With half a dozen political leaflets waiting at your door when you come home, should this campaign material be considered junk mail? 

Local and European elections are around the corner on June 7th and as campaigns intensify, many can expect political material through their post box. 

John told Lunchtime Live he throws the leaflets away as soon as he finds them – and they shouldn’t be sent in the first place. 

“I’m getting sick of them,” he said. “I didn’t ask for them I don’t want them, it’s unsolicited mail which I'm expected to put into my bin. 

“People [are] trying to become environmentally friendly and here’s an opportunity for politicians to support that – but they abuse it.” 

John explained he currently has a ‘no junk mail’ sign on his door and he confronted his postman when he continued to get leaflets. 

His postman told him he is obliged to put the leaflets through as many doors as possible, including those with signs. 

“If you were to do a survey of the population or a small section and ask how many people want these things, I can guarantee you that you would probably get less than 10% in favour of it,” John said. 

“And that 10% would be family and friends of the candidates.” 

Political leaflets banned

Former Labour councillor Niamh McGowan noted the post isn’t as bad as before when every person on the register got a leaflet rather than just the overall household. 

She also argued that having leaflets that might be thrown away without them being read is better than the alternative or no leaflets being read whatsoever. 

“One of the questions that's asked is if they are banned, who does that suit – and the answer is people who are already elected,” she said. 

“When I ran first in 2009, I was really careful though in everything in what was being sent out, how it was delivered.” 

Ms McGowan said a “significant number” of people don’t consider political leaflets junk mail. 

She conceded, however, that people who do not want to receive them should not be forced to – and advised people to put an ‘addressed mail only’ sign outside. 

“You wouldn’t dream of [putting leaflets in a house] if it said addressed mail only,” she said. 

The former councillor also pointed out leaflets are a useful ‘sorry I missed you’ notice when candidates are canvassing in their constituencies. 

John questioned who pays for the political leaflets – a candidate or their party is responsible for all expenditure incurred during campaigns and they must declare all expenses. 

Listen back here: