Voters may be given a greater choice at polling booths with the introduction of a new bill which makes it easier for people to contest in Dáil and European Parliament elections.
Currently candidates are required to pay deposits of €381 (£300) in Dail elections and €1269 (£1,000) in European parliament elections.
Following a High Court ruling last July that election deposits were discriminatory, the new bill will legislate that candidates can contest in General Elections once 30 registered electors sign their nomination papers.
The legal challenge to the mandatory deposits was taken by a retired and formerly unemployed builder, Mr Thomas Redmond, of Coolree, Wexford. His name was omitted from ballot papers in the 1992 general election and 1994 European Assembly elections as he refused to pay the deposits on the grounds that he could not pay without suffering undue hardship.
On July 31st, 2001, Mr Justice Herbert found the requirement for candidates to pay the deposits was "unjust and unfair" and that they discriminated between citizens. As such he held that Section 47 of the Electoral Act 1992 and Section 13 of the European Parliament Elections Act were unconstitutional.
The judgment raised fears of a surge in candidates in future elections as the mandatory deposits was generally seen by politicians as deterring some single issue or frivolous candidates. And critics of the new bill have said the removal of mandatory deposits would turn elections into a sham.
The Election (Amendment) Bill, 2002, was published earlier this month and the Government it hopes it will be passed by through the Dáil before the summer recess.
"It is not expected to be in law before the upcoming election," a spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment and Local Government said today.
To contest in General Elections, the new bill would require independent candidates to register their nomination paper, containing 30 signatures, with their local authority and then deliver to the returning officer.
Nomination papers for candidates contesting European Parliament elections will need 60 signatures, while 15 signatures will be required for local government election nominations.
Travel expenses incurred while gathering nomination signatures will not be accepted as an election expense.