postal voters under Rule 26 of the First Schedule to this Act,
(b) the documents mentioned in paragraph (2) or (3) of Rule 50 of the said Schedule,
(c) the documents mentioned in subparagraph (a) or (b) of Rule 69 (1) of the said Schedule, and
(d) the documents mentioned in subparagraph (a) or (b) of Rule 69 (2) of the said Schedule.
(3) An order referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall not be made unless the court is satisfied that the inspection or production of such documents is required for the purposes of instituting or maintaining a prosecution for an offence under this Act or for the purpose of a petition.
(4) An order referred to in subsection (1) of this section may be made subject to such conditions as to persons, time, place and mode of inspection or production as the court may think expedient, and shall make provision to ensure that the manner in which any voter voted shall not be disclosed.
(5) Where an order pursuant to this section is made for the production by the chief returning officer of any document in his possession relating to an Assembly election, the production by the chief returning officer of that document shall be sufficient to prove that the document relates to the specified election; and any endorsement appearing on any packet produced by the chief returning officer shall be, until the contrary is shown, sufficient evidence that the contents of such packet are what they are stated to be in such endorsement.
Questioning of Assembly elections.
17.—(1) An Assembly election may, and may only, be questioned by a petition to the High Court.
(2) (a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection and Rule 97 (2) of the First Schedule to this Act, a petition shall not be accepted for lodgement with the court unless the petitioner lodges with the petition security in the sum of five thousand pounds for costs which may become payable by him.
(b) Where the court is satisfied that a petitioner is unable to lodge the amount specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection or that to require a petitioner to lodge the said amount would cause him serious hardship, the court may require him to lodge such lesser amount as the court considers appropriate.
(3) A petition may be presented by any person who has reached the age of eighteen years but may only be presented within a period specified in the Rules contained in Part V of the First Schedule to this Act and the said Rules shall have effect as regards the petition.
(4) An Assembly election may be questioned on the grounds of want of eligibility under section 7 of this Act, obstruction of or interference with or other hindrance to the conduct of the election, or mistake or other irregularity which, if established, are likely to have affected the result of the election.
(5) Any party to a petition may appeal on a question of law to the Supreme Court against a decision of the High Court on the petition and subject to the foregoing the decision of the High Court shall be final and not appealable.
(6) At the trial of a petition which the court does not dismiss, the court shall determine the matter at issue in the petition and shall in its order determining the petition include either—
(a) a declaration of the correct result of the Assembly election, or
(b) if it considers that it is unable to determine the correct result of the Assembly election, a declaration that the whole of such election or a specified part of such election was void together with a statement of its reasons for making the declaration.
(7) Where the court declares that the whole or any part of an Assembly election was void, a fresh election shall be held in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill the resulting vacancy or vacancies in the Assembly and the poll at the fresh election shall be taken on such day, being a day within the period of three months beginning on the date of the court's order, as the Minister by order appoints; provided that it shall not be obligatory under this subsection to hold a fresh election if an Assembly election otherwise is due to be held in the State within the period of six months next following the said date.
Prohibition of disclosure of vote.
18.—A person who has voted at an Assembly election shall not in any legal proceedings be required to state how or for whom he voted.
Regulations.
19.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for prescribing any matter or thing which is referred to in this Act as prescribed.
(2) Every regulation made under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Expenses.
20.—(1) The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
(2) The expenses incurred by reason of this Act by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (whether such expenses relate to the exercise by candidates of the right of free postage conferred by Rule 18 of the First Schedule to this Act or are otherwise so incurred in relation to an Assembly election) shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.
Amendment of Act of 1963.
21.—(1) Section 91 of the Act of 1963 is hereby amended by the insertion in subsection (1) of the following paragraph after paragraph (b):
“(bb) the poll at an election of representatives to the European Assembly under the European Assembly Elections Act, 1977;”.
(2) Section 92 of the Act of 1963 is hereby amended by,
(a) the insertion in subsection (1) of “, Assembly electors” and “Assembly elections,” after “Dáil electors” and “presidential elections,”, respectively, and
(b) the insertion in subsection (3), after paragraph (c), of the following paragraph:
“(d) ‘Assembly electors’ and ‘Assembly elections’ have the same meanings, respectively, as in the European Assembly Elections Act, 1977.”,
and the said subsection (1), as so amended, is set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
(1) The Minister may, in any case in which it appears to him that there is an emergency or special difficulty, by order make such adaptation or modification of any statute, order or regulation relating to the registration of Dáil electors, Assembly electors or electors at local elections, or the conduct of Dáil elections, presidential elections, Assembly elections, local elections or referenda, as may in his opinion be necessary to enable it to have effect subject to the provisions of this Act.
Amendment of sections 48 and 74 of Defence Act, 1954.
22.—The Defence Act, 1954, is hereby amended by the insertion of “or who assumes the office of representative in the Assembly of the European Communities” after “House of the Oireachtas” both in subsection (6) of section 48 and in section 74, and the said subsection (6) and the said section 74, as so amended, are set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE
(6) An officer who becomes a member of either House of the Oireachtas or who assumes the office of representative in the Assembly of the European Communities shall thereupon relinquish his commission.
74.—A reservist who becomes a member of either House of the Oireachtas or who assumes the office of representative in the Assembly of the European Communities shall thereupon stand, by virtue of this section, discharged from the Reserve Defence Force.
Short title.
23.—This Act may be cited as the European Assembly Elections Act, 1977.
FIRST SCHEDULE
Rules referred to in Section 11 and Section 17
Sections 11 and 17.
PART I
Nominations
Order under section 6.
1. As soon as may be after an order has been made under section 6 of this Act the chief returning officer shall send a copy of the order to each returning officer and to the Registrar of Political Parties.
Notice of election.
2. The returning officer shall, not later than the twenty-eighth day (disregarding any excluded day) before the polling day, give public notice in the prescribed form of the Assembly election (in this Schedule referred to as the “Notice of Election”) stating—
(a) the times for receiving nominations,
(b) the amount of the deposit,
(c) the times and place at which nomination papers may be obtained,
(d) the times and place at which he will attend to receive nominations, and
(e) the day and the period fixed for the holding of the poll if the election is contested.
Register of Political Parties.
3. On the day (disregarding any excluded day) before the latest date for the publication of the Notice of Election, the Registrar of Political Parties shall send to each returning officer a copy of the Register of Political Parties.
Nomination of candidates.
4. (1) A person shall not be entitled to have his name inserted in a ballot paper as a candidate at an Assembly election unless he has been nominated in the manner provided by this Act and his nomination paper has been ruled as valid by the returning officer.
(2) Each candidate shall be nominated by a separate nomination paper in the prescribed form. The form of nomination paper may, if the Minister so thinks proper, include—
(a) a note of the qualifications, disqualifications and incapacities as regards election to and membership of the Assembly,
(b) a form of declaration, to be signed by the candidate or his proposer, that he has read the notes and believes himself or the candidate (as may be appropriate) to be eligible for election and that he or the candidate (as may be appropriate) does not stand validly nominated in respect of any other constituency.
(3) Each nomination paper shall state the names (the surname being stated first), the address and the occupation (if any) of the candidate.
(4) A candidate may include in his nomination paper the name of the political party registered in the Register of Political Parties of which he is a candidate or the name of such political party together with the name of any political group noted on such Register in relation to that political party, provided that, at the time the nomination paper is delivered to the returning officer, a certificate in the prescribed form (in this Schedule referred to as a “certificate of political affiliation”) authenticating the candidature is produced to the returning officer, being a certificate signed by the officer or officers of such party whose name or names appear in the said Register pursuant to section 13 (3) (c) of the Act of 1963 or pursuant to that section as applied by section 8 of this Act. Where such a certificate is produced, the returning officer, provided he is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so in relation to the candidate, shall cause a statement of the name of the relevant political party to be specified in relation to the candidate on all the ballot papers and on notices and where pursuant to section 8 of this Act, a candidate includes in his nomination paper a statement of the name of a political group in addition to the name of a political party, the returning officer, provided he is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so in relation to the candidate, shall cause a statement of the name of such political group in addition to the name of such party to be specified on all such ballot papers and notices.
(5) Where a candidate is not the candidate of a political party registered in the Register of Political Parties, he shall be entitled to enter after his name on the nomination paper the expression “Non-Party” and, if he does so, the returning officer shall cause a statement of that expression to be specified in relation to the candidate on all the ballot papers and on notices.
(6) The returning officer shall provide nomination papers during the usual office hours at such place or places as are named in the Notice of Election on each week-day, during the period beginning on the publication of that notice and ending at 12 noon on the latest date for receiving nominations and he shall supply a nomination paper or papers free of charge to any person applying therefor, but the use of a paper supplied by the returning officer pursuant to this Rule shall not be obligatory at an Assembly election, provided that the nomination paper used at the election is in the prescribed form.
(7) Any reference in this Rule to the Register of Political Parties shall be construed as a reference to the copy of that Register sent to the returning officer pursuant to Rule 3 of this Schedule.
Deposit by candidates.
5. The deposit to be made by or on behalf of a candidate pursuant to section 10 of this Act may be made by means of legal tender or, with the consent of the returning officer, in any other manner.
Return or disposal of deposit.
6. (1) The deposit made by or on behalf of a candidate shall be returned where the candidate—
(a) withdraws his candidature in accordance with Rule 12 of this Schedule,
(b) dies before the poll is closed,
(c) has not, before the expiration of the time for the receipt of nominations, been validly nominated as a candidate,
(d) is elected, or
(e) is not elected but the greatest number of votes credited to him at any stage of the counting of the votes exceeds one-third of the quota.
(2) Any deposit which is not returned under the foregoing paragraph shall be forfeited.
(3) Where a deposit is to be returned under paragraph (1) of this Rule it shall be returned to the person by whom it was made; provided that a deposit made by a candidate who dies before the poll is closed shall be returned to his personal representative.
(4) A deposit forfeited under this Rule shall be disposed of by the returning officer in such manner as may be directed by the Minister for Finance.
Times for receiving nominations.
7. The earliest time for receiving nominations shall be 10 a.m. on the day (disregarding any excluded day) next following the latest date for the publication of the Notice of Election and the latest time for receiving nominations shall be 12 noon on the seventh day (disregarding any excluded day) after the said latest date.
Delivery of nomination papers.
8. (1) Every nomination paper shall be delivered to the returning officer within the times specified in Rule 7 of this Schedule, by the candidate or his proposer.
(2) The delivery of the nomination paper shall be made by the candidate in person except that, where the candidate is proposed by another person, it may be made either as aforesaid or by the proposer in person.
(3) The returning officer shall attend to receive nominations at the place specified in that behalf in the Notice of Election between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 noon and between the hours of 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on the day (disregarding any excluded day) before the latest date for receiving nominations and between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 noon on the said latest date.
Selection of nomination papers.
9. The returning officer shall number the nomination papers in the order in which they are received by him; and the first valid nomination paper nominating a candidate for election shall be deemed to be the nomination of that candidate.
Ruling on validity of nomination papers.
10. (1) The returning officer shall rule on the validity of each nomination paper within one hour after its delivery to him and may rule that it is invalid if, but only if, he considers that it is not properly made out or signed.
(2) The candidate nominated by each nomination paper and his proposer, if any, and one other person designated by the candidate or his proposer, as the case may be, and no other person, except with the permission of the returning officer, shall be entitled to attend while the said nomination paper is being ruled upon by the returning officer.
(3) The returning officer shall object to the description of a candidate in a nomination paper which is, in his opinion, incorrect, insufficient to identify the candidate or unnecessarily long. Where a returning officer so objects, he shall allow the candidate or his proposer, as may be appropriate, to amend the description and, if it is not so amended to the returning officer's satisfaction, the returning officer may amend or delete it, as he thinks fit, after consultation with the candidate or his proposer if either is present, or may rule that the nomination paper is invalid as not being properly made out.
(4) When the returning officer has ruled on the validity of a nomination paper, he shall put a note of his decision on the nomination paper and shall sign the note. If he rules that the paper is invalid, he shall include a statement of his reasons. His decision under this Rule shall be final subject only to reversal on a petition questioning the election.
(5) As soon as practicable after ruling on the validity of a nomination paper, the returning officer shall give, by post or otherwise, notice in writing of his ruling to the candidate.
(6) Every person in respect of whom a nomination paper has, under this Rule, been determined to be valid and whose candidature is not withdrawn in accordance with Rule 12 of this Schedule or is not deemed under section 10 of this Act or Rule 20 (1) of this Schedule to have been withdrawn shall stand validly nominated as a candidate.
Publication of nominations.
11. The returning officer shall, as soon as practicable after he has ruled that a nomination paper is valid, cause a notice to be displayed outside the place at which he is receiving nominations stating the name and description of the person nominated in the paper and the name and address of his proposer, if any.
Withdrawal of candidature.
12. (1) A candidate may withdraw his candidature by a notice of withdrawal signed by him and delivered in person by him or by his proposer to the returning officer not later than the hour of 12 noon on the day (disregarding any excluded day) next following the latest date for receiving nominations.
