Election and referendum posters are currently a key feature of Ireland’s democratic landscape. Posters perform a public information and communication function in raising awareness that a vote is about to take place and provide visual clues to voters as to who they will see on the ballot paper.

At the same time, however, there are critics of election posters who call for a reduction or changes in their use or even for their elimination entirely citing environmental impacts, visual pollution and safety concerns.

As part of the delivery of its Research Programme 2024-2026 An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s independent electoral commission, is commencing research on the use of posters, supported by an external research team. An Coimisiún is today launching a public consultation process seeking views from the public and interested stakeholders to inform this research.

For decades the use of posters during Irish election and referendum campaigns has been the topic of debate in communities, between political scientists, in the media and amongst the wider public.

The research will look at the rules and practices around postering in other countries while taking account of Ireland’s particular electoral and democratic system. It will examine the existing rules in Ireland and how they work as well as the evidence regarding posters, their objectives and any advantages and disadvantages of their use.

The following are particular areas of interest of the research:

• the role of posters as a political communication tool in election campaigns in Ireland and elsewhere compared to other method of political communication, both traditional and online;
• how and whether posters impact political engagement and electoral awareness among the electorate, including amongst people who may be marginalised from the political process; and
• the environmental and safety impacts of posters.

As provided for in the Electoral Reform Act (2022), An Coimisiún Toghcháin may make recommendations to Government arising from this research.

The deadline for submissions to the Electoral Postering Consultation is 5pm on Friday 9 May 2025. People can learn more and make submissions through the Commission’s website, by email or by post.