Politicians are engaged in their final day of canvassing today before the State's three million voters go to the polls tomorrow.
A 24-hour moratorium on media reporting came into effect this morning ahead of polling stations opening tomorrow at 7.30am. While this morning's newspapers carried election coverage, all other media are observing a voluntary moratorium on reporting.
Polling stations throughout the State for the 3,066,517 people who are on the electors' register and entitled to vote will close at 10.30pm tomorrow.
The number of TDs to be elected to the 30th Dáil is 165, since the Ceann Comhairle, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, is automatically returned. There are 466 candidates standing in all.
Fianna Fáil is fielding 106 candidates, followed by Fine Gael with 91 candidates. The Labour Party is running 50 candidates, while the Progressive Democrats are represented by 30 candidates. The Green Party is fielding candidates in all 43 constituencies. Sinn Féin has candidates in all but three constituencies. Some 104 other candidates are running.
The Workers' Party, the Christian Solidarity Party and the Socialist Party are registered as political parties and their candidates will be described as members of these parties on the ballot papers.
However, candidates representing groupings such as the People Before Profit Alliance, the Fathers' Rights Responsibilities Group and the Immigration Control Platform will appear on the ballot papers without their groups' names as these groups have either not been registered as political parties or weren't registered in time. There are also dozens of non-aligned or Independent candidates.
Candidates and canvassers are banned from the vicinity of polling stations from 90 minutes before voting begins, and must not attempt to make any appeal to voters as they enter.
"The prohibition will apply in relation to the grounds in which the polling station is situated and within 50 metres of any entrance to the grounds," says the Department of the Environment.
Once polls close, the ballot boxes will be conveyed to the 43 count centres and opened at 9am on Friday, where the returning officers will verify that all paperwork is correct before counting begins.
The acceptable forms of identification include a passport; a driving licence, employment cards containing a photograph; official student identity cards, or travel documents containing photographs.
Voters may be required to produce a driving licence or other form of identity at polling stations tomorrow, but they will not be prevented from casting their ballot if they have not received a polling card.
A polling card has been sent by the returning officer to each voter, which details their number on the register of electors, the date and time of the poll and the polling station's location.
In addition, a bank or savings or credit union book containing address in the constituency; a cheque book; a cheque card; a credit card; a birth certificate, or a marriage certificate will be accepted, as long as the voter brings along a further document that establishes clearly that they live in the constituency.
Voting has already taken place in a handful of islands off the west and northwest coasts and more than 1,000 voters on four islands off Co Galway go to the polls this morning. The ballots will help elect five TDs from the Galway West constituency. Off-shore islands usually vote in advance of election day to ensure the ballot boxes can be safely transported to count centres.
Inis Mor has 629 registered voters, Inis Oir has 222 and Inis Mean has 161. A total of 165 citizens on Inis Bofin can exercise their franchise.
The ballot boxes will be brought under Garda escort to be sorted and counted at Aras na MacLeinn at NUI Galway on Friday.
Returning Officer Marian Chambers Higgins and her staff will open the ballot boxes at 9am and proceed to verify and count the votes.