(2) Where the returning officer is satisfied that a candidate or his proposer is unable to attend and wishes to withdraw his candidature, withdrawal may be effected by delivering to the returning officer not later than the said hour, a notice of withdrawal signed by the candidate and by the person delivering the notice.
Publication of withdrawal.
13. The returning officer shall, immediately on the delivery to him of a notice of withdrawal under Rule 12 of this Schedule, give public notice of the withdrawal (and, in the case of the withdrawal of a candidate who was nominated by another person as proposer, of the name of the other person).
Obstruction of nominations.
14. (1) If the proceedings for or in connection with the nomination of candidates are obstructed by violence the returning officer may adjourn the proceedings to the next following day (disregarding any excluded day) and, if he so considers it necessary, he may further adjourn the proceedings until such obstruction shall have ceased.
(2) Where any proceedings for or in connection with such nomination are adjourned under this Rule, the latest date for receiving nominations shall be postponed for a period equal to the period of such adjournment and the returning officer shall so inform the Minister who may, by order, appoint the day for the taking of the poll in that constituency.
Appointment of agents.
15. (1) A candidate may appoint in relation to the constituency—
(a) one election agent to assist him generally, and
(b) one local agent for each county or county borough contained in the constituency to assist him in such county or county borough and to act as deputy in such county or county borough for the election agent of the candidate.
(2) A candidate, his election agent or his local agent may appoint with respect to any polling district in the constituency one deputy local agent to assist the candidate in the polling district and to act therein as deputy for the candidate's election agent and local agent.
(3) An appointment under this Rule may be revoked by,
(a) in case the appointment is made under paragraph (1) of this Rule, the candidate,
(b) in case the appointment is otherwise made under this Rule, the candidate, his election agent or his local agent.
(4) Where an appointment under this Rule is revoked or an agent appointed under this Rule dies, resigns or becomes incapable of acting during an Assembly election, another agent may be appointed pursuant to and in accordance with this Rule to replace him.
(5) The name and address of every agent appointed under this Rule (whether originally or substitutionally) shall immediately after the appointment be communicated by the person by whom the appointment was made to—
(a) in the case of the election agent, the returning officer,
(b) in the case of a local agent or a deputy local agent, the local returning officer.
General provisions as to agents.
16. (1) Each candidate, his election agent or his local agent may appoint agents to be present on the candidate's behalf—
(a) at the issue of ballot papers to postal voters,
(b) in polling stations, and
(c) at the opening of the postal ballot boxes.
(2) Each candidate or his election agent may appoint agents to be present on the candidate's behalf at the counting of the votes.
(3) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4) of this Rule, the number of agents who may be appointed to be present on behalf of any candidate shall be fixed,
(a) in the case of agents appointed to be present at the counting of the votes, by the returning officer,
(b) in the case of any other agents appointed under this Rule, by the local returning officer,
so, however, that the same number shall be allowed on behalf of every candidate.
(4) Each candidate, his election agent or his local agent may appoint one person (in this Schedule referred to as a “personation agent”) to be present as the candidate's agent in each polling station for the purpose of assisting in the detection of personation and offences under Rule 71 of this Schedule.
(5) An appointment under this Rule may be revoked by,
(a) in case the appointment is made pursuant to paragraph (2) of this Rule, the candidate or his election agent,
(b) in case the appointment is otherwise made under this Rule, the candidate, his election agent or his local agent.
(6) Each candidate, his election agent or his local agent shall, not later than the time for the commencement of the issue of ballot papers to postal voters, give written notice to the local returning officer of the name and address of every agent appointed by the candidate or his election or local agent to be present at the said issue and the local returning officer may refuse to admit to the place where the ballot papers are to be issued any agent whose name and address have not been so notified to him.
(7) Each candidate, his election agent or his local agent shall, not less than two days (excluding any excluded day) before the polling day, give written notice to the local returning officer of the name and address of every personation agent appointed by the candidate or his election or local agent together with the name of the polling station for which the personation agent is appointed. Every personation agent appointed in accordance with this Rule and whose name and address have been duly notified to the local returning officer shall be entitled to be present in the said polling station during the period commencing thirty minutes before the hour fixed by the Minister for the commencement of the poll and ending when the ballot boxes and documents have been sealed by the presiding officer as provided by Rule 46 (2) of this Schedule.
(8) Each candidate, his election agent or his local agent shall, not less than two days (excluding any excluded day) before the polling day, give written notice to the local returning officer of the name and address of every agent appointed by the candidate or his election or local agent to be present at the opening of the postal ballot boxes and the local returning officer may refuse to admit to the place where the postal ballot boxes are to be opened any agent whose name and address have not been so notified to him.
(9) Each candidate or his election agent shall, not less than two days (excluding any excluded day) before the polling day, give written notice to the returning officer of the name and address of every agent appointed by the candidate or his election agent to be present at the counting of the votes and the returning officer may refuse to admit to the place where the votes are to be counted any agent whose name and address have not been so notified to him.
(10) Where an appointment under this Rule is revoked or an agent appointed under this Rule dies, resigns or becomes incapable of acting during an Assembly election, another agent may be appointed pursuant to and in accordance with this Rule to replace him, and in case such an appointment is made the person making the appointment shall forthwith give written notice of the name and address of the agent appointed to,
(a) in case the appointment is made under paragraph (2) of this Rule, the returning officer,
(b) in case the appointment is otherwise made under this Rule, the local returning officer.
(11) A candidate may lawfully do or assist in the doing of any thing which may lawfully be done on his behalf by an agent and may be present (in addition to any such agent) at any place at which any such agent may, pursuant to this Schedule, be present.
(12) Any thing required by this Schedule to be done in the presence of the agents of the candidates shall not be invalidated by reason only of any such agent or agents not being present at the time and place appointed for doing such thing.
Officers not to act as agents of candidates, further candidatures, etc.
17. (1) A returning officer, a local returning officer or any person employed by any such officer for any purpose relating to an Assembly election shall not act as agent for any candidate at that election and shall not be associated in furthering the candidature of any candidate or promoting the interests of any party at the election.
(2) A returning officer or a local returning officer shall not employ in any capacity for the purposes of an Assembly election any person who has been employed by or on behalf of a candidate in or about the election or has been associated in furthering the candidature of any candidate or promoting the interests of any party at the election.
Candidates entitled to free postage.
18. (1) Subject to paragraph (3) of this Rule, each candidate at an Assembly election shall, subject to such conditions as may be determined by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, be entitled to send, free of any charge for postage, to each person on the register of European Assembly electors for the constituency, one postal communication containing matter relating to the election only and not exceeding two ounces in weight.
(2) A candidate shall not be entitled to exercise the right of free postage conferred by this Rule before he is validly nominated, unless he has given such security as may be required by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs for the payment of the postage on all communications sent by him under this Rule in case he does not eventually become nominated.
(3) Where in a constituency two or more candidates at an Assembly election are candidates of the same political party then for the purposes of this Rule those candidates shall be regarded as a single candidate.
Procedure after nominations.
19. If at 12 noon on the day (disregarding any excluded day) next following the latest date for receiving nominations—
(a) the number of candidates standing nominated exceeds the number of representatives to be elected, the returning officer shall adjourn the Assembly election and shall take a poll in accordance with this Act, or
(b) the number of candidates standing nominated is equal to or less than the number of representatives to be elected, the returning officer shall forthwith declare the candidates standing nominated to be elected and shall return their names to the chief returning officer and give public notice in accordance with the provisions of Rule 68 (3) of this Schedule.
Death of a candidate.
20. (1) Where, not less than seventy-two hours before the latest time for the withdrawal of candidature under Rule 12 of this Schedule, the returning officer becomes satisfied that a candidate standing nominated has died, the returning officer shall immediately give public notice to that effect and the candidature of the candidate shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
(2) Where, at any time during the period beginning seventy-two hours before the latest time for the withdrawal of candidature under Rule 12 of this Schedule and ending on the commencement of the poll, the returning officer becomes satisfied that a candidate standing nominated for election has died, the following provisions shall have effect in relation to the Assembly election—
(a) the returning officer shall notify the Minister and the chief returning officer of the death of the candidate and at the same time, if notice of the poll has been given, he shall countermand the poll,
(b) the returning officer shall give public notice that all acts done in connection with the election (other than the nomination of the surviving candidates) are void and that a fresh election will be held,
(c) all the proceedings for the election shall be commenced afresh, but a fresh nomination shall not be necessary in respect of any candidate who stood nominated at the time when notification of the death of the candidate was sent to the Minister,
(d) at the fresh election the earliest time for receiving nominations shall be 10 a.m. on the day (disregarding any excluded day) next following the date of the public notice referred to in subparagraph (b) of this paragraph and the latest time for receiving nominations shall be 12 noon on the third day (disregarding any excluded day) next following the said date,
(e) the polling day at the fresh election shall be fixed by the Minister,
(f) Rule 3 of this Schedule shall not apply in relation to the fresh election and references to the Register of Political Parties contained in Rule 4 of this Schedule shall, in relation to the fresh election, be construed as references to the copy of that Register sent to the returning officer in relation to the countermanded election.
(3) Where, at any time after the commencement of the poll in a constituency and before the close of such poll, the returning officer becomes satisfied that a candidate has died—
(a) all votes cast at the Assembly election in the constituency shall be disregarded and the ballot papers destroyed,
(b) the returning officer shall notify the Minister and the chief returning officer of the death of the candidate.
(c) the provisions of subparagraphs (b) to (f) of paragraph (2) of this Rule shall apply.
(4) Where a candidate at an Assembly election dies in circumstances other than those referred to in paragraph (1), (2) or (3) the following provisions shall apply:
(a) his death shall not invalidate his nomination or any preference recorded for him and, if he is elected, his election shall not be invalidated by reason of his death,
(b) he shall be deemed to have been elected to membership of the Assembly by virtue of this Act and to have resigned his office immediately after having so become such a representative, and
(c) section 15 of this Act shall apply as regards the resultant vacancy in the Assembly.
(5) Where a poll is countermanded under this Rule, all ballot papers issued to postal voters shall be disregarded and the local returning officer shall destroy, without opening, all ballot papers received by him for inclusion in the countermanded poll.
PART II
The Poll
Notice of the poll.
21. Where an Assembly election is adjourned for the purpose of taking a poll, the returning officer shall, as soon as practicable after the adjournment, give public notice (in this Schedule referred to as “notice of poll”) of—
(a) the day on which and the hours during which the poll will be taken,
(b) the names and descriptions of the candidates standing nominated as entered in their nomination papers and of the proposers, if any, and
(c) the order in which the names of the said candidates will appear on the ballot papers.
Ballot papers.
22. (1) The ballot of every voter shall consist of a paper (in this Schedule called a “ballot paper) in the prescribed form.
(2) Ballot papers shall be prepared in accordance with the following directions—
(a) each ballot paper shall contain the names and descriptions of the candidates standing nominated, as shown in their respective nomination papers. The names shall be arranged alphabetically in the order of the surnames, or if there are two or more candidates bearing the same surname in the alphabetical order of their other names, or if their surnames and other names are the same, in such order as shall be determined by lot by the returning officer,
(b) the surname of each candidate shall be printed in large characters and his name, address and occupation, if any, as appearing in his nomination paper shall be printed in ordinary characters,
(c) the name of each candidate's political party, if any, shall be printed in large characters and the name of his political group, if any, shall be printed in ordinary characters,
(d) the list of candidates shall be arranged either in one continuous column or in two or more columns in such manner (without departing from the alphabetical order) as, in the opinion of the returning officer, is best for marking and counting, but subject to the restriction that the spaces on the ballot paper within which the candidates' names and descriptions appear shall be the same for each of the candidates,
(e) the ballot papers shall be numbered consecutively on the back and the back of the counterfoil attached to each ballot paper shall bear the same number. The numbers on the ballot papers shall be printed in the smallest characters compatible with legibility and shall be printed on or about the centre of the paper,
(f) apart from things permitted by the prescribed form, nothing shall appear on the ballot paper except in accordance with these directions.
(3) The returning officer shall be responsible for the printing and procuring of a sufficient quantity of ballot papers and it shall be his duty to supply as soon as practicable to every local returning officer such number of ballot papers as that officer shall reasonably require.
The official mark.
23. (1) Every ballot paper shall at the time of issue be marked with an official mark (in this Schedule referred to as “the official mark”), which shall be either embossed or perforated so as to be visible on both sides of the paper, and for this purpose the returning officer shall provide a sufficient number of marking instruments.
(2) The returning officer shall ensure that the official mark is kept secret and that any particular mark is not used at two consecutive Assembly elections in the constituency.
Ballot boxes.
24. Every ballot box shall be so constructed that it can be securely locked and that while it is so locked ballot papers can be inserted therein but cannot be extracted and that the box and the aperture for the insertion of ballot papers can be sealed.
