by Dionne Meehan
WITH elections due to take place next year, the Donegal News took to social media this week to ask followers their views on election posters.
With most followers calling for election posters to be banned, one local voice said Donegal should “set the standards” and “get rid of them”.
Describing them as a “waste of time, money and resources” another follower said looking at a picture wouldn’t “sway” their vote.
“I’ll be voting on a person’s merits and morals, so a picture won’t change that for me,” they said.
Also being described as being an “eyesore” and a “blight” on the landscape, the general consensus among follwers was to ban election posters.
With a potential impact on the environment if improperly collected, as well as the emissions generated in creating them, there are many reasons why people have grown to dislike them.
Aside from enviromental and climate concerns, election posters are also disliked over concerns that they can pose a threat to public safety by covering road signage.
However, not everyone supports the call for a ban.
On the run up to the 2020 elections, Letterkenny Tidy Towns asked local Councillors to erect their posters outside the town’s boundaries, limiting them rather than banning them.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Co-Chair of Letterkenny Tidy Towns, Gerard McCormick said that it was not a demand, it was an ask.
“We have a good working relationship with all the parties.
“They’re legal and we understand that.
“We would often just reach out to them and ask them would it be possible to have them outside the town’s boundary,” he said.