New €400k Research Call to Strengthen Ireland’s Democracy
29 April 2026 – With one month to go for applications An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s independent electoral commission is today taking the opportunity to highlight its first Research Call entitled “New Directions – Research to support Elections and Democracy in a Changing World” with a funding pot of up to €400,000 available.
The first-of-its-kind Research Call from An Coimisiún aims to empower researchers to ask original questions, test novel ideas and, apply new research methods to the study of Ireland’s democracy and elections.
There are three categories of funding available – for smaller projects right up to more large-scale research work. These are open to all researchers including those at the early stages of their career.
The New Directions Research Call is part of An Coimisiún’s Research Programme published in 2024 which identified a select group of priority research projects for 2024-2026 under 5 thematic strands.
The deadline for applications under the New Directions Research Call is 3pm Friday 29th May 2026. Further information including how to register interest and a contact email address is available at: https://www.electoralcommission.ie/new-directions-research-to-support-elections-and-democracy-in-a-changing-world/.
Dr. Mary-Clare O’Sullivan, An Coimisiún Toghcháin’s Head of Electoral Integrity and Research said:
“Across the globe there are challenges and emerging threats to democracy but there are also opportunities to meet these through innovation and fresh approaches. With this New Directions Research Call we are seeking to engage some of Ireland’s best and brightest minds to ask original questions about our democracy and elections, generate and test novel ideas, apply pioneering research methods and initiate new interdisciplinary approaches.”
“We would call on researchers across the country to consider applying with a view to helping us place Ireland at the cutting edge of electoral research and democratic innovation.”
– ENDS-
For further information, please contact:
Brian Dawson, Communications and Public Affairs Manager,
An Coimisiún Toghcháin, The Electoral Commission,
Brian.dawson@electoralcommission.ie / 086 0749344
Editor’s Note:
An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s independent Electoral Commission, was established in February 2023 and is responsible for range of electoral functions, including preparing research programmes, conducting research on electoral policy and procedure, and providing advice, as required, to the Minister and Government.
Specifically, the Electoral Reform Act 2022 provides for An Coimisiún Toghcháin ‘to commission or conduct research on electoral policy and procedures including on matters relating to the discharge of its functions and may arising from that research, make such recommendations to the Minister and the Government as it considers appropriate.’’ An Coimisiún published its first Research Programme 2024-2026 on 10 July and this research call is a key action within it