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Subjects · Leaving Cert Politics & Society

Leaving Cert Politics & Society: Elections & representation

How often Elections & representation comes up on the Politics & Society papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 5 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

OL Asked on 5 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Elections & representation, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Elections & representation.

(a)In a Dáil constituency, 40,000 valid votes are cast for 3 seats. What is the quota?
  1. 13,334
  2. 10,001
  3. 10,000
(b)Under PR-STV, what happens to a candidate's surplus votes?
  1. Shared equally among party colleagues
  2. Discarded once the quota is reached
  3. Transferred by voters' next preferences
(c)Who can vote in a Dáil election?
  1. Irish and British citizens, 18+, living here
  2. Irish citizens only, including emigrants
  3. All residents aged 18+ of any nationality
Show the answers

(a) 10,001

(b) Transferred by voters' next preferences

(c) Irish and British citizens, 18+, living here

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Elections & representation.

Higher Level

Asked on 5 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q2
2024Q1k, Q2, Q6
2023Not asked
2022Not asked
2021Q1n
2019Q1g, Q3a
2018Q1b, Q1g

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Elections & representation questions

Elections & representation, 2 marks

What is the minimum age to be elected to Dáil Éireann?

  1. 18
  2. 25
  3. 21
Show the answer

21

Article 16 sets 21 as the age to stand for the Dáil, while the voting age is 18. The gap is one argument made about young people's representation.

Elections & representation, 2 marks

What is the minimum age to be a candidate for President of Ireland?

  1. 40
  2. 35
  3. 21
Show the answer

35

Article 12 sets 35 for presidential candidates. A 2015 referendum proposal to lower it to 21 was rejected.

Elections & representation, 2 marks

Which body now reviews Dáil constituency boundaries?

  1. An Coimisiún Toghcháin (the Electoral Commission)
  2. The Government of the day, acting through a minister
  3. The Ceann Comhairle, as chair of the Dáil
Show the answer

An Coimisiún Toghcháin (the Electoral Commission)

The Electoral Reform Act 2022 gave the independent Electoral Commission this job, so politicians cannot draw boundaries to suit themselves.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 5 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1a, Q5
2024Not asked
2023Q1a, Q1g, Q1j, Q1k, Q7
2022Q1b
2021Q1b, Q1h
2019Q7
2018Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Elections & representation questions

Elections & representation, 2 marks

What does PR-STV stand for?

  1. Popular Referendum by Secret Transferable Vote
  2. Proportional Representation by Simple Top Vote
  3. Proportional Representation by Single Transferable Vote
Show the answer

Proportional Representation by Single Transferable Vote

Voters rank candidates 1, 2, 3 and so on. If a vote is not needed by the first choice, it can transfer to the next preference. Dáil elections use PR-STV.

Elections & representation, 3 marks

3-seat constituency, 40,000 valid votes. Quota = votes divided by (seats + 1), plus 1. What is the quota?

  1. 10,000
  2. 10,001
  3. 13,334
Show the answer

10,001

40,000 divided by 4 is 10,000; add 1 to get 10,001. A candidate who reaches the quota is elected and any surplus votes are passed on to next preferences.

Elections & representation, 3 marks

Who can vote in an Irish presidential election?

  1. Irish citizens aged 18 or over on the register
  2. Any EU citizen living in Ireland
  3. Anyone aged 16 or over living in Ireland
Show the answer

Irish citizens aged 18 or over on the register

Only Irish citizens vote for President and in referendums. British citizens can also vote in Dáil elections, and all adult residents can vote in local elections.

Other Politics & Society topics

All of Leaving Cert Politics & Society