Use of Dáil and local elections ballot boxes etc.
25. Where any constituency comprises the whole or any part of any Dáil constituency or local electoral area any ballot boxes, fittings for polling stations and compartments provided for Dáil or local elections in such Dáil constituency or local electoral area may be used for any Assembly election in such constituency; and it shall be the duty of the local returning officer at any Assembly election in such constituency to make use so far as practicable of the ballot boxes, fittings and compartments aforesaid, and upon taxation of his accounts regard shall be had to the provisions of this Rule, and any damage, other than reasonable wear and tear, caused to any such ballot boxes, fittings and compartments by such user at an Assembly election shall be paid as part of the expenses of the election.
Issue of postal ballot papers.
26. (1) As soon as practicable after the adjournment of an Assembly election for the purpose of taking a poll the local returning officer for a county or county borough contained in a constituency shall send by post to every Assembly elector whose name is on the postal voters list for that county or county borough a ballot paper and form of receipt (which shall be in the prescribed form).
(2) Each ballot paper issued under this Rule shall be marked with the official mark. The number (including polling district letter), name and description of the Assembly elector as stated in the postal voters list shall be called out, and a mark shall be placed in a copy of the postal voters list against the number of the elector to denote that a ballot paper has been issued to him, but without showing the number of the ballot paper so issued.
(3) The local returning officer shall place in an envelope addressed to the postal voter—
(a) the ballot paper,
(b) the form of receipt,
(c) an envelope (in this Schedule referred to as a “covering envelope”) addressed to the returning officer, and
(d) a smaller envelope, marked “Ballot Paper Envelope”,
and shall effectually close the first-mentioned envelope.
(4) The local returning officer shall count all envelopes addressed to the postal voters and forthwith deliver the envelopes to the nearest head post office or such other post office as may be arranged by him with the head postmaster; and the postmaster shall stamp with the post office date stamp a statement, to be presented by the local returning officer, of the number of envelopes so delivered and shall immediately forward the envelopes for delivery to the persons to whom they are addressed.
(5) Where an envelope issued to a postal voter in accordance with this Rule is returned to the local returning officer before the polling day as not having been delivered to the postal voter, the local returning officer may re-address the envelope and send it by post to that voter.
(6) As soon as practicable after completion at an Assembly election of the issue of the postal ballot papers the local returning officer, in the presence of the agents of the candidates, shall seal up in separate packets the marked copy of the postal voters list and the counterfoils of the ballot papers, endorsing on each packet a description of its contents, the name of the constituency and of the county or county borough for which he is the local returning officer and the date of the Assembly election to which it relates.
(7) The local returning officer shall give each candidate at an Assembly election at least twenty-four hours notice in writing of the time and place at which, if the election is contested, he will issue ballot papers to postal voters and of the number of persons each candidate may appoint as agents to attend such issue.
(8) The local returning officer, his assistants and clerks, members of the Garda Síochána on duty, the agents of the candidates and no other person, except with the permission of the local returning officer, may be present at the issue of postal ballot papers.
Reception and custody of postal ballot papers.
27. (1) The local returning officer shall provide ballot boxes for the reception of the covering envelopes returned by postal voters. He shall show each such ballot box open to the agents of the candidates present at the time of the issue of postal ballot papers and shall then seal it and mark it “Postal Ballot Box” (by which name such ballot box is in this Schedule subsequently referred to) and with the name of the constituency. The local returning officer shall make provision for the safe custody of every postal ballot box.
(2) The local returning officer, on the receipt by him of a covering envelope, shall immediately place it unopened in the postal ballot box.
Polling cards.
28. (1) Where a poll is to be taken pursuant to this Act in a constituency, the local returning officer shall send to every Assembly elector whose name is on the register of electors for the county or county borough for which he is the local returning officer and is not on the postal voters list a card (in this Rule referred to as a “polling card”) in the prescribed form informing him of his number (including polling district letter) on the register of European Assembly electors and of the place at which he will be entitled to vote.
(2) A polling card shall be addressed to the Assembly elector at the address in respect of which he is registered in the register of European Assembly electors and shall be sent in sufficient time to be delivered in the ordinary course of post at that address not later than the third day before the polling day.
(3) A polling card shall be despatched by post and shall be transmitted free of charge by the earliest practicable post.
(4) No action or other proceeding shall lie against a local returning officer in respect of any failure to send, non-delivery of or error or mis-statement in a polling card.
Use of schools and public premises.
29. (1) The local returning officer may for the purpose of taking the poll and the returning officer may for the purpose of counting the votes at an Assembly election use, free of charge, any school or any room in a school and any premises the expense of maintaining which is payable out of any rate.
(2) The returning officer or the local returning officer shall make good any damage to, and may defray any expenses incurred by the person having control over such school, room or premises by reason of its being used by him at an Assembly election.
(3) The use of any unoccupied premises or any part thereof for the purpose of taking the poll and counting the votes at an Assembly election shall not make the premises liable to be rated or render any person liable to pay any rate for the premises.
(4) A person having charge of a school adjoining or adjacent to, or forming part of a church or a convent or other religious establishment may, within twenty-four hours after receiving notice from the returning officer or local returning officer of an intention to use such school or any part thereof at an Assembly election, object to such use by sending a statement of such objection to the officer by whom the notice was given. Any objection made under this paragraph may, on the application of the returning officer or the local returning officer, as may be appropriate, be over-ruled by the Minister if he thinks it right so to do, but unless and until such objection is so over-ruled, no part of the school referred to in such objection may be used under this Rule.
(5) In this Rule “school” means any school receiving a grant out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas and includes a national school and a secondary, vocational or other post-primary school.
Polling stations.
30. (1) At every polling place the local returning officer shall provide a sufficient number of polling stations, conveniently distributed for the accommodation of the Assembly electors entitled to vote there. Where, by reason of any difficulty, a polling station or a sufficient number of polling stations cannot be provided at the appointed polling place, the local returning officer may provide a polling station or polling stations at any other convenient place.
(2) The local returning officer shall allot the Assembly electors to the polling stations in such manner as, in his opinion, will be most convenient for them.
(3) The local returning officer shall give public notice of the location of polling stations in each polling place and the description of Assembly electors allotted to vote at each such place.
(4) The local returning officer shall make adequate provision for the heating, lighting and cleaning of each polling station.
(5) The local returning officer shall provide at each polling station—
(a) such number of compartments in which the voters can mark their ballot papers screened from observation, as he considers necessary,
(b) such furniture as he considers necessary,
(c) a sufficient number of ballot boxes,
(d) such number of ballot papers as he considers necessary,
(e) instruments for placing the official mark on ballot papers,
(f) copies of the register or such part thereof as contains the names of the Assembly electors allotted to vote at the station,
(g) such materials as he considers necessary to enable voters to mark their ballot papers,
(h) such other documents, forms, stationery and other materials as he considers necessary.
(6) The local returning officer shall keep a record of the ballot papers provided by him at each polling station.
Presiding officers and poll clerks.
31. (1) The local returning officer shall appoint a presiding officer to preside at each polling station and may also appoint a clerk or clerks to assist each presiding officer. Any such appointment may be revoked at any time by the local returning officer and where the appointment revoked is the appointment of a presiding officer the local returning officer shall forthwith appoint a fresh presiding officer to preside at the relevant polling station.
(2) The local returning officer shall, on request, permit a person in respect of whom he is satisfied that that person has a bona fide interest in the Assembly election as either a candidate or a prospective candidate, or the agent of such a person, to inspect the list of persons to whom he has offered, or proposes to offer, appointments as presiding officers or poll clerks.
(3) A presiding officer shall keep order at his station, regulate the number of Assembly electors to be admitted at a time and shall exclude all other persons except those authorised by Rule 35 of this Schedule to be present in the station.
(4) The presiding officer may do by a clerk appointed to assist him any act which he is required or authorised to do by this Schedule, except ordering the arrest, exclusion or ejection from the polling station of any person.
(5) The local returning officer may perform all or any of the functions of a presiding officer and while so doing shall be subject to the provisions of this Schedule in like manner as if he had been appointed a presiding officer.
Polling on islands.
32. (1) This Rule applies where a poll is to be taken in a constituency and the local returning officer concerned is of opinion that, in the case of a polling station situate on an island, it is probable that owing to stress of weather or transport difficulties either—
(a) the poll cannot or could not be taken on the polling day, or
(b) if the poll were taken on that day, the ballot boxes could not reach the place for the counting of the votes at or before the time appointed for the commencement of the count under section 6 of this Act.
(2) Where this Rule applies the local returning officer shall give public notice in the polling district stating that he will take the poll at the polling station on the island on a specified day, being a day other than the polling day but within the period during which the relevant elections to the Assembly are to be held in each Member State and the following provisions shall, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, have effect—
(a) the local returning officer may take the poll at the polling station on the island on the day specified in the notice or, where he is of opinion that, owing to stress of weather, the poll cannot be taken on that day, on the first day after that day on which, in his opinion, transport between the island and the mainland is reasonably safe,
(b) where, owing to transport difficulties, the poll cannot begin at the hour fixed by the Minister for the commencement of the poll, it shall begin as soon as possible after that hour,
(c) where, after the poll has continued for not less than four hours, the presiding officer is of opinion that if the poll were further continued the ballot boxes could not reach the place for the counting of the votes at or before the time appointed for the commencement of the count he may then close the poll.
(3) No alteration shall be made in the form or contents of the notice of poll to be published under Rule 21 of this Schedule by reason of the alteration under this Rule of the day and hours of poll in such polling district.
Polling on islands; further provisions.
33. Where a poll, other than a poll taken on a day specified under Rule 32 of this Schedule, is to be taken in a constituency, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the following provisions shall have effect in relation to a polling station situate on an island—
(a) where, owing to transport difficulties, the poll cannot begin at the hour fixed by the Minister for the commencement of the poll, it shall begin as soon as possible after that hour,
(b) where, after the poll has continued for not less than four hours, the presiding officer is of opinion that if the poll were further continued the ballot boxes could not reach the place for the counting of the votes at or before the time appointed for the commencement of the count, he may then close the poll.
Opening of the poll.
34. Immediately before the commencement of the poll the presiding officer at each polling station shall show each ballot box in his charge to such persons as are present in the station, so that they may see that it is empty, and shall then lock the box and seal it in such manner as to prevent its being opened without breaking the seal and shall place it in his view for the receipt of ballot papers, and keep it so locked, sealed and in view during the poll.
Admission to polling station.
35. No person shall be admitted to a polling station other than—
(a) the local returning officer and any deputy of his,
(b) the presiding officer and poll clerk for the station,
(c) the personation agents duly appointed for the station by or on behalf of the candidates,
(d) Assembly electors admitted for the purpose of voting at the polling station,
(e) companions of Assembly electors whose sight is so impaired or who are otherwise so physically incapacitated that they are unable to vote without assistance while such companions are assisting such electors,
(f) members of the Garda Síochána on duty,
(g) messengers sent by or on behalf of the local returning officer and,
(h) persons authorised by the local returning officer to be present in the station.
Voting by persons in the employment of local returning officers.
36. Where an Assembly elector for a constituency is employed by a local returning officer for any purpose in connection with an Assembly election for that constituency, and the circumstances of that elector's employment are, in the opinion of the local returning officer, such as to prevent him from voting at the polling station at which that Assembly elector would otherwise be entitled to vote, the local returning officer may authorise such Assembly elector, by a certificate given in the prescribed form, to vote at any other polling station in the constituency.
Procedure for voting.
37. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 5 (2) of this Act and Rules 39, 40, 41 and 47 of this Schedule, the presiding officer shall deliver a ballot paper to an Assembly elector who applies therefor and declares his name and address.
(2) Immediately before a ballot paper is delivered to an Assembly elector—
(a) the number (including polling district letter) and name of the elector as stated in the register shall be called out,
(b) the ballot paper shall be marked with the official mark,
(c) a mark shall be placed in the register against the number of the elector to denote that a ballot paper has been issued to that elector but without showing the number of the ballot paper so issued.
(3) An Assembly elector on receiving the ballot paper shall (subject to the provisions of Rule 39 of this Schedule) go alone into one of the compartments in the polling station and there shall secretly record his vote on the ballot paper and fold the paper so that his vote is concealed. He shall then return to the presiding officer's table, show the back of the folded paper to the presiding officer so as to disclose the official mark and then put the folded paper into the ballot box. He shall vote without undue delay and shall leave the polling station as soon as he has put his ballot paper into the ballot box.
Spoilt ballot papers.
38. A voter who has inadvertently spoilt his ballot paper may, on returning it to the presiding officer, be given another ballot paper. The presiding officer shall immediately mark “Spoilt” on the spoilt ballot paper and on the counterfoil thereof. He shall retain the spoilt ballot paper and counterfoil and deal with them in accordance with Rule 46 of this Schedule.
Voting by blind, incapacitated and illiterate Assembly electors.
