John Downing: Election day moratorium on TV and radio is paternalistic – and actually facilitates online manipulation

After weeks of coverage, the airwaves go strangely and falsely silent from lunchtime the day before polling

Broadcasters will be silenced tomorrow, but social media will be hopping with election news and commentary. Stock image

John Downing

I positively love much about Irish elections, even about the pair of votes this time around– despite the lacklustre campaigns that stuttered along and often merely stirred up apathy among voters. I will be in my element at whatever vote count centres I can hit this weekend, and I look forward to meeting my fellow political addicts.

But there is one thing I positively dislike: the so-called broadcast moratorium that kicks in from 2pm the day before polling.