Electronic voting

Time limits

Upon hearing the division bell, Members should make their way directly to the Chamber and to their designated seats as soon as possible. The doors to the Chamber will be locked before the vote takes place. The Chair will request Members to take their seats one minute before voting commences.

There are set time limits within which Members must be in the Chamber in order to vote. For the first vote, the bells will ring for four minutes and the doors will be locked after a further four minutes. Subsequent votes may be shorter with bells ringing for two minutes and the doors locked after a further minute.

Voting process

A minimum of five Members is needed to force a vote.The Chair will stand and put the question to the House. Members will then have one minute to vote, during which time they may change their vote. However, they cannot undo their votes after this time has elapsed.

Members press either the green Tá or red Níl button in the wooden panel in front of their designated seats. Pressing any button switches on a light in the voting display television screens in the Chamber. Each vote cast is reflected in the "Tá" and "Níl" totals displayed.

The countdown clock on the display boards located at each end of the Chamber indicates the time remaining. After the minute allowed for voting has elapsed, votes cast cannot be changed or undone.

If Members encounter any problem voting, this should be raised with the tellers before they sign the result sheet. Otherwise, Members should remain in their seat until the result of the division has been announced by the Chair.

On the announcement by the Cathaoirleach of the result of a division which has been taken by electronic means, any Member may demand that the division be taken again, either electronically or manually. Unless the Member so demanding is a teller, five Members must support the demand.

Difficulties arising in the course of electronic voting

If Members have encountered any problem voting, the Whips should be informed before the tellers sign the result sheet.

The Cathaoirleach may order the Seanad to divide or to divide again, whether by electronic means or otherwise, as he or she considers appropriate, or may postpone the taking of the vote to such later time as he or she directs where, for any reason, he or she considers that the voting process should not be conducted electronically or that the electronic result is or may be unreliable.

When the Chair announces the result of the vote, any Member may request that a vote be taken again, either electronically or manually. If the Member is a teller or, not being a teller, obtains the support of four other Members rising in their places when called upon by the Chair to do so, the Chair will order the Seanad to divide again in the manner demanded.