Electoral System
Ireland uses proportional representation with a single transferable vote, also known as PR–STV. The general election took place in 43 parliamentary constituencies throughout the state for 165 of the 166 Dáil Éireann seats. The Ceann Comhairle (Chairman) is automatically re-elected. Each multi-member constituency returns three, four or five Teachtaí Dála or Dáil deputies.
The closing date for nominations was 9 February 2011. A total of 566 candidates contested the election, nearly 100 more than the 2007 general election. The number of candidates per party was: Fine Gael (104), Fianna Fáil (75), Labour Party (68), Green Party (43), Sinn Féin (41), and Independents and smaller parties (233). The latter figure includes 20 candidates affiliated to the United Left Alliance, 20 independents who ran under the New Vision label, 8 Christian Solidarity Party candidates, 6 Workers' Party and 5 Fís Nua candidates. Voting took place between 07:00 and 22:00 (WET).
Read more about this topic: Irish General Election, 2011
Famous quotes related to electoral system:
“Nothing is more unreliable than the populace, nothing more obscure than human intentions, nothing more deceptive than the whole electoral system.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)