Review of campaign methods needed to boost voter turnout, says Wallstrom - The Irish Times - Thu, Jun 11, 2009

Review of campaign methods needed to boost voter turnout, says Wallstrom - The Irish Times - Thu, Jun 11, 2009:

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER Margot Wallstrom has called for a radical shake-up of how future European election campaigns are conducted by EU states, to try to boost voter turnout.

Ms Wallstrom, who begins a two-day visit to Ireland today, said many EU states needed to change how they organised European elections. Early voting and internet voting should be considered to boost turnout. We should study how 11 states increased turnout in these elections, she said.

“One thing that should be done – and I’m surprised you cannot do it in Ireland – is vote early. In my country, you could vote from May 20th by going to a post office or municipal office. You could even enter an election bus going around to the suburbs . . . You can use e-voting in Estonia and that increased the voter turnout dramatically,” she said.