39. (1) Where an Assembly elector applying for a ballot paper satisfies the presiding officer that his sight is so impaired or that he is otherwise so physically incapacitated or that he is so illiterate that he is unable to vote without assistance, this Rule shall apply.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) of this Rule the presiding officer may, and if required by any candidate or personation agent present in the polling station shall, administer to the Assembly elector before delivery of the ballot paper an oath or (in the case of a person who objects to taking an oath on the ground that he has no religious belief or that the taking of an oath is contrary to his religious belief) an affirmation in the following form:—
“I swear by Almighty God (or—do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm—as the case may be) that my sight is so impaired (or—that I am so physically incapacitated or—that I am so illiterate—as the case may be) that I am unable to vote without assistance”
and if the Assembly elector refuses to take the oath or make the affirmation, this Rule shall not apply.
(3) Where this Rule applies in the case of an Assembly elector who satisfies the presiding officer that his sight is so impaired or that he is otherwise so physically incapacitated that he is unable to vote without assistance, the elector may request that his ballot paper shall be marked for him by a companion and, subject to paragraph (4) of this Rule, the companion may go with the elector into one of the compartments in the polling station and there shall mark the ballot paper for the elector and shall fold it and show the back of the folded paper to the presiding officer so as to disclose the official mark and forthwith place the paper in the ballot box.
(4) The presiding officer may, and if required by any candidate or personation agent present in the polling station shall, put to the companion before delivery of the ballot paper, the following questions or any one or more of them:
(i) Have you attained the age of sixteen years?
(ii) Have you marked as a companion more than one ballot paper at this election?
(iii) Are you a candidate at this election?
(iv) Are you an agent of a candidate at this election?
and unless such of those question as are put to the companion are answered, in the case of the first of those questions, in the affirmative and, in the case of any other of those questions, in the negative, the companion may not mark the ballot paper.
(5) Where this Rule applies and—
(a) the Assembly elector is illiterate, or
(b) the Assembly elector does not request that his ballot paper shall be marked for him by a companion, or
(c) the Assembly elector having so requested, the marking of his ballot paper by the companion would be in contravention of paragraph (4) of this Rule,
the presiding officer shall, in the presence of the personation agents and no other person, mark a ballot paper as instructed by such elector and shall then fold it and place it in the ballot box.
(6) A request made by an Assembly elector within four hours before the hour fixed by the Minister for the close of the poll to have his ballot paper marked for him under this Rule otherwise than by a companion may be refused by the presiding officer if, in his opinion, having regard to the number of Assembly electors then coming in to vote or likely to come in to vote before the close of the poll, his acceding to such request would interfere with the proper discharge of his duties or would unduly obstruct the voting of other Assembly electors.
(7) Where a ballot paper is to be marked pursuant to paragraph (5) of this Rule the presiding officer may assist the Assembly elector by reading out in full from the ballot paper the particulars stated in respect of each candidate, but he shall not act on any written instruction.
(8) Where, pursuant to this Rule a person has marked as a companion two ballot papers at an Assembly election, he shall not, at that election, mark as a companion any other ballot paper.
(9) A person shall not mark as a companion a ballot paper at an Assembly election if he is a candidate or agent of a candidate at that election.
Alleged personation.
40. (1) Where, at an Assembly election, a ballot paper has been issued to a person representing himself to be a particular Assembly elector named on the register of European Assembly electors and another person representing himself to be that Assembly elector applies for a ballot paper and duly answers any questions put to him under Rule 47 of this Schedule and takes the oath or makes the affirmation under the said Rule that other person shall be entitled to receive a ballot paper and mark and place it in the ballot box in like manner as any other Assembly elector.
(2) The presiding officer shall make out a statement showing the total number of ballot papers issued pursuant to this Rule and the name and number (including polling district letter) on the register of European Assembly electors of each of the persons to whom such papers were issued.
Arrest of person committing certain offences.
41. (1) Where a presiding officer has reasonable cause to believe that any person who applies for or has applied for a ballot paper is committing or has committed personation or an offence under Rule 71 of this Schedule he may, before such person has left the polling station, direct a member of the Garda Síochána to arrest the person on the charge of having committed personation or an offence under the said Rule 71, as may be appropriate, and the member of the Garda Síochána shall comply with such direction.
(2) If at the time a person applies for a ballot paper at an Assembly election, or after he has applied for a ballot paper and before he has left the polling station, a personation agent declares to the presiding officer that he believes and undertakes in writing to prove that the applicant has committed personation or an offence under Rule 71 of this Schedule, the presiding officer shall order a member of the Garda Síochána to arrest the applicant on the charge of having committed personation or an offence under the said Rule 71, as may be appropriate, and the member of the Garda Síochána shall comply with such direction.
(3) Any member of the Garda Síochána may, without any warrant arrest any person who, he believes, is committing, or has committed, personation or an offence under Rule 71 of this Schedule.
(4) Any arrest authorised by this Rule may be made at any place whether in a polling station or out of such a station.
(5) No action or other proceeding shall lie against a presiding officer in respect of the arrest on his direction, without malice, of any person on a charge of having committed personation or an offence under Rule 71 of this Schedule.
Maintenance of order in polling station.
42. (1) If any person misconducts himself at a polling station or fails to obey the lawful orders of the presiding officer for that station, he may immediately, by order of the said presiding officer, be removed from the polling station by any member of the Garda Síochána or by any other person authorised in writing by the presiding officer to remove him. A person so removed shall not re-enter the polling station without the permission of the presiding officer.
(2) The powers conferred by the foregoing paragraph on a presiding officer shall be taken as including a power to remove from the polling station all election literature which advocates the candidature of a particular person or persons or of members of a political party.
(3) For the purpose of this Rule a polling station shall be deemed to include all parts of the building and any land within the curtilage of the building in which the polling station is situate.
Obstruction of the poll.
43. (1) Where the poll at any polling station is obstructed by violence, the presiding officer for that station may adjourn the said poll until the following day (disregarding any excluded day) and on such day the said poll shall be resumed at a time corresponding to the time fixed for the commencement of the poll and shall continue until a time corresponding to the time fixed for the close of the poll on the polling day. References in this Act to the close of the poll shall be construed accordingly in relation to the said polling station.
(2) In the event of such obstruction, only the poll at such polling stations as are actually affected by the obstruction may be adjourned and the poll at all other polling stations shall be continued without adjournment.
(3) Where a poll is adjourned under this Rule the presiding officer shall forthwith give notice of such adjournment to the local returning officer who shall forthwith inform the returning officer. The returning officer shall not open any of the ballot boxes used in the constituency until the adjourned poll has been completed.
(4) This Rule shall apply to any obstruction caused by persons being prevented by violence from going to any polling station and to obstruction caused in any other manner by violence.
Damage to polling stations.
44. Subject to Rules 14, 20, 32, 33, 43 and 45 of this Schedule where, for any reason, including damage to a polling station, the poll at any polling station cannot be taken or continued in accordance with section 6 of this Act the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) the local returning officer shall forthwith give public notice to that effect and take all such steps and give all such directions as he thinks proper for the holding or completion of the poll at such polling station,
(b) a fresh poll shall be held or the poll shall be continued, as may be appropriate, at such polling station on a day (not being later than seven days after the polling day) appointed for the purpose by the local returning officer,
(c) the provisions of this Act shall apply in respect of such fresh poll or the continued poll in like manner as they apply to the original poll, and
(d) the returning officer shall not open any of the ballot boxes used in the constituency until the fresh poll or the continued poll has been completed.
Destruction etc. of ballot boxes or ballot papers.
45. If at an Assembly election any ballot boxes or ballot papers are, without lawful authority, taken out of the custody of the returning officer, a local returning officer or of a presiding officer or are in any way tampered with or are destroyed or (in the case of ballot papers) are maliciously torn or defaced the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) the poll at every polling station at which any of the said ballot boxes or ballot papers were used shall be void,
(b) the returning officer shall forthwith inform the Minister and the chief returning officer of the polling having so become void,
(c) upon receipt of that information, the Minister shall forthwith take all such steps and give all such directions as he thinks proper for the taking of a fresh poll at every such polling station,
(d) a fresh poll shall be taken at every such polling station on a day appointed for this purpose by the Minister,
(e) the provisions of this Act shall apply in respect of such fresh poll in like manner as they apply to the original poll,
(f) the returning officer shall not open any of the ballot boxes used in the constituency until the fresh poll has been completed.
Duties of presiding officer at close of poll.
46. (1) At the time fixed for the close of the poll the presiding officer shall take steps to ensure that no further Assembly electors are admitted to the polling station, but any elector on the premises at that time shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be entitled to receive a ballot paper and to vote.
(2) As soon as practicable after the close of the poll, the presiding officer shall seal each ballot box in his charge so that no further ballot papers can be inserted therein and shall attach the key thereto and seal up in separate packets—
(a) the unused and spoilt ballot papers, placed together,
(b) the marked copies of the register of European Assembly electors,
(c) the counterfoils of the ballot papers,
(d) a ballot paper account in the prescribed form made out by him and a statement prepared in accordance with Rule 40 (2) of this Schedule,
(e) any certificates given by the local returning officer under Rule 36 of this Schedule authorising persons to vote at the polling station, and any undertakings by a personation agent to prove that a person has committed personation or an offence under Rule 71 of this Schedule, and
(f) the marking instrument, unused stationery and other documents and materials relating to the Assembly election,
and shall deliver all such ballot boxes and packets to the local returning officer.
(3) The local returning officer shall make adequate arrangements for the safe custody of the ballot boxes delivered in pursuance of this Rule and of all documents connected with the poll.
(4) The local returning officer shall forthwith deliver to the returning officer each ballot box and ballot paper account delivered to him in pursuance of paragraph (2) of this Rule.
Right to vote.
47. (1) For the purposes of section 4 of this Act—
(a) a person's name shall be taken to be on a register of European Assembly electors if the register includes a name which in the opinion of the local returning officer or presiding officer was intended to be the person's name,
(b) the local returning officer or presiding officer may, and if so required by any candidate or personation agent present in the polling station shall, put to any person when he applies for a ballot paper, but not afterwards, the following questions, or any one or more of them:
(i) Are you the same person as the person whose name appears as A B on the register of European Assembly electors now in force for the constituency of.............?
(ii) Have you already voted at this election?
(iii) Had you reached the age of eighteen years on..........(date of coming into force of the register)?
(iv) Are you either or both of the following:
(A) a citizen of Ireland,
(B) a national of a Member State of the European Communities other than Ireland?
and unless such of those questions as are put to the person are answered, in the case of the first, third and fourth of those questions, in the affirmative and, in the case of the second of them, in the negative, the person shall not be permitted to vote,
(c) the local returning officer or presiding officer may, and if so required by any candidate or personation agent present in the polling station shall, administer to any person when he applies for a ballot paper, but not afterwards, an oath or (in the case of any person who objects to taking an oath on the ground that he has no religious belief or that the taking of an oath is contrary to his religious belief) an affirmation in the following form:— “I swear by Almighty God (or—do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm—as the case may be) that I am the same person as the person whose name appears as A B on the register of European Assembly electors now in force for the constituency of...........and that I have not already voted at this election, and that I had attained the age of eighteen years on.......... (date of coming into force of the register) and that I am a citizen of Ireland (or—a national of a Member State of the European Communities other than Ireland—or— both a citizen of Ireland and a national of a Member State of the European Communities other than Ireland—as the case may be).”
and if such person refuses to take the oath or make the affirmation he shall not be permitted to vote.
(2) Save as is provided by this Rule and Rule 39 of this Schedule no question, oath, affirmation or objection shall be put or permitted at the time of the poll at an Assembly election as to the right of any person to vote, and no objection thereto shall be made or received by any local returning officer or presiding officer.
(3) Nothing in this Rule shall be construed as entitling any person to vote who is not entitled to do so, or as relieving him from any penalties to which he may be liable for voting.
PART III
The Counting of the Votes
Chapter I
Documents relating to postal voters
Opening of postal ballot boxes.
48. (1) Not less than four days before the polling day the local returning officer shall give written notice to each candidate of the time and place at which he will open the postal ballot boxes and of the number of agents each candidate may appoint to attend at the opening. He shall give the said agents reasonable facilities for overseeing the proceedings at the opening of the boxes and all information with respect thereto which he can give them consistent with the orderly conduct of the proceedings and the performance of his functions.
(2) The postal ballot boxes shall be opened by the local returning officer in the presence of the agents of the candidates.
(3) The postal ballot boxes shall be opened before the time fixed by the Minister, under section 6 of this Act, for the commencement of the count.
(4) The local returning officer, his assistants and clerks, members of the Garda Síochána on duty and the agents of the candidates duly appointed for the purpose under these Rules and no other person, except with the permission of the local returning officer, may be present at the opening of the postal ballot boxes.
Examination of documents received from postal voters.
49. (1) When a postal ballot box has been opened, the local returning officer shall extract the covering envelopes therefrom and count and note the number of covering envelopes so extracted. He shall then open each covering envelope separately and examine the receipt.
