The nomination process for the general election starts this morning. There's a 50-hour window for candidates to get their names on the ballot paper. The general election takes place in just over two weeks' time, on November 29th. The process to get your name on the ballot paper starts this morning at 10 o'clock and ends on Saturday at 12 noon. Those who have a nomination from a political party just need a certified copy of same to give to the returning officer in their constituency.
If you want to run as Independent or non-party, you need to lodge a €500 cash deposit. This is refundable if you reach a quarter of the quota on count day. Alternatively, you can get 30 signatures from people on the electoral register. So far, there are 16 publicly declared candidates in Sligo Leitrim, 18 in Longford-Westmeath and 10 in Roscommon-Galway. But we'll only know for certain on Monday at 12 noon, as candidates have until then to withdraw from the running if they are nominated before Saturday's deadline.
