Electoral Commission (Ireland)

The Electoral Commission (An Coimisiún Toghcháin) is an independent body established in Ireland to oversee and improve the electoral process. It was formally established in February 2023 following the Electoral Reform Act 2022. The Commission's mandate encompasses a range of crucial functions related to elections, referendums, and electoral registration.

Key responsibilities of the Electoral Commission include:

• Conducting Electoral and Referendum Research: The Commission is tasked with conducting research into electoral matters and making recommendations for improvements to electoral law and practice. This includes examining voter engagement, electoral integrity, and potential reforms to the electoral system.

• Promoting Voter Awareness and Participation: A significant part of the Commission's remit involves promoting public awareness of elections and referendums, encouraging voter registration, and increasing voter turnout. This is achieved through public information campaigns and targeted outreach programs.

• Overseeing Electoral Registration: The Commission plays a crucial role in maintaining and modernizing the electoral register, ensuring its accuracy and accessibility. It works to improve registration processes and address issues of voter disenfranchisement.

• Providing Impartial Information: The Commission is responsible for providing clear, accurate, and impartial information to the public on all aspects of the electoral process, including how to register to vote, how to cast a ballot, and the rules governing elections and referendums.

• Reviewing Electoral Boundaries: Periodically, the Commission reviews and recommends changes to electoral constituency boundaries to ensure fair representation based on population changes.

• Regulating Online Political Advertising: The Commission is responsible for regulating online political advertising, aiming to ensure transparency and prevent undue influence in elections. This includes measures to identify and address disinformation.

• Overseeing Referendum Campaigns: In the context of referendums, the Commission plays a role in overseeing the campaign process, including ensuring fair and balanced information is available to the public.

The Electoral Commission operates independently of the government and is accountable to the Irish Parliament (Oireachtas). Its establishment marks a significant step towards strengthening Ireland's democratic processes and ensuring the integrity of its elections.