From 1801 to 1829, the possession of freehold land worth at least 40 shillings (£2) conferred a county vote, as in England and Wales in this period.

Catholics, who had been permitted to qualify as Irish voters only since 1793, were excluded from serving in Parliament until 1829.

On the same day that the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 was enacted, allowing Catholics to sit in Parliament, a more restrictive county franchise was introduced under the Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1829, requiring possession of freehold land worth at least £10 (a fivefold increase from the previous 40 shillings), as the qualification for a county vote.

The number of borough voters before the Reform Acts varied considerably.

In addition to those who qualified under the previous rules, all occupiers of property worth at least £10 and resident freemen by birth or servitude became electors.

The franchise for the university had been held by the provost, fellows and scholars of Trinity College Dublin.