300,000 ballot papers to be sent to IFA branches
More than 300,000 ballot papers for the election of the president, deputy president and regional vice presidents will be issued to almost 1,000 branches countrywide this week.
The 85,000 IFA members will start voting on December 1.
The process will continue until December 16.
A national count to establish who will be the 13th IFA president will take place in Dublin on December 21 and the successful candidate will take up office at the annual general meeting on January 12.
The counting of votes for the deputy president and the regional vice presidents will be held on the same day.
IFA national returning officer Ruaidhri Deasy has urged all members to turn out and use their vote in the election.
“With a weighted branch voting system, there’s an added incentive to have as many of our members voting as possible. Each branch will be weighted with one or four votes in the national ballot based on the turnout of members so it will reward the branches that get the vote out on the night,” he said.
Three candidates are seeking to succeed Padraig Walshe for a four-year term as the IFA’s president. They are Kilkenny county chairman John Bryan, deputy president Derek Deane, Carlow, and dairy committee chairman Richard Kennedy, Limerick.
Two candidates are contesting the deputy presidency, Meath chairman Eddie Downey and Munster vice president Sean O’Leary, North Cork.
In the election of the regional vice presidents, there are three candidates for Munster, two for South Leinster, three in Ulster-North Leinster and two in Connacht.
The candidates for president and deputy president are conducting an intensive countrywide canvass for support and have also addressed specially arranged election debates with question and answer sessions.
The vice presidential contenders are taking part in the debates in their own regions, where they are also conducting for support.
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