(2) If the receipt is found to be duly signed, he shall place the receipt and the ballot paper envelope in separate receptacles provided by him for the purpose.
(3) If he is not satisfied that the receipt has been duly signed he shall endorse the receipt “Rejected” and shall attach thereto the ballot paper envelope (without opening such envelope) or, if there is no such envelope, the ballot paper.
(4) A separate ballot box (which shall be subsequently delivered by the local returning officer to the returning officer who shall treat it as a ballot box for the purpose of the counting of the votes at the election) shall be provided and shall be shown open and empty to the agents of the candidates present and shall be locked and sealed by the local returning officer.
(5) Where a receipt does not appear to accompany the ballot paper envelope the local returning officer shall open the envelope and if it is found to contain the receipt he shall deal with the receipt and ballot paper in accordance with this Chapter.
(6) The local returning officer shall endorse “Rejected” any receipt not accompanied by a ballot paper and any ballot paper not accompanied by a receipt.
(7) Where a ballot paper and receipt are received together the ballot paper shall not be rejected solely on the ground that the ballot paper and receipt, or either of them, were not placed in the proper envelopes or that any such envelope was not closed.
(8) The local returning officer shall on a request being made by the agent of a candidate show to the agent any receipt which he is rejecting on the ground that it has not been properly signed.
(9) The local returning officer shall keep all rejected receipts with the attached envelopes or ballot papers, as the case may be, separate from other documents.
Procedure as respects documents relating to postal voters.
50. (1) When the covering envelopes in any postal ballot box have been opened and their contents dealt with under the preceding Rule, the local returning officer shall open each unopened ballot paper envelope (other than the ballot paper envelopes referred to in Rule 49 (3) of this Schedule) and shall place each ballot paper in the ballot box referred to in Rule 49 (4) of this Schedule.
(2) When the local returning officer has placed the postal ballot papers in the ballot box in accordance with this Rule, he shall seal up in separate packets—
(a) the receipts which accompanied the ballot papers duly accepted,
(b) the rejected receipts, with the envelopes, if any, attached, and
(c) the rejected ballot papers, with the envelopes, if any, attached.
(3) Where covering envelopes are received by the local returning officer after the close of the poll, or where envelopes addressed to postal voters are returned as undelivered, the local returning officer shall not open such envelopes and shall, subject to his power of re-addressing them, seal them up in separate packets.
(4) The local returning officer shall endorse on each packet mentioned in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Rule a description of its contents, the name of the constituency, the name of the county or county borough for which he is such returning officer and the date of the Assembly election to which such contents relate.
Postal votes to be counted.
51. Every ballot paper duly marked by a postal voter and accompanied by the receipt duly signed by that voter which is received by the local returning officer by post before the close of the poll shall be treated in the same manner as a ballot paper placed in a ballot box in the ordinary way.
Chapter II
Arrangements for the counting of the votes
Place for the counting of the votes.
52. The returning officer shall appoint a place within or convenient to the constituency as the place at which he will count the votes and shall, at the place so appointed, provide suitable accommodation and all furniture and equipment necessary for counting the votes in accordance with this part of this Schedule and shall make adequate arrangements for the safe custody of the ballot papers and other documents relating to the Assembly election.
Attendance at the counting of the votes.
53. (1) Not less than four days before the polling day the returning officer shall give written notice to each candidate of the time and place at which he will begin to count the votes and of the number of agents each candidate may appoint to be present at the counting of the votes.
(2) The returning officer, his assistants and clerks, members of the Garda Síochána on duty, the agents of the candidates duly appointed for the purpose under this Schedule and no other person, except with the permission of the returning officer, may be present at the counting of the votes.
(3) The returning officer shall give the agents of the candidates all such reasonable facilities for overseeing the proceedings at the counting of the votes (including, in particular, facilities for satisfying themselves that the ballot papers are correctly sorted) and all such information with respect thereto as he can give them consistent with the orderly conduct of the proceedings and the performance of his functions.
Preliminary proceedings.
54. (1) On the day and commencing at the time appointed by the Minister under section 6 of this Act and at the place appointed under Rule 52 of this Schedule, the returning officer shall, in the presence of the agents of the candidates, open the ballot boxes and extract the ballot papers therefrom.
(2) The ballot papers extracted by the returning officer from each ballot box shall be counted and their total number shall be compared with the number shown in the appropriate ballot paper account. The returning officer shall prepare a statement showing the result of this comparison in respect of all the ballot boxes and he shall, on request, allow the agent of any candidate to copy the statement.
(3) The returning officer shall then mix together the whole of the ballot papers and shall forthwith proceed to count the votes in accordance with this Schedule.
Time for the counting of the votes.
55. The returning officer shall, so far as practicable, proceed continuously with the counting of the votes, allowing only time for refreshment, and excluding (except so far as he and the candidates otherwise agree) the hours between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m.
Conduct of the counting of the votes.
56. (1) The returning officer shall cause the ballot papers to be scrutinised for the purpose of discovering any papers liable to be rejected as invalid and shall, in accordance with this part of this Schedule, ascertain and record the number of votes given to each candidate.
(2) The returning officer, while counting and recording the number of ballot papers, shall cause the said papers to be kept face upwards and due precautions to be taken to prevent any person from seeing the numbers printed on the backs of the said papers.
Handling of ballot papers by candidates or agents.
57. Candidates or agents shall not handle ballot papers during the counting of the votes.
Chapter III
Rules for the counting of the votes
Interpretation (Part III, Chapter III).
58. (1) In this Chapter—
“continuing candidate” means any candidate not deemed to be elected and not excluded;
“count” means—
(a) all the operations involved in the counting of the first preferences recorded for candidates; or
(b) all the operations involved in the transfer of the surplus of a candidate deemed to be elected; or
(c) all the operations involved in the transfer of the votes of an excluded candidate;
“deemed to be elected” means deemed to be elected for the purpose of the counting of the votes but without prejudice to the declaration of the result of the poll;
“determine by lot” means determine in accordance with the following directions, namely, the names of the candidates concerned having been written on similar slips of paper, and the slips having being folded so as to prevent identification and mixed and drawn at random, the candidate or candidates shall in cases of exclusion be excluded in the order in which their names are drawn, and, in cases of surpluses, the surpluses shall be transferred in the order in which the names are drawn;
“mark” means a figure, a word or a mark such as “X”;
“non-transferable paper” means a ballot paper on which no second or subsequent preference is recorded for a continuing candidate; provided that a paper shall be deemed to have become a non-transferable paper whenever—
(a) the names of two or more candidates (whether continuing candidates or not) are marked with marks which, in the opinion of the returning officer, indicate the same order of preference and are next in order of preference, or
(b) the name of the candidate next in order of preference (whether a continuing candidate or not) is marked with a mark which, in the opinion of the returning officer, does not follow consecutively after some other mark on the ballot paper, or with two or more marks; or
(c) it is void for uncertainty;
“original vote” in regard to any candidate means a vote derived from a ballot paper on which a first preference is recorded for that candidate;
“preference” shall be interpreted as follows—
(a) “first preference” means any mark which, in the opinion of the returning officer, clearly indicates a first preference;
“second preference” means any mark which, in the opinion of the returning officer, clearly indicates a second preference standing in succession to a first preference;
“third preference” means any mark which, in the opinion of the returning officer, clearly indicates a third preference standing in succession to a second preference and so on;
(b) “next available preference” means a preference which, in the opinion of the returning officer, is a second or subsequent preference recorded in consecutive order for a continuing candidate, the preferences next in order on the ballot paper for candidates already deemed to be elected or excluded being ignored;
“surplus” means the number of votes by which the total number of the votes, original and transferred, credited to any candidate, exceeds the quota;
“transferable paper” means a ballot paper on which, following a first preference, a second or subsequent preference is recorded in consecutive numerical order for a continuing candidate;
“transferred vote” in regard to any candidate, means a vote derived from a ballot paper on which a second or subsequent preference is recorded for that candidate.
(2) Any ballot paper—
(a) which does not bear the official mark; or
(b) on which the figure 1 standing alone, or the word “one” or any other mark which, in the opinion of the returning officer, clearly indicates a first preference, is not placed at all or is not so placed as to indicate a first preference for some candidate, or
(c) on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference, or the word “one” or any other mark which, in the opinion of the returning officer, clearly indicates a first preference, is set opposite the name of more than one candidate, or
(d) on which anything is written or marked by which the voter can be identified,
shall be invalid and not counted, but the ballot paper shall not be invalid by reason only of carrying the words “one”, “two”, “three” (and so on) or any other mark which, in the opinion of the returning officer, clearly indicates a preference or preferences.
(3) The returning officer shall endorse “Rejected” on any ballot paper which under this Rule is not to be counted. The returning officer shall prepare a statement in the prescribed form showing the number of ballot papers rejected by him under each of the subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of paragraph (2) of this Rule and shall, on request, allow any candidate or agent of a candidate to copy such statement.
First count.
59. (1) After the ballot papers have been mixed in accordance with Rule 54 (3) of this Schedule, the returning officer shall, rejecting any that are invalid, arrange them in parcels according to the first preferences recorded for each candidate.
(2) The returning officer shall then count the number of papers in each parcel and credit each candidate with a number of votes equal to the number of valid papers on which a first preference has been recorded for such candidate and he shall ascertain the number of all valid papers.
The quota.
60. (1) The returning officer shall then divide the number of all valid papers by a number exceeding by one the number of representatives to be elected. The result increased by one, any fractional remainder being disregarded, shall be the number of votes sufficient to secure the election of a candidate. This number is referred to in this Schedule as “the quota”.
(2) Where at the end of any count the number of votes credited to a candidate is equal to or greater than the quota, that candidate shall be deemed to be elected.
Transfer of surplus.
61. (1) Where at the end of any count the number of votes credited to a candidate is greater than the quota, the surplus shall be transferred in accordance with this Rule to the continuing candidate or candidates indicated on the ballot papers in the parcel or sub-parcel of the candidate deemed to be elected according to the next available preferences recorded thereon.
(2) Where the votes credited to a candidate deemed to be elected whose surplus is to be transferred consist of original votes only, the returning officer shall examine all the papers in the parcel of that candidate and shall arrange the transferable papers in sub-parcels according to the next available preferences recorded thereon.
(3) Where the votes credited to a candidate deemed to be elected whose surplus is to be transferred consist of original and transferred votes, or of transferred votes only, the returning officer shall examine the papers contained in the sub-parcel last received by that candidate and shall arrange the transferable papers therein in further sub-parcels according to the next available preferences recorded thereon.
(4) In either of the cases referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Rule the returning officer shall make a separate sub-parcel of the non-transferable papers and shall ascertain the number of papers in each sub-parcel of transferable papers and in the sub-parcel of non-transferable papers.
(5) If the surplus is equal to or greater than the total number of papers in the sub-parcels of transferable papers, the returning officer shall transfer each sub-parcel of transferable papers to the continuing candidate indicated thereon as the voters' next available preference. Where, however, the surplus is greater than such total number, a sub-parcel shall be made of a number of non-transferable papers equal to the difference between such total number and the surplus and the papers in such sub-parcel shall be set aside and not further taken into account and, for the purposes of Rule 68 (3) of this Schedule shall be described as non-transferable papers not effective and the remaining non-transferable papers, also arranged as a sub-parcel, shall be placed with the papers of the candidate deemed to be elected.
(6) Where the surplus is less than the total number of transferable papers, the returning officer shall transfer from each sub-parcel of transferable papers to the continuing candidate indicated thereon as the voters' next available preference that number of papers which bears the same proportion to the number of papers in the sub-parcel as the surplus bears to the total number of transferable papers. The number of papers to be transferred from each sub-parcel shall be ascertained by multiplying the number of papers in the sub-parcel by the surplus and dividing the result by the total number of transferable papers. A note shall be made of the fractions, if any, in each quotient ascertained in respect of each candidate. If, owing to the existence of such fractions, the number of papers to be transferred is less than the surplus, so many of these fractions taken in the order of their magnitude (beginning with the largest) as are necessary to make the total number of papers to be transferred equal to the surplus shall be reckoned as of the value of unity and the remaining fractions shall be ignored. Where two or more fractions are of equal magnitude, that fraction shall be deemed to be the largest which arises from the largest sub-parcel, and if such sub-parcels are equal in size, that fraction shall be deemed to be the largest which relates to the candidate credited with the largest number of original votes. Where the numbers of such original votes are equal, regard shall be had to the total number of votes credited to such candidates at the first count at which they were credited with an unequal number of votes and the fraction relating to the candidate credited with the greatest number of votes at that count shall be deemed to be the largest. Where the numbers of votes credited to such candidates were equal at all counts the returning officer shall determine by lot which fraction shall be deemed to be the largest.
(7) The papers to be transferred from each sub-parcel shall be those last filed in the sub-parcel, and each paper so transferred shall be marked to indicate the number of the count at which the transfer took place.
