NI Assembly and Local Government Elections 5 May 2011 Political Parties Briefing Graham Shields Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland

Background Nomination Process Timetable Absent Votes Verification process Polling Day arrangements The Count After the Result

Northern Ireland Assembly Elections, Local Government Elections and Alternative Vote Referendum 5 May 2011 Background First occasion for 3 simultaneous electoral processes 623 polling places 1424 polling stations 4272 ballot boxes 2800 polling screens 5000 polling staff 1100 counting staff 8 Count venues (Assembly & Referendum Counts) 2 STV counts and 1 ‘Yes/No’ count

Election Timetable – NI Assembly + Local Government EventDeadline Publication of notice of electionFriday 25 March 2011 Registration of political parties to field candidates at the election Friday 25 March 2011 Delivery to the DRO of nomination papers Between 10am and 4pm on Monday 28 March to Wednesday 6 April and between 10am and 1pm on Thursday 7 April Delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature Between 10am and 4pm on Monday 28 March to Wednesday 6 April and between 10am and 1pm on Thursday 7 April 2011 The making of objections to nomination papers Between 10am and 4pm on Monday 28 March to Wednesday 6 April and between 10am and 2pm on Thursday 7 April 2011

Receipt by DRO of notice of appointment of election agents 1pm on Thursday 7 April 2011 Publication of statement of persons nominated Friday 8 April 2011 Receipt by DRO of applications to be included in the Register of Electors Thursday 14 April 2011 Receipt by DRO of notice of appointment of polling and counting agents 5pm on Tuesday 26 April 2011 Polling day – 7am to 10pm onThursday 5 May 2011 Verification of ballot boxes commences 8am on Friday 6 May 2011 NI Assembly Count commencesFriday 6 May 2011 Local Government Count commencesMonday 9 May 2011 Note: the above timetable excludes Saturdays and Sundays and the following Public holidays:  Good Friday 22 April 2011  Easter Monday 25 April 2011  Bank Holiday 29 April 2011  May Day Bank Holiday 2 May 2011

NOMINATIONS

Qualification ASSEMBLY  18 or over  British, Irish, EU or Qualifying Commonwealth Citizen  Not disqualified LOCAL As Assembly + on nomination day Registered in council area or Registered in council area or During 12 months before poll owned or occupied land in council area or resident in council area or During 12 months before poll owned or occupied land in council area or resident in council area or Principal or only place of work in 12 months before poll in council area Principal or only place of work in 12 months before poll in council area

Nominations – NI Assembly + Local Government TIMETABLE Between 10pm and 4pm on 28, 29, 30, 31 March, 1, 4, 5 and 6 April Between 10am and 1pm on Thursday 7 April

Submission In draft  By anyone by any means Formal In person by Candidate Candidate Election Agent Election Agent Proposer, Seconder Proposer, Seconder Make appointment with DRO

Essentials and Options Full name Commonly used names (optional) Address (Home Address Form for Assembly only) Subscribers (electors on constituency/DEA) Consent to Nomination Description request Emblem request (Local only; Assembly direct to RO)

DEPOSIT (Assembly only)  Amount  £150  Method Legal tender Legal tender Bankers draft Bankers draft CHAPS CHAPS  Must reach EONI account before close of nominations  Return of Deposits

Correction of Minor Errors DRO can correct minor errors including –  Details of candidate  Description Candidate and CEO to be consulted before making change Use of Mark Those who cannot sign can make markThose who cannot sign can make mark

Who Can Attend DRO and staff Candidate Any other candidate who has nominated an election agent for the above (if no agent a person nominated by candidate ) Proposer for the above Seconder for the above One other person for each candidate Electoral Commission representatives ( no observers )

Decision on validity of Nomination Papers Must be given as soon as practicable No later than 1pm on day following close of nominations

Absent Voting

Single application – combined issue Robust checks of all applications Advise applicants to submit promptly Opening of Postal Ballot Papers – Election Agent advised in writing by DRO

Absent Votes Deadlines Permanent +-5pm Monday 11 April 2011 Temporary Late Illness-5pm Thursday 21 April 2011 orEmployment

Polling Cards Will commence issue on Monday 28 March 2011

Appointing an Election Agent  Anyone can be appointed as your Agent  A responsible person to manage your Election Campaign  Responsible for the financial management of your campaign. Must ensure declarations and return of elections expenses are properly completed and delivered on time.

Election Agent  Name and address of Agent must be notified in writing to DRO before the close of nominations.  If you do not appoint an Agent then the Candidate is deemed to be their own agent

Counting Agents Deadline increased to 5 days No statutory maximum number but may be limited by RO Polling Agents Deadline increased to 5 days

Polling Day 7am – 10pm Encourage voters to vote early in the day Notice of votes issued Polling agents Campaigning 3 separate ballot boxes, all colour coded Ballot papers NI Assembly – white Local Government – buff Referendum – grey

Acceptable Identity Documents Now consistent at all elections Consists of – Electoral Identity Card Senior SmartPass 60+ SmartPass Blind Person’s SmartPass War Disabled SmartPass EU passport Photographic driving licence from EU

Verification

Verification Process STAGE 1 Overnight verification staff will begin to record: Number of unused ballot papers Unused tendered ballot papers Spoilt ballot papers Recommence verification process at 8am on Friday 6 May

Verification Process STAGE 2 Verification staff will: open boxes concurrently record papers found in wrong box verify 3 ballot paper accounts for each polling station complete verification statement for each poll

Count Arrangements 8 Count Locations: (AV referendum/NI Assembly elections ) –Kings Hall, Belfast (Belfast West, Belfast South) –Newtownards Leisure Centre (Strangford, Belfast East, North Down) –Ballymena Leisure Centre (North Antrim, Mid Ulster) –Omagh Leisure Centre (West Tyrone, Fermanagh & South Tyrone) –Banbridge Leisure Centre (Upper Bann, Newry & Armagh) –Lisburn Leisure Centre (South Down, Lagan Valley) –Valley Leisure Centre, Newtownabbey (Belfast North, Strangford, North Down) –Lisneal College, Londonderry (Foyle, East Londonderry)

NI Assembly Count – commences immediately upon completion of verification AV Referendum Count – 1600hrs Friday 6 May 2011 Local Government count – commences 0900hrs Monday 9 May 2011 at Council premises

Count Centre Evacuation Everyone to strictly follow instructions All Counting Hall doors will be chained/padlocked and sealed with tamper-proof seals Temporary accommodation Candidates and/or their representatives invited to see doors being sealed and later re-opened

ANY QUESTIONS?