As part of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness initiative, €335,722 was spent in the three year period to end 2002 on awareness campaigns to promote voter registration. Further expenditure of €181,945 was incurred in the same period advertising the supplementary register facility and polling arrangements in the run up to polls. Separate information campaigns were also undertaken to promote the introduction of electronic voting at the Dáil general election and the second Nice treaty referendum in 2002 at a cost of €520,566.
The PPF commitment to improve voter participation was also advanced as part of my Department's ongoing responsibility for the administration and improvement of electoral law and significant improvements were made under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001 and the Referendum Act 2001. These included provisions for photographs and party emblems on ballot papers, earlier opening of polling stations, the display of a large print copy of ballot papers in polling buildings, companion voting for persons with literacy difficulties, voting by poll workers and provision that a registered voter who changes address during the life of a register of electors can apply for entry in the supplement. These measures were operative for the first time at the 2002 general election and were well received. In addition, the Referendum Act 2001 extended the functions of the Referendum Commission to include promoting awareness of each referendum and encouraging citizens to vote.
Ongoing measures include a comprehensive voter education and awareness campaign for the nationwide use of electronic voting and counting, of which the element devoted to encouraging the public to vote will cost €1 million.