(8) A surplus which arises at the end of any count shall be transferred before a surplus which arises at a subsequent count; provided that—
(a) the returning officer need not necessarily transfer the surplus of a candidate deemed to be elected when that surplus, together with any other surplus not transferred, is less than the difference between the numbers of the votes credited to the two lowest continuing candidates and either—
(i) the number of votes credited to the lowest candidate is greater than one-third of the quota, or
(ii) the sum of the number of votes credited to the lowest candidate together with that surplus and any other surplus not transferred is not greater than one-third of the quota;
(b) a surplus which is equal to or greater than the difference between the numbers of votes credited to the two lowest candidates shall be transferred before any surplus which is less than such difference;
(c) if there are two or more surpluses each of which is less than the difference between the numbers of votes credited to the two lowest candidates, the greatest of such surpluses shall be first transferred without regard to the count at which it arose.
(9) When two or more surpluses arise from the same count the largest shall be first dealt with and the others shall be dealt with in the order of their descending magnitude.
(10) Where two or more candidates have each an equal surplus arising from the same count regard shall be had to the number of original votes credited to each candidate and the surplus of the candidate credited with the largest number of original votes shall be first dealt with. Where the numbers of such original votes are equal regard shall be had to the total number of votes credited to such candidates at the first count at which they had an unequal number of votes and the surplus of the candidate with the greatest number of votes at that count shall be first dealt with. Where the numbers of votes credited to such candidates were equal at all counts the returning officer shall determine by lot which surplus he will first deal with.
Exclusion of candidate.
62. (1) If at any time no candidate has a surplus (or when under Rule 61 of this Schedule an existing surplus need not be and is not transferred), and one or more vacancies remain unfilled, the returning officer shall exclude the candidate credited with the lowest number of votes and shall examine all the papers of that candidate, and shall arrange the transferable papers in sub-parcels according to the next available preference recorded thereon for continuing candidates, and shall transfer each sub-parcel to the candidate for whom that preference is recorded, and shall make a separate sub-parcel of the non-transferable papers. The non-transferable papers shall be set aside as finally dealt with and shall, for the purposes of Rule 68 (3) of this Schedule, be described as non-transferable papers not effective.
(2) Where the total of the votes of the two or more lowest candidates together with any surplus not transferred is less than the number of votes credited to the next highest candidate, the returning officer may in one operation exclude such two or more lowest candidates provided that—
(a) the number of votes credited to the second lowest candidate is greater than one-third of the quota, or
(b) where the number of votes credited to any one of such two or more lowest candidates does not exceed one-third of the quota, it is clear that the exclusion of the candidates separately in accordance with paragraph (1) of this Rule and the transfer of any untransferred surplus could not result in a number of votes exceeding one-third of the quota being credited to any such candidate.
(3) If, when a candidate has to be excluded under this Rule, two or more candidates have each the same number of votes and are lowest, regard shall be had to the number of original votes credited to each of those candidates, and the candidate with the smallest number of original votes shall be excluded and where the numbers of the original votes are equal, regard shall be had to the total numbers of votes credited to those candidates at the first count at which they had an unequal number of votes and the candidate with the lowest number of votes at that count shall be excluded and, where the numbers of votes credited to those candidates were equal at all counts, the returning officer shall determine by lot which shall be excluded.
Transfer of votes.
63. (1) Where a transfer of votes is made under Rule 61 or 62 of this Schedule each sub-parcel of papers transferred shall be placed on top of the parcel, if any, of papers of the candidate to whom the transfer is made, and that candidate shall be credited with a number of votes equal to the number of papers transferred to him.
(2) If after any transfer a candidate has a surplus, that surplus shall be dealt with in accordance with and subject to the provisions of Rule 61 of this Schedule before any other candidate is excluded.
Filling of last vacancies.
64. (1) When the number of continuing candidates is equal to the number of vacancies remaining unfilled, the continuing candidates shall thereupon be deemed to be elected.
(2) When only one vacancy remains unfilled, and the votes of some one continuing candidate exceed the total of all the votes of the other continuing candidates together with any surplus not transferred, that candidate shall thereupon be deemed to be elected.
(3) When the last vacancies can be filled under this Rule no further transfer of votes need be made unless any of the continuing candidates has not been credited with a number of votes exceeding one-third of the quota and it is necessary for the purposes of Rule 6 of this Schedule to make further transfers of votes to establish whether such a number of votes could be credited to him.
Recount.
65. (1) Any candidate or any agent of a candidate may, at the conclusion of any count, request the returning officer to re-examine and recount all or any of the papers dealt with during that count, and the returning officer shall forthwith re-examine and recount such papers accordingly without making any alterations in the arrangement of the papers in the various parcels, save where such alterations may be necessary in consequence of any error discovered in the recount. The returning officer may also at his discretion recount papers either once or more often in any case in which he is not satisfied as to the accuracy of any count; but nothing herein shall make it obligatory on the returning officer to recount the same parcel of papers more than once.
(2) The power, under paragraph (1) of this Rule, of a returning officer to recount at his discretion papers in any case in which he is not satisfied as to the accuracy of any count shall extend to papers dealt with at an earlier count than the immediately preceding one.
(3) As respects each candidate, one request (and not more) may be made by him or his agent for a complete re-examination and recount of all parcels of ballot papers, and the returning officer shall forthwith re-examine and recount the parcels of ballot papers accordingly. In the re-examination and recount, the number or order of ballot papers in any parcel shall not be disturbed. Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this Rule shall make it obligatory on the returning officer to re-examine or recount the same parcel of papers more than once, but if an error is discovered which is, in the opinion of the returning officer, a significant error likely to affect the result of the election, the returning officer shall count all the papers afresh from the point at which the error occurred.
(4) Where an error is discovered, the returning officer shall, where necessary, amend any results previously announced by him.
Declaration of the result of the poll.
66. On the completion of the counting of the votes the returning officer shall determine and declare the result of the poll and the candidates deemed to be elected shall thereupon stand elected.
Decisions of returning officer.
67. The decision of the returning officer, whether expressed or implied by his acts, on any question which arises in relation to the exclusion of any candidate under Rule 62 of this Schedule or to any ballot paper or transfer of votes shall be final, subject only to reversal on a petition questioning the Assembly election.
Chapter IV
Result of Assembly election etc.
Return of persons elected.
68. (1) The returning officer for a constituency shall make a return to the chief returning officer of the persons elected in the constituency to be representatives in the Assembly.
(2) The return shall be made by a certificate in the prescribed form of the names and descriptions of such persons signed by the returning officer, as soon as practicable after the result of the poll has been declared in accordance with Rule 66 of this Schedule or, where there is no poll, when such persons have been declared elected in accordance with Rule 19 (b) of this Schedule.
(3) The returning officer shall give public notice of the names and descriptions of the candidates elected and also, in the case of a contested election, of the total number of votes given for each candidate, whether elected or not, of any transfer of votes and of the total number of votes credited to each candidate at the end of the count at which such transfer took place. He shall send a copy of the said notice to the Minister, the chief returning officer and each person elected. He shall also send a copy of the statement referred to in Rule 54 (2) of this Schedule to the Minister.
Retention and disposal of documents.
69. (1) On the completion of the counting of the votes the returning officer shall place in separate sealed packets—
(a) the counted ballot papers,
(b) the ballot papers rejected at the counting of the votes,
(c) the ballot paper accounts and the statement prepared in accordance with Rule 54 (2) of this Schedule, and
(d) the candidates' nomination papers, whether valid or invalid, and any certificates of political affiliation,
and shall mark on each packet particulars of its contents, the date of the polling day at the Assembly election and the constituency to which they relate and shall as soon as practicable forward the said packets to the chief returning officer.
(2) The local returning officer shall place in separate sealed packets—
(a) the unused and spoilt ballot papers,
(b) the counterfoils of ballot papers issued at polling stations,
(c) the marked copies of the register of European Assembly electors, and
(d) any authorisations to electors employed by the local returning officer to vote at other polling stations, and shall mark on each packet particulars of its contents, the date of the polling day at the Assembly election and the constituency and county or county borough to which they relate and shall as soon as practicable forward to the chief returning officer the said packets and the packets sealed up in accordance with Rule 26 (6) of this Schedule and paragraphs (2) and (3) of Rule 50 of this Schedule.
(3) The documents referred to in this Rule shall be retained by the chief returning officer for one year from the date of the poll at the Assembly election. At the expiration of the said period the chief returning officer shall, unless otherwise directed by an order of the High Court, cause the documents to be destroyed.
Return by chief returning officer.
70. The chief returning officer, shall, as soon as may be after he has received the return referred to in Rule 68 of this Schedule from each returning officer, make a return in the prescribed form to the Assembly of the persons elected in the State to be representatives in the Assembly.
PART IV
Electoral Offences
Prohibition on voting more than once etc.
71. (1) A person shall not in any year in which an Assembly election is held both,
(a) apply for a ballot paper or vote at the election, and
(b) apply for a ballot paper or vote at an election being held as regards any Member State other than the State in pursuance of any provision laid down under any or all of the treaties.
(2) A person,
(a) who is registered in the register of European Assembly electors for the time being in force but is not entitled to be so registered, or
(b) who is not registered in that register,
shall not vote at an Assembly election.
(3) A person who contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) of this Rule shall be guilty of an offence.
(4) Where a fresh Assembly election is held pursuant to section 17 (7) of this Act and such election is held in a year other than that in which the relevant Assembly election declared wholly or partly void by the court was held, then for the purposes of this Rule the fresh Assembly election and the Assembly election to which the declaration relates shall be regarded as being held in the same year.
(5) For the purposes of this Rule, a person who has marked, whether validly or not, and returned to the local returning officer a ballot paper issued pursuant to Rule 26 of this Schedule shall be deemed to have voted.
Personation.
72. (1) A person who, at an Assembly election—
(a) votes or applies for a ballot paper in the name of some other person, whether that name be the name of a living person or of a dead person or of a fictitious person, or
(b) having already voted, applies at the same election for a ballot paper in his own name,
shall be guilty of the offence of personation.
(2) For the purposes of this Rule, a person who has marked, whether validly or not, and returned to the local returning officer a ballot paper issued pursuant to Rule 26 of this Schedule shall be deemed to have voted.
(3) A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of the offence of personation shall be guilty of an offence.
Bribery.
73. (1) A person shall not, in relation to an Assembly election—
(a) give valuable consideration to induce a voter to vote, or to procure the election of any person or the vote of any voter, or on account of a voter having voted; or
(b) procure, by means of or in consequence of valuable consideration, the election of any person or the vote of any voter; or
(c) induce, by means of or in consequence of valuable consideration, any person to withdraw or to refrain from withdrawing from being a candidate, or withdraw or refrain from withdrawing, in consequence of any valuable consideration, from being a candidate; or
(d) receive, agree or contract to receive, valuable consideration for voting or agreeing to vote.
(2) A person who contravenes paragraph (1) of this Rule shall be guilty of an offence.
(3) A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of an offence under this Rule shall be guilty of an offence.
(4) In this Rule—
“give”, “induce”, and “procure” include agreeing or promising or attempting to give, induce or procure, as the case may be, and whether directly or indirectly;
“valuable consideration” includes the giving, lending or agreeing to give or lend, or the offer or promise to procure or to attempt to procure, any money, money's worth or valuable security or any valuable consideration or any office, place or employment to or for any person;
“vote” includes voting in a particular way or refraining from voting.
Undue influence.
74. A person who, in relation to an Assembly election, directly or indirectly makes use of or threatens to make use of any force, violence or restraint against or inflicts or causes or threatens to inflict or cause any temporal or spiritual injury or loss on or to any person, or attempts by abduction, duress, or fraud—
(a) to induce or compel any person to vote or refrain from voting, or to vote or refrain from voting for a particular person or in a particular way, or
(b) to induce or compel any person to withdraw, or to refrain from withdrawing, from being a candidate, or
(c) to induce or compel any person to be a candidate or to impede or prevent any person from being a candidate, or
(d) to impede or prevent the free exercise of the franchise by any Assembly elector,
shall be guilty of an offence.
Breach of secrecy.
75. (1) A person who is present at the issue of ballot papers to postal voters or at the opening of postal ballot boxes shall be guilty of an offence if, except for some purpose authorised by law, he—
(a) communicates, before the poll is closed, to any person any information obtained at the said issue as to the official mark, or
(b) attempts to ascertain at the said issue or the said opening the number on the back of any ballot paper or the candidate for whom any vote is given in any ballot paper, or communicates to any other person any information with respect thereto obtained at the said issue or the said opening.
(2) A person admitted to a polling station in any capacity at an Assembly election shall be guilty of an offence if, before the poll is closed he communicates, except for some purpose authorised by law, to any other person any information as to the name or the number on the register of European Assembly electors of any voter who has or has not applied for a ballot paper or voted at a polling station, or as to the official mark.
(3) A person who is present in any capacity at the counting of the votes at an Assembly election shall be guilty of an offence if he ascertains or attempts to ascertain at such counting the number on the back of any ballot paper, or if at any time he communicates any information obtained at such count as to the candidate for whom any vote is given on any ballot paper.
