It took place in 34 parliamentary constituencies for 138 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas.

Outgoing Taoiseach Éamon de Valera was re-appointed leading a single-party Fianna Fáil government.

Ireland had declared a state of emergency on 2 September 1939, arising from the Second World War.

The Emergency Powers Act 1939 was in force at the time of the election campaign, and concomitant press censorship affected coverage.

[7][8] This was in contravention of provisions of the Constitution, which require the president to dissolve the Dáil before a general election.