Low literacy levels are a barrier to political participation and understanding, according to the National Adult Literacy Agency, which yesterday called on public bodies to address literacy difficulties in advance of the next general election.
Marking the launch of National Adult Literacy Week, the agency said anecdotal information and international research showed that people with low basic skills and lower or no qualifications exhibited lower levels of public involvement.
The agency's national co-ordinator, John Stewart, said the confidence a person felt about their understanding of and participation in politics was also linked to their education attainments.
In preparation for the general election next year, he said the agency hoped to improve voter participation in political parties, increase voter registrations and improve people's understanding of elections.
The agency also hopes to aid people's understanding of how local, national and EU government operates.
Over the coming week, it will launch a literacy student voter registration campaign, a "plain English guide to political terms" and will host a national conference on political participation and literacy as part of its national literacy week, themed Political Participation and Literacy.
"In the political establishment, there needs to be a greater awareness of the need to speak to all citizens, not just those who are highly educated," said Mr Stewart.
"Terminologies need to be simplified and more plain English used."
The agency's A-Z Guide to the European Union was launched yesterday by Minster of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs Noel Treacy.