There are 90 candidates declared for the Limerick City and County Council Elections, which take place on Friday. Limerick’s electorate will choose 40 members to the new council.
In Adare/Rathkeale, there are 11 candidates for six seats. In Newcastle West, there are 12 contestants in another six-seater. In Cappamore/Kilmallock, there are 14 persons in contention for seven seats. The other 21 seats are on offer in-and-around the city, namely metropolitan areas. Kieran Lehane is Returning Officer.
Meanwhile, 15 candidates will be on the ballot paper for the historic election of a Directly Elected Mayor. Caroline Curley is Returning Officer.
Also, 23 persons are in the running for five seats in Ireland South, of which Limerick, is a part. Martin Harvey is Returning Officer for Ireland South.
In Limerick a little over 150,000 people are registered to vote, with an approximate breakdown in the county of 23,690 in Adare/Rathkeale, 22,700 in Newcastle West and 28,600 in Cappamore/Kilmallock.
The counting of votes in the local elections will take place at Limerick Racecourse (Greenmount Park, Patrickswell) on Saturday and Sunday, and it will also host the counting of votes for Mayor on Monday, and possibly Tuesday.
European vote counting will happen in Cork.
Tally people, however, will be able to start tallying local candidates from early on as ballots will be bundled in a way that they’re visible (i.e. face up) but counting probably will not start properly until the afternoon.
Polling booths across Limerick will be open from 7am to 10pm.
All contestants have been urging people, especially the youth, to vote on Friday.
It is worth pointing out that if a TD gets elected to the role of Mayor, Limerick city will be facing another election, a bye-election, to fill their Dáil seat.