Local Elections

Cavan County Council has 18 members. County Cavan is divided into three Local Electoral Areas (LEAs) for the purposes of local elections. An election is held in respect of each LEA for the number of council members assigned to that area.

Details of the local electoral areas are set out below:

AreaNumber of Seats
Bailieborough–Cootehill6
Ballyjamesduff6
Cavan–Belturbet6

The Council has adopted a polling scheme, which divides the county/LEAs into convenient geographical units (called polling districts) and appoints a polling place for each district.

Eligibility to Vote

Cavan County Council's Corporate Services Department is responsible for the annual preparation and publication of the Cavan County Council Register of Electors. In order to vote at an election or referendum, a person's name must be listed on the Register of Electors for the locality in which the elector is ordinarily resident.

The voter registration process has been changed to make it easier to use and easier to administer. Many of these changes were provided for in law by the Electoral Reform Act 2022. View the Electoral Reform Act 2022.

The main changes to the process include:

  • Continuous registration – this means that the same process is in place all year around and your record can be updated at any time (up to 15 days before an electoral event).
  • Use of PPSNs in the process – in addition to enabling quick and easy online registration, the use of PPSNs will enable basic identity data checks to protect the integrity of the register. It will help local authorities to ensure that the register is accurate and that everyone is only registered once. The data sharing involved in the cross-check with the Department of Social Protection is provided for in the Electoral Reform Act 2022.
  • People will be responsible for registering and maintaining their own information – registration authorities will continue to work with their communities to maintain and manage the register with a view to ensuring it is complete and accurate.
  • Most people will no longer need to get their forms signed at the local Garda stations.
  • The electoral commission – An Coimisiún Toghcháin, will have an oversight role in respect of the electoral register and local authorities will report to it on the work they have done each year to manage and maintain the register. The Commission can make recommendations to local authorities and to the Minister about the register and its process.

Details on how to check the register or apply for inclusion are listed at: Register of Electors

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