(4) A person shall be guilty of an offence if, at an Assembly election, except for some purpose authorised by law, he—
(a) interferes with or attempts to interfere with a voter when marking his vote, or obtains or attempts to obtain in a polling station information as to the candidate for whom any voter in the station is about to vote or has voted, or
(b) communicates at any time to any other person any information obtained in a polling station as to the candidate for whom a voter in that station is about to vote or has voted, or as to the number on the back of the ballot paper issued to a voter at that station, or
(c) directly or indirectly induces any voter to display his ballot paper after the said voter has marked it so as to make known to any person the name of the candidate for whom the said voter has or has not voted, or
(d) interferes with or attempts to interfere with the receipt, marking or return of a ballot paper by any postal voter or attempts to obtain information as to the candidate for whom any such voter has or has not voted.
Offences relating to ballot boxes, ballot papers, nomination papers, certificates of political affiliation, official marks etc.
76. A person shall be guilty of an offence if—
(a) wilfully and without lawful authority, he takes, destroys, conceals, opens or otherwise interferes with any ballot box or packet of ballot papers, or any packet of papers or documents of any kind then in use or intended to be used for the purposes of an Assembly election, or any ballot paper account or marked copy of a register of European Assembly electors prepared or used for the purposes of the election, or any unused ballot paper, or
(b) he maliciously destroys, tears, or defaces a ballot paper, or
(c) he forges or counterfeits a ballot paper or the official mark on a ballot paper, or
(d) without lawful authority, he supplies a ballot paper to any person, or
(e) he fraudulently puts into a ballot box any paper other than the ballot paper which he is authorised by law to put in it, or
(f) he fraudulently takes a ballot paper out of a polling station, or
(g) he forges or fraudulently defaces or fraudulently destroys any nomination paper or any certificate of political affiliation, or any certificate under Rule 36 of this Schedule or any official envelope or form of receipt used in connection with voting by post, or any other form or document used at an election, or
(h) he produces to the returning officer a nomination paper, knowing the same to be forged, or
(i) he counterfeits the official mark, or
(j) without lawful authority, he removes, destroys or damages any instrument for stamping the official mark on ballot papers or makes or has in his possession any imitation or counterfeit of any such instrument.
Disorderly conduct at election meeting.
77. (1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if, between the date of publication of the Notice of Election and the date on which the return is made by the chief returning officer under Rule 70 of this Schedule of persons elected to be representatives in the Assembly, he acts in a disorderly manner at a lawful public meeting held in connection with an election to the said Assembly.
(2) A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of an offence under paragraph (1) of this Rule shall be guilty of an offence.
Omission of name and address of printer and publisher from Assembly election documents.
78. (1) Every notice, bill, poster or similar document having reference to an Assembly election or distributed for the purpose of furthering the candidature of any candidate at an Assembly election shall bear upon its face the name and address of the printer and of the publisher thereof.
(2) A person shall be guilty of an offence if he prints, publishes or posts, or causes to be printed, published or posted, any such notice, bill, poster or similar document as aforesaid which does not bear upon its face the name and address of the printer and of the publisher thereof.
(3) The provisions of the preceding paragraphs of this Rule shall not apply as respects any such notice, bill, poster or similar document printed, published or posted by a returning officer or a local returning officer.
(4) For the purposes of this Rule “print” includes any process for producing copies of a notice, bill, poster or similar document, other than copying it by hand.
Nominating or withdrawing a candidate without consent.
79. (1) A person shall not—
(a) nominate another person for election under this Act to the Assembly, or
(b) withdraw the candidature of another person for such election to the Assembly,
save with the consent of that person.
(2) A person who contravenes paragraph (1) of this Rule shall be guilty of an offence.
Forged certificate of political affiliation.
80. A person who produces to a returning officer a certificate such as is referred to in Rule 4 (4) of this Schedule which that person knows to be forged, shall be guilty of an offence.
False declaration on nomination paper.
81. (1) In case a person who, being a candidate or the proposer of a candidate at an Assembly election, makes a declaration on a nomination paper that he has read the notes on the back of the nomination paper and believes himself, or the candidate (as may be appropriate),
(a) to be eligible for election under this Act, and
(b) that he, or the candidate (as may be appropriate), does not stand validly nominated in respect of any other constituency,
then if he or the candidate (as may be appropriate) either,
(c) is not eligible for election under this Act, or
(d) stands validly nominated in respect of any other constituency,
the person shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) In a prosecution for an offence under paragraph (1) of this Rule, it shall be a good defence for the defendant to show that he had reasonable grounds for believing that he or the candidate (as may be appropriate) was eligible for election or did not stand validly nominated in respect of any other constituency.
Officer acting as agent of candidate or furthering a candidature.
82. A returning officer, a local returning officer or any person employed by any such officer for any purpose relating to an Assembly election who acts as agent for any candidate at that election or who is actively associated in furthering the candidature of any candidate or promoting the interests of any party at the election shall be guilty of an offence.
Obstruction of nomination or poll.
83. A person who at an Assembly election obstructs by violence the nomination of candidates or the poll shall be guilty of an offence.
Personation agent leaving polling station without permission.
84. (1) A personation agent shall not, during the hours fixed under section 6 of this Act for the holding of the poll, leave the polling station to which he is allotted without previously obtaining the permission of the presiding officer and depositing with the said presiding officer all registers, books and documents in which he has made any note, writing or mark during the poll.
(2) A personation agent who contravenes paragraph (1) of this Rule shall be guilty of an offence and in addition shall not, save with the permission of the presiding officer, return to the polling station in question.
Unlawful marking of ballot papers by persons acting as companions.
85. A person who contravenes paragraph (8) or (9) of Rule 39 of this Schedule shall be guilty of an offence.
False statement of withdrawal or death of a candidate.
86. A person who, between the date of publication of the Notice of Election and the date on which the return is made by the chief returning officer under Rule 70 of this Schedule of persons elected to be representatives in the Assembly, knowingly publishes a false statement of the withdrawal or death of a candidate at the Assembly election shall be guilty of an offence.
Misleading statement as to process of voting.
87. Any person who, before or during an Assembly election, makes or publishes any statement which is likely to mislead voters as to the actual process of voting shall be guilty of an offence.
Handling of ballot papers by candidates or agents.
88. A candidate or the agent of a candidate who handles a ballot paper during the counting of the votes at an Assembly election shall be guilty of an offence.
Unauthorised inspection of documents.
89. Unauthorised inspection of any document which is a document mentioned in section 16 (2) of this Act shall be an offence.
Limitation of time for prosecution of offence.
90. Notwithstanding section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, proceedings for an offence under this Act may be instituted within twelve months from the date of the offence or, if the offence was committed in relation to an Assembly election as respects which proceedings questioning the election are held before the High Court, may be commenced within twelve months from the date of the offence or within three months from the decision of the court, whichever period last expires, but proceedings for an offence under this Act shall not be commenced after the expiration of the period of two years beginning on the date of the offence.
Penalties.
91. (1) Where a person is guilty of an offence under this Act, other than an offence mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Rule, such person shall be liable,
(a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment, or
(b) on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2) Where a person is guilty of an offence under Rule 78 or 88 of this Schedule, such person shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Compensation where certain charge is unjustly made or not prosecuted.
92. Where any person is arrested under Rule 41 of this Schedule on a charge made by a personation agent that such person has committed the offence of personation or an offence under Rule 71 of this Schedule and either such personation agent (or someone on his behalf) fails to appear before the court and support the charge, or the court acquits the person of having committed the offence and finds that the charge was made by the personation agent without reasonable or just cause, the court may, at the request of the person so charged but not otherwise, order the personation agent to pay to the person such sum not exceeding £250 as the court shall think proper by way of damages, and such sum when duly paid shall be accepted by the person so charged in full satisfaction of all claims by him in respect of damages arising from the said charge and his arrest and detention thereon.
Damages for breach of duty by officers, etc.
93. Where any person upon whom any functions or duties are conferred by or under this Act in relation to an Assembly election fails without reasonable cause to perform his functions or duties in that behalf, any person aggrieved by such failure shall be entitled to recover from him by action at law such sum not exceeding £200 by way of damages as the court by which such action shall be tried shall consider just.
Certificate of returning officer prima facie evidence.
94. In any civil or criminal proceedings in relation to an alleged offence at an Assembly election, the certificate of the returning officer for the constituency concerned of the due holding of the election or that a particular person was a candidate thereat shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein and it shall not be necessary to prove the signature of the returning officer or that he was in fact such returning officer.
Corrupt withdrawal of petition.
95. A person who makes any agreement or enters into any undertaking in relation to the withdrawal of a petition in consideration of any payment or the cesser of membership of the Assembly or for any substantial reason not stated in the affidavit referred to in Rule 103 (2) of this Schedule shall be guilty of an offence.
PART V
Assembly Election Petitions
Questioning an Assembly election.
96. Where it appears to the Director of Public Prosecutions that an Assembly election may have been affected by the commission of electoral offences, he may question the election pursuant to this Act.
Security for costs.
97. (1) The security required to be given by section 17 (2) of this Act shall be given either by recognisances entered into by any number of sureties satisfactory to the court not exceeding four or by a deposit of money, or partly in one way and partly in the other.
(2) Where a petition is presented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, section 17 (2) of this Act shall not apply.
Presentation of petition.
98. (1) A petition shall be presented by being lodged in the Central Office of the High Court.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this Rule, a petition shall not be presented save within the twenty-eight days next after the result of the Assembly election is declared by the returning officer.
(3) Where a petition alleges bribery and specifically alleges a payment or other consideration to have been made or to have passed after the result of the Assembly election was declared by the returning officer, notwithstanding the fact that another petition relating to the same election may have been previously presented or tried, the petition may be presented within the twenty-eight days next after the day on which the said payment or consideration is alleged to have been made or to have passed.
(4) Where a petition has been lodged with the court, as soon as may be the petitioner shall give a copy of the petition—
(a) to any person to whose election the petition relates,
(b) to the Minister,
(c) to the chief returning officer,
(d) to the returning officer for the constituency to which the petition relates, and
(e) except in the case of a petition presented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Grounds for petition.
99. (1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 17 (4) of this Act any of the following grounds may be specified in a petition:
(a) the Assembly election was affected by error or was not completed or was otherwise not conducted by the returning officer or any local returning officer in accordance with law,
(b) the Assembly election was affected by electoral offences,
(c) a candidate at an Assembly election was not eligible for election under section 7 of this Act to the Assembly.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Schedule, a petition shall not be dismissed on account of an informality in its contents which does not materially affect its substance.
(3) No Assembly election shall be declared invalid by reason of a non-compliance with any provision contained in this Act or any mistake in the use of forms provided for in this Act if it appears to the High Court that the election was conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in this Act taken as a whole and that such non-compliance or mistake did not affect the result of the election.
Particulars in petition.
100. A petition shall be signed by the petitioner and shall specify—
(a) the Assembly election to which it relates,
(b) the grounds on which it is based,
(c) the remedy it seeks,
(d) the name and address of the petitioner and his solicitor or agent, if any.
Trial of petition.
101. (1) A petition shall be tried by the High Court and references to the court in this Part of this Schedule shall be construed as references to the High Court.
(2) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to the trial of a petition:
(a) in fixing the date for and conducting the trial, the court shall deal with the matter as soon as is reasonably possible;
(b) notwithstanding the death of any person to whose election the petition relates, his resignation as a representative in the Assembly or his otherwise ceasing to be such representative, the trial shall be continued until its result is determined;
(c) the Director of Public Prosecutions may at any stage be represented at and take part in the trial as a party, whether of his own motion or at the request of the court;
(d) the returning officer for the relevant constituency and any local returning officer concerned shall, at the request of the court, attend the trial and give such assistance as shall be requested of him by the court, but without prejudice to his being a party to the proceedings or being called as a witness by any such party.
Counting of votes afresh.
102. (1) The court may, for the purposes of the trial of a petition questioning an Assembly election, if it thinks fit, order—
(a) that all the votes cast at the election in the constituency to which the petition relates shall be counted afresh, or
(b) that all the votes so cast and recorded on the ballot papers contained in a particular parcel shall be so counted,
and where the court so orders, the provisions of the following paragraphs shall have effect.
(2) Votes to which an order under this Rule relates shall be counted afresh under the direction of the court and, subject to paragraphs (3) and (4) of this Rule and to such modifications (if any) as the court considers necessary, the provisions of Chapter III of Part III of this Schedule relating to the counting of votes at an election shall apply to such counting.
(3) Where votes are counted afresh pursuant to an order under this Rule, the court shall cause the following to be ignored:
(a) preferences recorded on ballot papers which are invalid by virtue of Rule 58 (2) of this Schedule,
(b) preferences recorded on forged or counterfeited ballot papers, and
(c) preferences recorded for any person who, with respect to the relevant Assembly election, is found by the court not to have been eligible for election under this Act to the Assembly.
