A guide to Kildare County Council and how local elections work
Kildare County Council has 40 members. Co. Kildare is divided into Eight Local Electoral Areas (LEAs) for the purposes of local elections. An election is held in respect of each LEA for the number of council members assigned to that area.
Details of the eight local electoral areas are set out below:
|
Area |
No. of seats |
Electorate* |
|
|
Athy |
5 |
19,106 |
|
|
Celbridge |
4 |
15,318 |
|
|
Clane |
5 |
18,456 |
|
|
Kildare |
5 |
17,151 |
|
|
Leixlip |
3 |
13,162 |
|
|
Maynooth |
5 |
17,758 |
|
|
Naas |
7 |
|
26,283 |
|
Newbridge |
6 |
|
22,291 |
* the electorate will change as supplementary electors are added and the names of deceased persons are removed
The Polling Scheme was revised and divides the county/LEAs into convenient geographical units (called polling districts) and appoints a polling place for each district. For details of Polling Places and Districts please refer to
Eligibility for election
Every Irish citizen and every person ordinarily resident in the State, who has reached the age of 18, who is not subject to any of the disqualifications outlined below, is eligible for election or co-option to and membership of a local authority:
The following individuals are disqualified:
- A member of the Commission of the European Communities
- A member of the European Parliament
- A Judge, Advocate General or Registrar of the Court of Justice of the European Communities
- A member of the Court of Auditors of the European Communities
- A member of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann
- A Judge or the Comptroller and Auditor General appointed under the Constitution
- A member of the Garda Síochána
- A wholetime member of the Defence Forces
- A civil servant who is not by the terms of his or her employment expressly permitted to be a member of a local authority
- 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
- A person employed by the Heath Service Executive and is at a grade or of a description of employment designated by order of the Minister for Health
- A person undergoing a sentence of imprisonment for any term exceeding six months imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction in the State
- A person who fails to pay any sum or any portion of any sum charged or surcharged by an auditor of the accounts of any local authority upon or against that person
- A person who 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
- A person who 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
A person in any of the categories listed above is also disqualified from nomination for election.
Conducting local elections
The responsibility for conducting the election rests with the local authority returning officer. The cost of running the election is met by the local authority.
Notice of Election
The Notice of Election is published not later than the 28th day before the polling day. This gives the public notice of the following matters:
- The times for receiving nominations
- The amount of the deposit
- The times and place at which nomination papers may be obtained
- The times and place at which the returning officer will attend to receive nominations
- The day and the period fixed for the holding of the poll if the election is contested