Voting: how, where and when: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.
Polling stations throughout the country for the 3,066,517 people who are on the electors' register and entitled to vote will open at 7.30am and close at 10.30pm.
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.
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.
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.
