Polls open in Dublin and Galway bye-elections

Polling stations opened early for bye-elections in Dublin Central and Galway West to fill vacant Dáil seats. Voting will continue until 10pm, with 14 candidates contesting in Dublin Central and 17 in Galway West. The vacancies arose after the resignation of a TD in Dublin Central, who took a position with the World Bank, and the election of a Galway West TD as President of Ireland. These bye-elections are notable as the first in Irish history where island voters cast their ballots simultaneously with the mainland. The electorate in both constituencies has decreased since the last general election due to a voter register cleanup that removed duplicates, emigrants, and deceased individuals. Dublin Central’s registered voters dropped by nearly 6,000 to 57,619, while Galway West’s electorate fell slightly to 103,479. Voters are required to present valid identification to vote, although polling cards are not mandatory. Turnout in Dublin Central during the last general election was 52.3%, but bye-elections typically see lower participation, which may influence the timing of results. Counting procedures differ between the two constituencies, with Dublin Central’s votes being tallied at the RDS in Dublin, where a result could emerge by Saturday evening. Galway West’s count, taking place in Salthill, involves 196 ballot boxes, including five from the Aran Islands, and may extend into Sunday or beyond. This marks a significant logistical effort, as it is the first time island votes are counted concurrently with mainland votes. An Coimisiún Toghcháin is trialing a new initiative to encourage voter participation by offering “I’m a Voter” stickers at select polling stations in both constituencies. This effort aims to boost engagement and visibility of the electoral process amid the bye-elections, which carry importance for the balance of power in the Dáil and reflect ongoing political shifts following recent high-profile resignations and appointments.