An Coimisiún considers that election posters play an important part in public engagement with the electoral process but notes environmental, public safety and other concerns connected with their use. It therefore recommends that there should be stricter enforcement of existing rules, clarity on responsibility for monitoring compliance, limited poster sizes, and improved facilities for their disposal and recycling post-election.

An Coimisiún was asked by Government in July 2023 to include in its Research Programme work “to examine the issue of the use of posters at elections and referendums and consult on placing limitations on the number of posters that can be used or fixing certain locations for their use”.

New research entitled ‘Election Posters in Ireland: practices, attitudes and impacts’ commissioned by An Coimisiún Toghcháin and authored by Dr Dawn Wheatley and Dr Eoin O’Malley of Dublin City University (DCU) has also published alongside the Electoral Commission recommendations.

The recommendations made by An Coimisiún to Government focus on:

• Enforcement of existing postering laws - There should be clearer communication and more consistent and stringent enforcement of existing legislation and guidance governing election postering. In particular, the breaching of guidelines around placement should result in more consistent and timely enforcement action.
• Clarity on responsibility for actions - There should be clarity on who is responsible for enforcing and monitoring compliance with specific elements.
• Communicating about public safety - There should also be a specific national level communications campaign targeted at political stakeholders on the public safety hazards caused by inappropriate placement of posters.
• Permitted shape and size of posters - should be limited to reduce the amount of waste and environmental damage they cause.  This should be introduced on a phased and gradual approach to allow the reuse of existing poster stock.
• Disposal and recycling of posters - The Minister should request Local Authorities to put improved facilities and supports in place to encourage sustainable disposal and recycling of existing posters. This should provide more structure and clarity on arrangements to reuse or dispose of poster material thereby helping with recycling rates.

Art O’Leary, chief executive of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, said: “An Coimisiún was asked to undertake detailed research into the role of posters in Ireland’s elections and referendums as part of our wider programme of work to strengthen and safeguard our democracy. Today, we are publishing that independent research, alongside the views shared by the public through our consultation process and the Commission’s recommendations for the future.

“Election posters have long been part of the landscape of Irish democracy. For generations they have announced campaigns, introduced candidates and brought political debate into communities across the country. Our consultation showed that people hold strong and deeply held views about their place in our elections.

“Democracy does not stand still. It evolves to meet the expectations of each generation. Our challenge is to preserve the elements of our electoral tradition that continue to serve voters, while ensuring that campaigning is safe, sustainable and respectful of the public spaces we all share.

“The recommendations we publish today seek to strike that balance. They support the continued use of election posters as a visible and accessible part of election campaigns, while calling for stronger enforcement of existing rules and a renewed commitment to minimising both environmental impacts and risks to public safety. In doing so, we believe it is possible to honour a long-standing democratic tradition while ensuring it remains fit for the Ireland of the future.”