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12 1923

ELECTORAL ACT, 1923

PART IV.

Elections to Seanad Eireann.

Conduct of Seanad Elections.

43. —(1) Saorstát Eireann shall for the purpose of a Seanad election be deemed to be divided into the same constituencies (including University constituencies) as those into which it is for the time being divided for the purpose of a general election.

(2) Each elector at a Seanad election shall record his vote in the constituency in which he would be entitled to vote at a general election.

(3) Subject to the express provisions of this Part of this Act and of the Rules contained in Part I . of the Sixth Schedule to this Act every Seanad election shall be conducted in each constituency by the same persons and in the same manner as a poll in that constituency would be conducted under this Act at a general election, and accordingly Part III of this Act, so far as the same relates to the taking of a poll at a general election and is not inconsistent with the express provisions aforesaid shall, together with the Rules and forms contained in the Sixth Schedule to this Act, apply to and regulate the conduct of Seanad elections.

Seanad Returning Officer.

44. —(1) For the purpose of a Seanad election there shall be a Seanad Returning Officer who shall be appointed for each Seanad election by the Minister for Local Government at least one month before the date of the election.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Seanad Returning Officer to count the votes at the Seanad election (save so far as same is directed by the rules contained in the Sixth Schedule to this Act to be done by the Returning Officer in each constituency) and to ascertain and announce the result of the election, and report such result to the Clerk of the Seanad and to do such other matters and things as in the rules aforesaid are directed to be done by the Seanad Returning Officer.

Payment of Seanad Returning Officer's expenses.

45. —(1) The Seanad Returning Officer at any Seanad election shall be entitled to his reasonable charges not exceeding the sums specified in the scale of maximum charges framed under this section in respect of services and expenses of the several kinds mentioned in the said scale which have been properly rendered or incurred by him for the purposes of or in connection with the election.

(2) The amount of any such charges shall be paid by the Minister, out of the fund and in the manner by, out of, and in which the expenses of returning officers in constituencies are payable under this Act, and all the provisions of this Act relating to the payment of returning officers' expenses shall apply to the charges and expenses of the Seanad Returning Officer.

Days for Seanad Elections.

46. —(1) Each Seanad election shall be held on one day only, and such day shall be the same throughout Saorstát Eireann.

(2) The Minister for Local Government shall within one week after the panel of candidates for a Seanad election has been formed pursuant to Article 33 of the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann appoint by proclamation the day on which such Seanad election is to take place, and the day so appointed shall be not less than seven days after the day of such proclamation and not more than one month after the formation of the panel.