We’ll be glad to see them gone.
It’s fair to say election posters, while a necessary part of canvassing for candidates, are an absolute eyesore plastered on every lamppost across the country.
With thousands of candidates across Ireland looking for seats in the local and European elections, stacks and stacks of election posters have been up since May 8.
However, there are luckily strict guidelines in place for how long they can be up after elections and some hefty fines if candidates fail to take them down.
Candidates face hefty fines if election posters aren’t taken down before this date
Under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended by the Electoral (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2009, candidates have until June 14 to take all of their posters from the streets.
After that date, the posters will be considered litter and candidates can be charged a very hefty €150 per poster left up.
Considering the sheer amount of posters each candidate has plastered all over their constituency, that fine can rack up to a serious amount fairly quick.
However, this rule doesn’t apply to election material on billboards, which is considered commercial advertising and not election postering.
It’s up to local councils to issue on-the-spot fines for litter and they will be in charge of taking down any leftover election posters which may create hazards to pedestrians and road users.
Other rules surrounding election posters include a minimum height of 2.3 metres above footpaths, cycle tracks or any area to which pedestrians have access
While taking down their posters, councils have also asked candidates to remove any zip-ties or material used to erect the posters as they constitute litter and an eye-sore.
So hopefully this time next week we’ll have a lot less eyesores to be dealing with on our streets, that is unless a general election is called sooner than expected.
Read more:
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- History made in Cork as city elects first Black councillor
- Sinn Féin leader admits it ‘hasn’t been our day’ but has no plans to step down
- Vote counters in Mayo warned of suspected mouse in ballot box
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