The quota is the minimum number of votes necessary to guarantee the election of a candidate. It is ascertained by dividing the total value of the valid votes by one more than the number of seats to be filled and adding one to the result. If a candidate receives more than a quota, the surplus is distributed to the remaining candidates in accordance with the next effective preference shown on the ballot papers. If no candidate has a surplus, the lowest candidate is excluded and his votes distributed at the value at which he received them. When a casual vacancy occurs in the Seanad through the death, disqualification or resignation of a panel member, the vacancy is filled by bye-election.
Voting is by secret postal ballot.
The counting procedure is the same as at a Seanad General Election but without the modification necessary to ensure that a minimum number is elected from each sub-panel. Each elects 3 members. The other universities and institutions of higher education are not represented in the Seanad at present. Every citizen of Ireland who has reached the age of 18 years and who has received a degree, other than an honorary degree, from the university concerned is entitled to be registered as an elector. The electorate of the National University of Ireland numbers 84,000 approximately and that of the University of Dublin 24,000 approximately.