An Coimisiún Toghcháin (An Coimisiún), Ireland’s independent electoral commission has confirmed that its planning is already underway to deliver information about the upcoming March 8 Referendum.
Among its functions, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, has taken on the role previously held by the Referendum Commission to provide independent, impartial information about the proposals being put to the people, and to encourage people to vote.
An Coimisiún is now preparing the independent information campaign, to run across our national and regional media, and the information booklet to be delivered to each home in the country.
With a vote date now confirmed, An Coimisiún also reminds people that they can ensure they are on the electoral register by checking www.checktheregister.ie, and if required apply for a postal vote.
Chair of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, the Electoral Commission, Supreme Court Judge, Ms. Justice Marie Baker stated:
“As Ireland’s independent electoral commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin is looking forward to running our very first referendum information campaign since we took over this important role from the Referendum Commission earlier this year.”
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For further information, please contact:
Brian Dawson, Communications and Public Engagement Manager,
An Coimisiún Toghcháin, The Electoral Commission,
Brian.dawson@electoralcommission.ie / 086 0749344
Editor’s Note:
An Coimisiún Toghcháin, The Electoral Commission
An Coimisiún Toghcháin is a statutory, independent body, established on 9 February 2023 with responsibility for a broad range of electoral functions set out in the Electoral Reform Act 2022. An Coimisiún is central to Ireland’s electoral system, carrying out a range of existing electoral functions, including:
- the conducting of reviews and making reports in relation to the constituencies for the election of members to the Dáil and the election of members to the European Parliament.
- responsibility for the registration of political parties.
- the decision-making, oversight, secretariat and supporting services associated with explaining the subject matter of referendum proposals, the promotion of public awareness of referendums and encouragement of the electorate to vote at referendum polls; and
- making reports for the Minister in relation to local electoral boundaries.
An Coimisiún is also tasked under the Electoral Reform Act with several new electoral roles, including:
- preparing research programmes and conducting research on electoral policy and procedure, and providing advice, as required, to the Minister and Government.
- promoting public awareness of, and working to increase public participation in the State’s electoral and democratic processes through education and information programmes;
- overseeing the modernised Electoral Register, making recommendations and setting standards in relation to its maintenance and updating;
- the regulation of online paid-for political advertising, ensuring transparency in respect of online political advertisements during the period of an election or referendum campaign; (not yet commenced).
- responsibility for the investigation and monitoring of online disinformation, online misinformation and manipulative or inauthentic behaviour online during election campaign periods, as well as functions to prevent manipulative or inauthentic behaviours online (not yet commenced).
- the preparation of ex-post reports on the administration of electoral events.
It is anticipated that the initial set of functions assigned to An Coimisiún will be expanded upon as it builds capacity and expertise.