Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Irish Parliament, the Oireachtas. The lower house is called Dáil Éireann. There are 60 members, called Senators. 11 Senators are nominated by the Taoiseach, 43 Senators are elected by panels representing vocational interests, and 6 Senators are elected by graduates from specific higher education institutions.
Currently, in Seanad elections, the six "University" Senators are elected by two three-seat constituencies: the National University of Ireland (NUI) and the University of Dublin (Trinity College Dublin/TCD). However, for Seanad elections held after 1 June 2025, these six Senators will be elected by the new Higher Education constituency.
The Higher Education constituency is a new constituency for Seanad Éireann. The electors in this constituency will be able to elect six Senators to Seanad Éireann. The register of electors for this constituency is updated annually. It is managed by the Central Registration Authority (CRA) established under the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Act 2024.
Elections take place every five years or within 90 days once Dáil Éireann is dissolved. Elections for the 27th Seanad will take place in January 2025.
Six Senators will be elected by the Higher Education constituency.
The first register for the Higher Education constituency will be published on the 1 April 2025. From 2026 onward, the register will be published on 1 June each year.
The register is a public document. It includes the first names, surnames, current addresses, and ballot paper addresses of registered voters in the Higher Education constituency. It does not include PPS numbers, qualification details, or dates of birth.
The deadline of 23 January 2025 is set by legislation:
(3) The first register of electors shall be published and come into effect on the 1st day of April 2025 and shall be prepared so as to render such register of electors an accurate register, so far as may be practicable, of the persons who were qualified on the 23rd day of January 2025.
The text of this legislation, the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Act 2024, can be found here. We need enough time to process all applications and publish the register on 1 April 2025.
If you miss the deadline of 23 January 2025, you will not be able to submit an application to be added to the first register for the Higher Education constituency.
However, the register will be open again for new applications in 2026. The deadline for applications for the 2026 register will be 26 February 2026, and annually thereafter.
The easiest way to register is online at www.SeanadVoter.ie. Applications to register must be submitted by the deadline of 23 January 2025.
You are eligible to register if you:
To be eligible to register, you must hold a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctoral degree from a designated institution.
Certificates, diplomas, higher diplomas, and honorary degrees cannot fulfil this requirement.
A full list of designated institutions is available here.
No, registration is free.
For the 2025 register, the deadline is 23 January 2025.
Providing your PPS number (PPSN) will allow a basic check to help confirm your identity details and help to protect the integrity of the register. PPSNs will not appear on the register.
You must upload evidence of citizenship, which can be a photo or scanned copy of your valid Irish passport or Certificate of Naturalisation. If you do not provide your PPS number, you must provide a photo or scanned copy of a completed Witness form.
If you do not wish to or cannot provide your PPS number, you must submit a Witness form. This form must be completed and signed in the presence of a member of the Garda Síochána, a Notary/Notary Public, or a registered medical practitioner. This form is available at SeanadVoter.ie. Once completed, a photo or scanned copy can be included in your online application.
Please check the application details and document(s) you submitted and ensure that all information is correct and up to date. This may include formatting and content of fields such as date of birth or PPS number.
Registered voters, who are included on the published register of electors for the Higher Education constituency, will be able to vote in this constituency.
If you are on the register, you will receive voting materials by post. These will be sent to the address for ballot papers that you provided in your application to register. These materials will include:
Yes, you can vote by post from abroad. Your voting materials will be sent via registered post, so please ensure your address for ballot papers is up to date.
The Seanad Éireann elections taking place in January 2025 will use the National University of Ireland (NUI) and the Trinity College Dublin (TCD) Seanad Éireann Registers of Electors published in June 2024.
Elections held after 31 May 2025 will be on the basis of a new Higher Education constituency and a new register will be compiled. You must register by 23 January 2025 for the new Seanad Éireann Higher Education constituency if you want to vote in elections after 1 June 2025.
The Seanad Éireann elections taking place in January 2025 will use the National University of Ireland (NUI) and the Trinity College Dublin Seanad Éireann Registers of Electors published in June 2024.
Elections held after 31 May 2025 will be on the basis of a new Higher Education constituency and a new register will be compiled. You must register by 23 January 2025 for the new Seanad Éireann Higher Education constituency if you want to vote in elections after 1 June 2025.
A bye-election is an election that is held when a vacancy in the membership of Seanad Éireann occurs due to the death, resignation, retirement or disqualification of a member. A bye-election will be held to fill the vacated seat.
If a member of the 27th Seanad, who was elected by the NUI or Trinity College Dublin constituency in January 2025, was to vacate their seat, a bye-election would be held in the Higher Education constituency. Graduates of NUI or Trinity College Dublin, who have declared they want to be included in bye-elections in their application to register, would be eligible to vote in this bye-election.
You can update your details by completing an Update Personal Details Form and submitting it by email to applications@SeanadVoter.ie, or by post to SeanadVoter.ie at P.O. BOX 13784, Dublin 2. When contacting SeanadVoter.ie, please reference the Application Number you received when you submitted your application to register.
Yes, you can request to have your name removed from the register by submitting a written request by email to applications@SeanadVoter.ie, or by post to SeanadVoter.ie at P.O. BOX 13784, Dublin.