LIVE: All you need to know about the rules regarding posters for the presidential election

Ireland is getting ready to elect its 10th President this autumn as the battle to succeed Michael D Higgins following his 14-year stint at the helm heats up. 

Friday, October 24 has been confirmed as the date on which voters will go to the polls in the highly-anticipated election. 

Many names are being thrown around as to who will be at the forefront come polling day but before anyone can be elected, there will be a hard-fought campaign as candidates traverse the country.

Election posters are a vital part of this process, as candidates seek to advertise and promote themselves and portray their beliefs and ideals to the voting public.

It sounds straight forward but there are many rules and regulations surrounding election posters for any hopeful presidential candidate as they canvass for the votes of the public. 

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Those regulations state that election posters can only be placed on poles after permission is granted from the owner of the pole. They cannot be hung on electricity poles for safety reasons or in any place that could block or obscure the vision of drivers or cause disruption to road users. 

The Road Traffic Act contains certain requirements such as no posters are erected on road signs, at traffic junctions or on roundabouts. It's an offence to place a sign or notice anywhere that makes a traffic sign less visible to road users.

Local authorities have the power to remove posters if they believe it's in the public's best interests. To that end, all posters must contain the name and address of the printer if they are to be notified. 

To complicate matters, there are some exceptions to the rules regarding posters. If posters are displayed on private property, they don't have to abide by the laws as long has they have the permission of the land owner. 

The rules on election posters do not apply when the pictures or signage are being displayed on a truck or car as long as the signage is secure and doesn't pose any safety risks. 

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Another exception to the election laws on posters concerns billboards. Any posters on billboards are instead covered under regular planning laws which must be followed in those instances. 

There are also strict guidelines in place as to how long posters can be displayed before and after polling day

Under section 19 of the Litter Pollution Act, candidates (or their agents) are permitted under the election laws to erect their campaign posters thirty days before the official polling date  - in the case of the presidential election, Wednesday, September 24.

Candidates and their agents are being reminded that election posters and all cable ties must then be taken down within seven days after polling date, failure to remove them within this timeframe is an offence. 

On polling day, October 24, it's strictly prohibited to campaign for a candidate or to display posters within fifty metres of a polling station.