Ballot papers are being issued today for the six university seats in Seanad Éireann.
Thirty-five candidates are standing for election on the university panels. There are 24 people vying for the three National University of Ireland seats and 11 for three University of Dublin (Trinity College Dublin) seats.
Some 103,000 electors will vote in the NUI constituency. There are 48,880 names on the University of Dublin register. The poll will close on July 24th.
Eighty-three candidates are battling to fill 43 of the 60 Seanad places available to nominees of vocational organisations. They will be elected by a pool of 1,000 city and county councillors, members of the new Dáil and members of the outgoing Seanad.
The ballot papers for these seats will be issue on July 9th, and the poll will close on July 23rd.
The remaining 11 Senators will be nominated by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.