(4) The court shall have power to reverse any decision of a returning officer at the original count.
(5) The costs of giving effect to an order under this Rule shall be paid by the Minister for Finance out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof and section 14 (6) of this Act shall, with respect to the services and expenses properly rendered or incurred by the returning officer for the purposes of, or in connection with, giving effect to the order, apply in the same manner as it applied in respect of the services and expenses rendered or incurred by the returning officer for, or in connection with, the relevant Assembly election.
Withdrawal of petition.
103. (1) A petition shall not be withdrawn without the leave of the court and in giving such leave the court shall be satisfied that the notice given by the petitioner pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4) of this Rule was reasonable, and in addition to the foregoing, where a petition is presented by more than one petitioner the court, before giving such leave, shall be satisfied that all the petitioners agree to the withdrawal.
(2) Except in the case of a petition presented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, when applying for leave for the withdrawal of a petition, the petitioner shall submit to the court an affidavit stating:
(a) the reasons for the proposed withdrawal, and
(b) that, to the best of the petitioner's knowledge and belief, neither an agreement nor an undertaking has been made or entered into in relation to the withdrawal of the petition in consideration of any payment or the cesser of membership of the Assembly or for any substantial reason not stated in the affidavit.
(3) Notice of intention to apply for leave to withdraw a petition shall be given by the petitioner by the publication in at least two daily newspapers circulating in the constituency to which the petition relates of a notice to that effect and the notice shall also state the time and place at which the application will be made and that any person may apply to the court to be substituted for the petitioner.
(4) Except in the case of a petition presented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, a copy of the affidavit mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Rule together with notice of the time and place at which the application will be made shall be given by the petitioner to the Director of Public Prosecutions who may be represented at, and if he thinks fit, oppose the application.
(5) Where the petition has been presented by more than one petitioner, the affidavit mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Rule shall, unless the court otherwise directs, be made by all the petitioners.
(6) The withdrawal of a petition pursuant to this Rule shall not affect the liability of any person (or of his estate) for the payment of costs previously incurred.
Substitution of new petitioner following withdrawal.
104. (1) On the hearing of an application for leave to withdraw a petition, any person may apply to the court to be substituted as a petitioner, and the court may, if it thinks fit, substitute him accordingly.
(2) In case the court substitutes a petitioner under paragraph (1) of this Rule and is of opinion that the application for leave to withdraw the petition was the result of any agreement or undertaking the making of which or the entering into which is declared by Rule 95 of this Schedule to be an offence, the court may direct that the security for costs given by the original petitioner shall remain as security for the costs that may be incurred by the substituted petitioner and that, to the extent of the sum named in the security, the original petitioner and his sureties, if any, shall be liable to pay the costs of the substituted petitioner.
Substituted petitioners.
105. (1) Subject to Rule 104 (2) of this Schedule, a substituted petitioner shall, as nearly as may be, stand in the same position and be subject to the same liabilities as the original petitioner.
(2) In case the court substitutes a petitioner under Rule 104 of this Schedule and does not make a direction under paragraph (2) of that Rule, or in case the court substitutes a petitioner under Rule 106 of this Schedule, the security required by this Act in the case of a new petition, and subject to the like conditions, shall be given by the substituted petitioner, and in case such security is not so given no further proceedings shall be had on the petition and the petition shall abate, but the abatement shall not affect the liability of any person (or of his estate) for the payment of costs previously incurred.
Abatement of petition.
106. (1) A petition shall be abated by the death of a sole petitioner or of the survivor of several petitioners.
(2) The abatement of a petition by virtue of paragraph (1) of this Rule shall not affect the liability of the petitioner or any other person (or of his estate) for the payment of costs previously incurred.
(3) At any time within the fourteen days next after the day of any such abatement, any person may apply to the court to be substituted as a petitioner and the court may, if it thinks fit, substitute him accordingly, and in case the court makes an order under this Rule the petition shall thereupon be revived.
Matters relating to final order on trial of petition.
107. (1) A copy of the order determining the petition in accordance with section 17 of this Act shall be given forthwith by the court to each of the following, namely, any person to whose election the order relates, the Minister, the returning officer concerned, the chief returning officer and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
(2) The court shall have power to make such amendments in the return of persons elected made to the chief returning officer by a returning officer as it considers necessary in consequence of its decision on a petition.
Effect of certain declarations by court.
108. (1) Where the order of the court relating to a petition declares that a person was not duly elected as a representative to the Assembly or that the whole or part of an Assembly election was void, the person to whom the declaration relates, or any person elected at such void election or void part of such an election (as the case may be) shall cease forthwith to be a representative in the Assembly.
(2) Where an order mentioned in paragraph (1) of this Rule declares that, in the place of any person declared by the order not to have been duly elected or not to have been eligible for election under this Act to the Assembly, a specified other person was ascertained to have been elected, that other person shall forthwith stand elected as a representative to the Assembly.
No action to be taken in certain circumstances to fill vacancy in Assembly.
109. Except by an election of all the representatives to the Assembly, no action shall be taken to fill a vacancy in the representation in the Assembly caused by the death or cesser as such representative of a person who has died or resigned or otherwise ceased to be a representative in the Assembly while the trial of the petition relating to him is pending or proceeding.
Witnesses.
110. (1) The court shall be entitled of its own volition, at any time during the trial of a petition, to direct that a particular person shall be brought before the court and shall give evidence at the trial, and where the court so directs the cost of bringing the person before the court (including any moneys payable to him as witness's expenses) shall be regarded as part of the costs of the petition.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this Rule, a person who is called as a witness at the trial of a petition shall not be excused from answering any question relating to any offence at or connected with the relevant Assembly election on the ground that the answer thereto may incriminate or tend to incriminate him or on grounds of privilege; provided that,
(a) a witness who satisfies the court that he has answered truly all the questions which he is required by the court to answer shall be entitled to receive from the court a certificate stating that the witness has so answered, and
(b) an answer by a witness who has received such a certificate to a question put at the trial of a petition shall not, except in the case of any criminal proceeding for perjury in respect of the evidence, be in any proceeding, civil or criminal, admissible in evidence against him.
(3) Nothing in this Rule shall be construed as affecting the right of any party to a petition to call any person as a witness.
Costs of petition.
111. (1) All costs, other than the costs of counting votes afresh under Rule 102 of this Schedule, of and incidental to a petition shall be in the discretion of the court which shall have power to order such costs or any part of such costs of any party to the petition to be paid by any other such party, and, where the costs or any part of the costs of any such party are so ordered to be paid by the petitioner, the court shall, where necessary, make provisions for the payment of those costs, to the extent of the amount named in the security given by the petitioner, out of or by means of such security.
(2) Without prejudice to paragraph (1) of this Rule, where on the trial of a petition, it appears to the court that any person or persons committed electoral offences in relation to the relevant Assembly election, the court may, after giving the person or persons an opportunity of being heard to show cause why the order should not be made, if it so thinks fit, order the whole or part of the costs of the petition other than the costs of counting votes afresh under Rule 102 of this Schedule, to be paid by that person, or those persons or any of them, and may order that in case such costs cannot be wholly recovered from the person or persons they shall be paid by some other or others of those persons.
Further provisions regarding costs.
112. (1) The costs and other expenses incurred on his behalf by a returning officer or a local returning officer at the trial of a petition shall be paid out of the Central Fund.
(2) Costs awarded to a returning officer or a local returning officer at the trial of a petition shall be a simple contract debt due to the Minister for Finance and such debt, in default of being discharged, may be recovered by that Minister in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4) of this Rule, costs awarded against a returning officer or a local returning officer at the trial of a petition shall be paid out of the Central Fund.
(4) Where the court is satisfied that the returning officer or a local returning officer has been grossly negligent in the discharge of his duties, the court may order that the officer shall be liable for any costs awarded against him by the court.
(5) Where an order is made under paragraph (4) of this Rule any costs awarded against an officer which are paid out of the Central Fund shall be a debt due to the Minister for Finance by the officer, and such debt, in default of being discharged, shall be recoverable by that Minister in any court of competent jurisdiction as a simple contract debt due to him.
Statement of case to Supreme Court.
113. (1) At any stage of the trial of a petition the court may, if it so thinks proper, on its own motion or on the application of any party to the petition, state a case for the opinion of the Supreme Court on any question of law arising at the trial.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Schedule, where a case is stated under this Rule the court shall not determine the petition until the Supreme Court has given its decision and may adjourn the trial or any part there of until such decision is given.
(3) Costs incurred in relation to a case stated under this Rule shall for all purposes be part of the costs incurred in relation to the petition.
PART VI
General
Secrecy.
114. A person who is—
(a) present at the issue of ballot papers to postal voters, or
(b) present at the opening of postal ballot boxes, or
(c) admitted to a polling station in any capacity, or
(d) present in any capacity at the counting of the votes, shall maintain, and aid in maintaining, the secrecy of the ballot.
Illness etc. of returning officer or local returning officer.
115. (1) Where a returning officer or local returning officer is prevented by illness or other reasonable cause from performing all or any of his duties, the Minister shall appoint a person to act as returning officer or local returning officer for the performance of those duties during the period of the prevention.
(2) Where a vacancy occurs in the office of county registrar or sheriff and the holder was a returning officer or local returning officer, the Minister, if he so thinks proper, may appoint a person to act as returning officer or local returning officer during the period of the vacancy.
Taxation of returning officer's account etc.
116. (1) The Minister for Finance may, if he thinks fit, before payment of a returning officer's or local returning officer's charges under section 14 of this Act apply to a judge of the Circuit Court having jurisdiction in the constituency concerned for the taxation of the account submitted by the returning officer or local returning officer (which shall be in the form directed by the Minister for Finance) and such judge shall tax such account and determine the amount payable thereunder.
(2) On the request of a returning officer or local returning officer for an advance on account of his charges the Minister for Finance may, if he thinks fit, and on such terms as he thinks fit, make such an advance.
(3) The taxation under this Rule of the account of a returning officer or local returning officer shall, if the judge so directs on the application of such officer, include determination of the amount of any claim made by any person against such officer in respect of any matter charged for in such account.
Publication of notices.
117. Any public notice required by this Act to be given, may be given by any method which the returning officer or local returning officer concerned thinks necessary or desirable for the purpose of bringing to the attention of the public the matter so required to be notified.
Issuing of instructions.
118. (1) The Minister may, whenever he thinks proper so to do, issue to all or any returning officers or local returning officers such instructions in relation to the conduct of an Assembly election (including the opening of the ballot boxes and proceedings consequent thereon) as he shall consider necessary or expedient in order to ensure the smooth and efficient holding of the election and to secure uniformity of procedure in regard thereto in all constituencies.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this Rule, it shall be the duty of every returning officer or local returning officer to observe and comply with all instructions given to him by the Minister.
(3) No returning officer or local returning officer shall be required or authorised by an instruction given to him by the Minister under this Rule to do any act (whether of commission or omission) which is contrary to this Act, or which would, directly or indirectly, infringe the secrecy of the ballot.
Polling districts and places.
119. Each constituency specified in the Second Schedule to this Act shall be deemed to be divided for the purpose of the taking of the poll at an Assembly election into the same polling districts as those into which the area specified in the second column of the said Schedule in respect of each such constituency is for the time being divided for the purpose of a Dáil election and the places which are for the time being appointed as polling places in each such polling district for the purpose of a Dáil election shall be the polling places for the purpose of taking the poll at an Assembly election. In this Schedule references to polling districts and polling places shall be construed accordingly.
Interpretation (First Schedule).
120. (1) In this Schedule—
“ballot paper” has the meaning assigned to it by Rule 22 (1);
“certificate of political affiliation” has the meaning assigned to it by Rule 4(4);
“covering envelope” has the meaning assigned to it by Rule 26 (3);
“excluded day” means a day which is a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday or a day which by virtue of a statute or proclamation is a public holiday;
“Notice of Election” has the meaning assigned to it by Rule 2;
“notice of poll” has the meaning assigned to it by Rule 21;
“the official mark” has the meaning assigned to it by Rule 23(1);
“personation agent” has the meaning assigned to it by Rule 16(4);
“postal ballot box” has the meaning assigned to it by Rule 27(1);
“the quota” has the meaning assigned to it by Rule 60(1).
(2) References in this Schedule to polling districts and polling places shall be construed having regard to Rule 119.
SECOND SCHEDULE
Constituencies
Section 12.
Name | Area | Number of Representatives |
Dublin | The administrative county of Dublin and the county borough of Dublin. | Four |
Connacht-Ulster | The administrative counties of: Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo. | Three |
Leinster | The administrative counties of: Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laoighis, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. | Three |
Munster | The administrative counties of: Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary North Riding, Tipperary South Riding and Waterford; and the county boroughs of: Cork, Limerick and Waterford. | Five |
Acts Referred to | |
1954, No. 18. | |
1963, No. 19. | |
1966, No. 1. | |
1972, No. 27. | |
1976, No. 4. | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93. |