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Your Vote is Your Voice

New Directions – Research to support Elections and Democracy in a Changing World.

 Electoral Reform Act 2022 provides for An Coimisiún Toghcháin (An Coimisiún) to conduct research on electoral policy and procedure including on matters relating to the discharge of its functions and make recommendations to the Minister and Government arising from the research. In July 2024, An Coimisiún Toghcháin published its first Research Programme 2024-2026 after a public consultation process. The Research Programme is organised around five thematic strands including Strand E which provides for more, flexible, curiosity-driven research to ensure we do not miss out on exploring potentially exciting and valuable research by being too prescriptive in our focus. 

Therefore, we are now launching An Coimisiún Toghcháin’s first Research Call New Directions – Research to support Elections and Democracy in a Changing World under Strand E. With this call we aim to empower researchers to ask new and original questions, generate and test novel ideas, apply new research methods and initiate new interdisciplinary approaches to the study of democracy and elections. This is all with the ultimate purpose of protecting and promoting democracy and ensuring our electoral and political systems are responsive, dynamic and reflect the needs of a rapidly changing society.

It is important that the research projects funded by An Coimisiún Toghcháin are aligned with its broader functions and mandate. Projects funded under this Research Call must therefore align with one or more of the following thematic strands in the Research Programme:

  • Strand B: Electoral law, electoral systems and electoral infrastructure,
  • Strand C: Integrity of electoral events (which includes research in the area of online electoral interference, mis and disinformation), and
  • Strand D: Education, public engagement and inclusion.

Detailed specifications for this call, including eligibility requirements, project objectives and evaluation criteria, are available in the Call for Submission of Proposals document. We strongly recommend reviewing this document in full prior to beginning your application. Submissions must be made using the standard application form. All applications must be signed by the Higher Education Institute/Research Performing Organisation Head of Research (or other authorised position). 

Please click the link below and provide your email address to access the Call for Submission of Proposals document and application form. 

We encourage interested parties to register their interest by downloading the Research Call Documents. By registering, you will receive automatic updates and query responses. Without registration you will need to monitor the website periodically for changes. 

Key Dates

  • Call open for application: Friday 27th March 2026.
  • Deadline for queries: 3pm Friday 8th May 2026
  • Call submission deadline: 3pm Friday 29th May 2026

Submissions

Completed application must be sent by email to researchcall@electoralcommission.ie. Applications must be submitted in a PDF format with C.V.(s) appended to the end of the application.

Register Interest in Research Call

Support

If you have any questions on the application process, please contact An Coimisiún Toghcháin’s Research Team by email researchcall@electoralcommission.ie 

Queries and Responses

Applicants should consult this document for an up-to-date list of queries and responses relating to this Research Call. Responses will also be issued to the email address associated with the download of the research call documents.