Nominations set to open for Mayo local elections next Saturday

Election fever is gripping Mayo.

Candidates seeking to run in one of the six electoral areas in the county - Ballina, Belmullet, Castlebar, Claremorris, Swinford and Westport - can do so from next Saturday, May 11.

Nominations open at Aras an Chontae, The Mall, Castlebar, at 10 a.m. and remain open until 12 noon on the following Saturday, May 18.

Staff will be on hand to accept the handing-in of nomination papers at specified times.

Those who have a change of mind can withdraw their nominations on Monday, May 20, before 12 noon.

John Condon, returning officer, outlined: "Nomination papers may be obtained at Aras an Chontae during the usual office hours.

"A person may nominate himself/herself as a candidate or may, with his/her consent, be nominated by a proposer who is registered as a local government elector in the local electoral area of the local authority for which he/she proposes to nominate the candidate.

"A nomination paper from a candidate of a registered political party must have a certificate of political affiliation attached which must be produced to me with his/her completed nomination paper.

"If no certificate is attached, the candidate must, before the latest time for receiving nominations, either secure 15 assents to the nomination by way of statutory declarations by local government electors registered in the relevant local electoral area (forms available from me or the registration authority), or make a deposit of €100 (deposit may also be made on the candidate’s behalf).

The latest time for receiving nominations is 12 noon on May 18.

"Completed nomination papers may be delivered to me in person by the candidate or his/her proposer at any time when I am at my office, from 10 a.m. on May 11 until 12 noon on the last day for receiving nominations.

"I am required by law to attend to receive nominations between 10 a.m. and 12 noon and between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on May 17 and between 10 a.m. and 12 noon on May 18.

"If the election is contested, a poll will be taken on June 7 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

There are 30 seats to be won on Mayo County Council in the forthcoming local elections.