WIREDGOV

The Electoral Commission is reminding voters who can’t make it to the polling station on 2 March that they only have a few days left to apply for a postal or proxy vote.

Friday 10 February is the deadline for voters to complete and return an absent vote application. This is an opportunity for voters who may be on holiday or away on business on polling day, or those who can’t make it to the polling station because of disability or illness, to make sure they can vote at the Assembly election.

Ann Watt, Head of the Electoral Commission’s office in Northern Ireland said:  “With just over three weeks to go until polling day the election campaign is well underway. However if you can’t make it to the polling station in person there’s no need to worry as you can still take part by either voting by post or by appointing someone else to vote on your behalf.

“It is important that voters do not delay in making their application, otherwise they could lose out on having their say”.

Voters in Northern Ireland who want to vote by post or proxy must provide a valid reason as to why they can’t make it to the polling station and must return a completed application form to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland no later than 5pm on Friday 10 February.

Application forms are available from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland’s website www.eoni.org.uk or by calling the helpline on 0800 4320 712.

For those voters who are going to vote in person on election day it’s important to make sure you have a correct form of photographic ID. One of the following forms of ID is acceptable:

• A UK, Irish or EU passport
• A UK, Irish or EEA photographic driving licence
• A Translink Senior Smartpass, 60+ Smartpass, Ward Disabled Smartpass or a Blind persons Smartpass
• An electoral identity card

“Although there is still one month to go, it is important to check if you have a correct form of photographic ID to take with you on polling day. It doesn’t matter if it’s out of date but without one of these forms of ID you will not be able to vote at the polling station” added Ann Watt.

Electoral identity cards can be obtained from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. The deadline for applications is also Friday 10 February.

For further information please contact Cahir Hughes on 028 9089 4023 or chughes@electoralcommission.org.uk.

Out of office hours 07789 920 414

Notes to editors

1. The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity by:

• enabling the delivery of free and fair elections and referendums, focussing on the needs of electors and addressing the changing environment to ensure every vote remains secure and accessible
• regulating political finance – taking proactive steps to increase transparency, ensure compliance and pursue breaches
• using our expertise to make and advocate for changes to our democracy, aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency

2. Voters in Northern Ireland must download a form to apply to register to vote by visiting the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland website here: http://www.eoni.org.uk/
3. Voters can also find where their local Area Electoral Office is by visiting the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland website here: http://www.eoni.org.uk/
4. To vote in a Northern Ireland Assembly election a person must be registered to vote and also be one of the following: a British, Irish, qualifying Commonwealth or EU citizen living in the UK.