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Welcome to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland
Electoral Office Helpline: 0800 4320 712 (Freephone)
Electoral Offices Closed 12 March 2010
All Electoral Offices will be closed on Friday 12 March for staff training purposes. We will reopen at 9.00am on Monday 15 March.
Belfast Electoral Office Closed 15 March 2010
The Belfast Electoral Office will be closed on Monday 15 March for staff training purposes and will reopen at 9.00am on Tuesday 16 March.
Latest News
1 March 2010
RESPONSE TO JIM ALLISTER STATEMENT
Commenting on the statement issued by Jim Allister, Douglas Bain the Chief Electoral Officer said –
“I refute absolutely any suggestion that my decision on the date of the election is being influenced by the DUP. Indeed a person representing Mr Allister has been the only person to contact me about the date of the election.
The date for the by-election will be announced as soon as practicable. The law provides that the Notice of Election must be published within 21 days of 24 February, which was the date on which I was satisfied that a vacancy had occurred. That period expires on 26 March.”
Notes for Editors
1. The Chief Electoral Officer’s role begins only once he is satisfied that a casual vacancy exists. That was on the afternoon of Wednesday 24 February when he received a letter from the Acting Chief Executive of Castlereagh Borough Council.
2. Prior to receiving this letter the Chief Electoral Officer had already fixed a meeting for 2 March with officials from Castlereagh Borough Council to discuss the arrangements for any election that was required.
3. In deciding the date of the election the Chief Electoral Officer will take account of a range of factors including –
- the convenience of voters
- the impact on voters and schools used as polling stations of having a by-election and a Parliamentary general election within a few weeks of each other
- the absence of voters due to the Easter break
- the statutory timetable which excludes Saturdays, Sundays, Maundy Thursday and public holidays when calculating the election date
- the views expressed by politicians.
4. The Chief Electoral Officer refutes absolutely any suggestion that his decision on the election date has been influenced by the DUP. He has received no communication from them on this matter.
6. The period of time that elapsed between a vacancy occurring and the poll at the last three by-elections was as follows -
| By-election | CEO notified | Polling day |
|---|---|---|
|
Dromore
|
19 December 2007
|
13 February 2008
|
|
Enniskillen
|
10 July 2008
|
17 September 2008
|
|
Lurgan
|
5 November 2009
|
13 January 2010
|
7. The timetable for filling casual vacancies on district councils is set out in Rule 1 of the Local Election Rules at Schedule 5 of the Electoral Law (Northern Ireland) Act 1962.
25 January 2010
24 January 2010
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD IN THE UK GENERAL ELECTION
The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland is reminding anyone who previously registered as an elector in Northern Ireland at any time during the last 15 years that they can still vote in the UK General Election which must be held within the next three months.
UK law also makes provision for young people who were under voting age when they left Northern Ireland to register and vote provided one of their parents were on the electoral register over the same 15 year period.
Douglas Bain the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland, said :
“Many people who were on the electoral register and now live in Ireland may not realise that they could still be entitled to vote in the UK General Election.
“I would encourage anyone who has moved to Ireland to contact us now and secure their vote by registering.”
Registering is a straightforward process and only takes a few minutes. As an added bonus those who do register will have a chance to win up to £500 in the Electoral Office free prize draw.
For further information please contact us or visit the Forms and Leaflets page.
22 January 2010
DECLARATION OF RETURN OF NEW MLA
I, Douglas Bain, Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland declare that in accordance with Article 6B(6) of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001 Jonathan Fergus Bell of 21 Beechfield Crescent, Bangor has been returned to serve as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the Strangford constituency.
Douglas Bain CBE TD Advocate
Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland 22 January 2010
Explanatory Notes
- Mr Bell has been returned as a MLA to fill the vacancy arising from the resignation of Iris Robinson.
- He is the fourth MLA to be returned under the new arrangements for filling vacancies introduced by the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) (Amendment) Order 2009.
- Under these new arrangements, where a vacancy arises due to the death or resignation of a MLA who was a member of a political party, no by-election is required. Instead the nominating officer of that party nominates a person to fill the vacancy. Once the Chief Electoral Office has obtained confirmation from that person that he/she is willing and able to serve as a MLA he declares the person returned to fill the vacancy.
21 January 2010
A group of Derry adults with learning difficulties wasted no time in securing their vote during a recent visit to Electoral Office in Queen Street in the City.
The group are all members of DESTINED a local organisation that helps its members engage with society and increase personal confidence.
Patricia Murphy, Area Electoral Officer, (second left) made sure that all the visitors were on the electoral register and ready to vote in the next election. Everyone in the group also took the opportunity to get a free Electoral Identity Card.
With the General Election no more than 6 months away, anyone who wants to register for the first time, check that they are on the register or apply for a free Electoral Identity Card should contact us on 0800 4320 712.
