Local Democracy
Ballyshannon Town Council is one of four Town Councils in County Donegal (Bundoran, Buncrana, Ballyshannon and Letterkenny). Ballyshannon Town Council has 9 elected members on its Council.
When do local elections take place?
Local elections are held every five years in the month of June. The actual polling day is fixed by order of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. However, polling on islands may take place in advance of polling day. The last local election took place on 11 June 2004.
Who can stand for election?
Every person who is a citizen of Ireland or ordinarily resident in the State and has reached the age of 18 years and is not subject to any of the following disqualifications is eligible for election or co-option to membership of a local authority.
Disqualifications:
- A member of the Commission of the European Communities or is a representative in the European Parliament, or A Judge, Advocate General or Registrar of the Court of Justice of the European Union, or A member of the Court of Auditors of the European Union, or
- A member of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann
- A person appointed under the Constitution as a Judge or as the Comptroller and Auditor General, or
- A member of the Garda Síochána or a wholetime member of the Defence Forces, or
- A civil servant who is not by terms of employment expressly permitted to be a member of a local authority, or
- A person employed by a local authority and is not the holder of a class, description or grade of employment designated by order under section 161(1)(b) of the Local Government Act, 2001 or deemed to have been made under that section, or
- Undergoing a sentence of imprisonment for any term exceeding six months, imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction in the State, or
- Fails to pay any portion of any sum charged or surcharged, by an auditor of the accounts of any local authority, upon or against that person, or
- Fails to comply with a final judgement, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, for payment of money due to a local authority, or
- Is convicted of, or has had a conviction confirmed on appeal for, an offence relating to fraudulent or dishonest dealings affecting a local authority or corrupt practice or acting when disqualified.
- How are candidates nominated for a local election?
A person can nominate him/herself or may, with the candidates consent, be nominated by a local government elector registered in the area concerned. The period for nominating candidates occurs 4 weeks before polling day.
A nomination from a candidate of a registered political party must have a certificate of political affiliation attached. If no certificate is attached the paper must be assented to by 15 electors registered in the electoral area concerned. To assent to the nomination the assenters must attend at the local authority office and a local authority official will examine the assenters photographic identification and check that they are on the Register of Electors. The assenters must sign the nomination paper in the presence of a local authority official.
Register of Electors
The Register of Electors includes the names of all those persons who have reached the age of 18 years and who are entitled to vote in Elections and Referenda.
A new Register is prepared every year and remains in force from 15th February in any year to the 14th of the following February.
To be eligible for inclusion in the Register of Electors a person must be 18 years of age or over on 15th February in the year in which the Register comes into force and must be ordinarily resident at the address at which they wish to be registered on 1st September in the year preceding the year in which the Register comes into force.
A Draft version of the Register is prepared in November each year and circulated to Garda Stations, Post Offices and Libraries to enable any person to check if they are included.
Application forms for inclusion in the Register of Electors or for corrections to same are available in Garda Stations, Post Offices and Libraries throughout the County or directly from Donegal County Council and the closing date for receipt of completed applications is 25th November each year.
In the period preceding an Election or Referendum a Supplement to the Register is printed to include eligible persons who are not included in the Live Register.
Application forms for inclusion in same are available from the above mentioned offices.