Electoral (Amendment) Act 1959

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 1959 was an Act of the Oireachtas (Parliament) of Ireland that modified existing electoral laws. The primary focus of the Act was to revise the provisions relating to postal voting and to make other miscellaneous amendments to the existing electoral code.

Specifically, the Act expanded the categories of individuals eligible to vote by post, particularly those with disabilities and those whose occupations required them to be away from their registered address on polling day. It streamlined the application process for postal votes and addressed some potential irregularities and ambiguities in the existing legislation.

The Act was part of a broader series of legislative updates aimed at improving the administration and fairness of elections in Ireland. It reflects the ongoing evolution of electoral laws to accommodate changing societal needs and to safeguard the franchise. Subsequent electoral legislation has further amended and built upon the framework established by the 1959 Act and earlier electoral acts.