The use of election posters is governed by litter, electoral, road safety and planning laws which restrict placement and the time at which election posters may be displayed.
When can candidates erect posters?
In accordance with Section 19 of the Litter Pollution Act, posters may only be erected for 30 days before the polling day or from the date the polling day order for the election has been made, whichever provides the shorter period of time. The 2024 General Election is due to take place on Friday November 29 2024 therefore posters can be erected from Friday, 8th November 2024.
When must posters be removed?
In accordance with Section 19 of the Litter Pollution Act election posters and cable ties must be removed within 7 days of polling day. For the forthcoming 2024 election posters must be removed by midnight Friday, 6th December 2024.
Where can posters be erected?
Election posters must not cause disruption to pedestrians or other road users. The Road Traffic Acts contain requirements in relation to maintaining clear lines of sight for road users which may impact on where posters can be placed, e.g. not on road signs, at traffic junctions or on roundabouts where they may cause road safety risks. It is an offence to erect any sign or notice that makes a traffic sign less visible to road users.
Those erecting posters should exercise extreme caution when on or near roadways and should be aware of their own and other road users physical safety, e.g. crossing busy roads, obstructing footpaths, parking of vehicles etc.
To avoid safety risks and disruption to motorists and pedestrians in relation to election posters please note the following:
- Posters must not be placed on roundabouts, motorways, near junctions or anywhere that would obscure statutory road signage, traffic or pedestrian signals.
- Posters should not be erected on lamp standards with overhead line electricity feed, traffic signal poles, bridge parapets, overpasses, pedestrian bridges, or roadside traffic barriers.
- There should be a minimum clearance of 2.5 metres (8ft) from the lower edge of any poster to ground level on footpaths and 3.2metres (10ft) on cycle lanes
- If a poster is erected below this level, it can cause obstructions on footpaths and can be distracting and hazardous to the visually impaired.
- Signs must be securely fixed at their location.
- Posters should be securely fixed to poles with cable ties or similar material to facilitate removal without damage to the poles.
- No adhesives or metal fixings are permitted.
- Cable ties should not protrude at a level that could cause injury to pedestrians or cyclists.
Candidates are reminded that no claims for damages arising from placing, displaying or removal of their posters will lie with the Council, and they may consider it appropriate to take out Public Liability Insurance in this regard.
Can Offaly County Council remove election posters?
Election posters that do not comply with these conditions may be removed and disposed by the Council.
Where an election poster is not removed within 7 days after the date of the election, it may be removed by Offaly County Council and an €150 fine may be issued in accordance with the Litter Pollution Act.
The associated fixing arrangement, particularly plastic ties, must be removed at the same time the poster is being removed.
Where the Council incurs costs in the removal of posters, costs may be recovered from the candidate.
Are there restrictions on the erection of posters around polling stations?
Yes. Under the Electoral Acts posters may not be displayed within 50 metres of a polling station. This restriction takes effect 30 minutes before the official commencement of polling and lasts until 30 minutes after the polls have closed. Contravention of this requirement can result in a prison sentence of up to 2 years.
Can posters be placed on vehicles parked?
This not an offence under the Litter Pollution Acts. However, Section 9 of the Act does make it an offence to place adverts on mechanically propelled vehicles unless they are secured by mechanical means e.g. prohibits placement of flyers on windscreen wipers (this does not include paint, emboss, inscribe or the application by any method of transfer letters, figures or images on or to the body of the vehicle).
Can Posters be put up on billboards?
This is commercial advertising rather than election postering. As such any person may purchase this advertising at any time of the year to advertise their product / service. There are planning regulations relevant to this type of advertising space which should be checked with Offaly County Council’s Planning Department.
What information must be contained in the Election Poster regarding its production?
Under electoral legislation a poster must have printed on its face the name and address of the printer and of the publisher on the poster. The omission of the name and address of the printer and publisher is an offence.