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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. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Latest News
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:
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 addresses are:
The Enniskillen sub-office will be open every Wednesday from 13 January until 17 February between 1.00pm and 4.30pm.
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.