19 January 2010
DECLARATION OF RETURN OF NEW MLA
I, Douglas Bain, Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland declare that in accordance with Article 6B(6) of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001 Conall Patrick McDevitt of 28 Malone Park Lane, Belfast has been returned to serve as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the Belfast South constituency.
Douglas Bain CBE TD Advocate
Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland 19 January 2010
Explanatory Notes
- Mr McDevitt has been returned as a MLA to fill the vacancy arising from the resignation of Carmel Hanna.
- He is the third MLA to be returned under the new arrangements for filling vacancies introduced by the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) (Amendment) Order 2009.
- Under these new arrangements, where a vacancy arises due to the death or resignation of a MLA who was a member of a political party, no by-election is required. Instead the nominating officer of that party nominates a person to fill the vacancy. Once the Chief Electoral Office has obtained confirmation form that person that he/she is willing and able to serve as a MLA he declares the person returned to fill the vacancy.
14 January 2010
LURGAN DEA BY-ELECTION RESULT
Jo-Anne Dobson of the Ulster Unionist Party has been elected in the Lurgan DEA by-election.
5 January 2010
FULL AHEAD AS ELECTORAL OFFICE PREPARES FOR GENERAL ELECTION
With the General Election only a matter of months away the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland has launched a number of wide ranging initiatives and pilot schemes aimed at making it even easier for people to secure their vote and check that that their registration is up to date.
Over the coming weeks the Office will carry out mini-canvasses in a total of nine wards in Belfast, Ballymena, Magherafelt, Lisburn, Downpatrick, Bangor and Newtownards which, based on independent statistics, have low levels of registration.
Of particular interest to people in Londonderry, Omagh and Banbridge, their area offices will be piloting a scheme that will see late night opening one night a week and the opening of temporary sub-offices on one afternoon each week for the next six weeks.
In East Antrim, South Antrim and Belfast North around 18,000 households in wards with low registration levels will be receiving a leaflet from the Electoral Office over the next few weeks reminding them of the need to be on the Electoral Register.
Douglas Bain, Chief Electoral Officer said:
“The General Election is now at most only 6 months away and everyone eligible to vote should be on the register.
“My staff are working hard to make it as easy and as convenient as possible for anyone to register for the first time or to change their details and I would urge everyone eligible to get on the list.”
If the schemes prove successful they will be considered for other areas.
The General Election must take place no later than 4 June 2010.
Mini Canvass:
Mini Canvasses will take place in the following wards that, based on independent statistics provided by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, have low levels of registration:
- Windsor, Glencairn and Bloomfield in Belfast
- Clandeboye in Bangor
- Movilla in Newtownards
- Audleys Ward in Downpatrick
- Lisnagarvey in Lisburn
- Ballee in Ballymena
- Town Parks East in Magherafelt
Extended opening and sub-office details:
The Londonderry Office address and phone number is:
20(A) Queen Street
Londonderry
BT48 7EQ (location map)
Telephone: 0800 4320 712
Textphone: 0800 3284 502
Londonderry
BT48 7EQ (location map)
Telephone: 0800 4320 712
Textphone: 0800 3284 502
It will be open until 7.00pm every Thursday night from 14 January until 18 February.
The sub-office address is:
It will be open every Tuesday from 12 January until 16 February between 10.00am and 2.00pm.
The Omagh Area Electoral Office address and phone number is:
It will be open until 7.00pm every Thursday night from 14 January until 18 February.
The sub-office address is:
The Dungannon sub-office will be open every Thursday from 14 January until 18 February between 1.00pm and 4.30pm.
The Banbridge Area Electoral Office address and phone number is:
It will be open until 7.30pm every Thursday night from 14 January until 18 February.
The sub-office address is:
It will be open Thursday from 14 January until 18 February between 12.30pm and 4.30pm.
Leaflet Drop:
Leaflets will be delivered to all households in three wards, with low levels of registration, in each of the three constituencies for which the Newtownabbey office has responsibility:
- East Antrim - Antiville, Ballyloran and Rostulla
- South Antrim - Ballyduff, Mallusk and Stiles
- Belfast North - Abbey, Whitehouse and Woodvale
23 December 2009
DECLARATION OF RETURN OF NEW MLA
I, Douglas Bain, Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland declare that in accordance with Article 6B(6) of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001 William Allan Leonard (commonly known as Billy Leonard), of 11 High Street, Portstewart has been returned to serve as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the East Londonderry constituency.
Douglas Bain CBE TD Advocate
Chief Electoral Officer 23 December 2009
Explanatory Notes
- Mr Leonard has been returned as a MLA to fill the vacancy arising from the resignation of Francie Brolly.
- He is the second MLA to be returned under the new arrangements for filling vacancies introduced by the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) (Amendment) Order 2009.
- Under these new arrangements, where a vacancy arises due to the death or resignation of a MLA who was a member of a political party, no by-election is required. Instead the nominating officer of that party nominates a person to fill the vacancy. Once the Chief Electoral Officer has obtained confirmation from that person that he/she is willing and able to serve as a MLA he declares the person returned to fill the vacancy.