Education and Public Engagement Strategy – Consultation Paper

Ireland is one of the oldest continuous democracies in the world. As a nation we have practiced participative democracy for over a century. In this long history of people in Ireland voting in elections and referendums, everyone eligible is given their chance to have their voice heard at general, local and European elections, plebiscites and referendums. And at these events everyone’s voice is equal. That is the beauty of democracy. Every vote cast is equal.

However, we cannot be complacent or feel that the future will mirror our past democratic engagement. One of An Coimisiún Toghcháin’s most important and challenging functions is to encourage democratic participation in its ultimate expression, voting in a polling booth.

Our goals are simple:

• all those eligible to vote should be on the electoral register;
• people should understand how to vote and how their vote works; and
• everyone on the register should vote at all electoral events.

2024 was a year with more electoral events than any other in the history of the state. Close to 9 million votes were cast in this country. However, the level of engagement was clearly less than we had hoped. There are many potential reasons for this and it is not possible to understand or explain the choice made by every individual to register or not register, to vote or not vote. Internationally there is evidence of a general decline in voter engagement in many countries and there is some evidence of similar trends in Ireland.

An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s independent electoral commission, is preparing a Strategy to try and encourage people to get more involved with our democratic process.   We want to amplify the work that is already happening. We want to provide access to education and information on Ireland’s electoral and democratic processes. We want people to tell us what they think should happen. And we want those who do not vote to tell us why.

We want people from all sectors of society, all walks of life in Ireland to use their voice and to vote in elections and referendums.

We have no doubt that this will be one of the most challenging and complex issues facing An Coimisiún. While we accept that progress may be slow, this is the challenge we have set ourselves and on which we need your help.

Whether you have voted in every election or never voted before we want to hear from you.

Do you have a brilliant or simple idea as to how we can help people to become more engaged with our democratic system?

We want to hear from you. Individuals, groups, organisations, people in classrooms, younger, older and everyone in between.

Our job, with your help, is to begin a long-term strategy to try and address the issues that we have identified in four initial areas to focus our efforts:

Our aim is help engage students in the democratic processes with the aim of encouraging them to register and begin voting as soon as they reach 18.

Throughout Ireland tens of thousands of people are part of vibrant adult education and community groups.  An Coimisiún believes that these could provide important avenues to reach many of those who tend not to get involved in democratic activity.

There are many people and groups in society who feel disengaged from the electoral system. We have met with groups including people with disabilities, immigrants, Travellers, those living in social deprivation, those in rural isolation, those experiencing homelessness, and young people. An Coimisiún wants to improve democratic participation of these groups by helping encourage discussion, removing barriers and providing access to information.

Every person in Ireland is part of our democracy. We want to ensure that we connect with as wide a spectrum of society as possible but looking at national projects and initiatives to encourage and increase electoral engagement across society.

To support this work, An Coimisiún will have working groups of people who are experts in their respective area. These include people/organisations working or researching in that area who will give us the benefit of their expertise and experience to produce a strategy that will have a lasting impact.

Your submission will be fully considered by An Coimisiún and the relevant working group/s.

These working groups will then help us develop a draft plan of action. Our plan will have to be ambitious because the scale of the challenge is enormous, but our objectives will be realistic and achievable and will be implemented with the support of many organisations and groups.

This draft action plan will also be put out for consultation to enable us to hear your views on what we have planned.  Following that second round of consultation a long-term strategy with clear actions and deliverables will be published. Then the real work will begin.