Northern Ireland Assembly Election Thursday 2 March 2017 Candidate s Briefing Graham Shields Chief Electoral Officer
Electoral Office for Northern Ireland Graham Shields, CEO Tel: 02890 446660 Email: graham.shields@eoni.org.uk Virginia McVea, CEO Tel: 02890 446660 [from 1.2.17] Email: virginia.mcvea@eoni.org.uk Liz Murray, ACEO Tel: 02890 446675 Email: liz.murray@eoni.org.uk
Key Dates Date Deadline 26 January Notice of Election 27 January 8 February Nominations 10 February Absent Vote 14 February Close of Late Registration 22 February Absent Vote (Late illness) 23 February Notice of Alteration 2 March Polling day 2 March (after close of poll) Verification of Unused ballot papers 3 March Verification & Count
Nominations Submit in draft for checking Submit original documents Make appointment Deposit 150
Nominations Nomination pack on EONI website Authorisation from Party Nominating Officer IMPORTANT - ensure party description and emblem match! Inspection and Objection
Appointment of Agents Election Agent - A responsible person - Legal responsibility for financial management of campaign - DRO to be advised in writing by 1pm on Wednesday 8 February - Candidate is deemed to be own agent if no agent appointed
Appointment of Agents Sub agents - may be appointed in county constituencies - DRO must be advised in writing by Tuesday 28 Feb 2017 Polling agents - only 1 polling agent per candidate at any one time Postal vote agents - Notice of postal vote issue and opening Counting Agents - No. of counting assistants divided by no. of candidates DROs must be advised in writing of polling & counting agents by Thursday 23 February 2017
Sample Ballot Paper
Poll Cards 4 types: - Ordinary (white) - Postal (lilac) - Proxy Postal (lilac) - Proxy (cream)
Polling Day 7am 10pm Encourage early voting Notice of ballot papers issued Voters in queue at close of polls Voluntary Code of Conduct
Acceptable forms of photographic identity A UK, Irish or EEA Driving Licence A UK, Irish or EU Passport An Electoral Identity Card A Translink Senior SmartPass A Translink 60+ SmartPass A Translink War Disabled SmartPass A Translink Blind Person s SmartPass Does not have to be current but must be recognisable from the photo
DRO Contact Information DRO Constituency Tel/Email Rae Kirk Patricia Murphy Majella Morgan (Maureen Carroll DRO for nominations and Count in LV & SD) Janet Goodall Marie Louise Lappin Jeanette Murray Martin Fox North Antrim Mid Ulster Foyle East Londonderry Upper Bann Newry & Armagh Lagan Valley South Down Belfast North East Antrim South Antrim Belfast South Belfast West Belfast East North Down Strangford West Tyrone Fermanagh & South Tyrone Tel: 02890 446601 Email: Rae.Kirk@eoni.org.uk Tel: 02890 446621 Email: Patricia.Murphy@eoni.org.uk Tel: 02890 446616 Email: Majella.Morgan@eoni.org.uk Tel: 02890 446631 Email: Janet.Goodall@eoni.org.uk Tel: 02890 446683 Email: MarieLouise.Lappin@eoni.org.uk Tel: 02890 446641 Email: Jeanette.Murray@eoni.org.uk Tel: 02890 446651 Email: M.Fox@eoni.org.uk
Close of poll Polling station returns Verification of unused, spoilt and unused tendered ballot papers Attendance at overnight verification of unused ballot papers
Attendance at the Count The Returning Officer and his staff Candidates and one other person chosen by each of them Election Agents (sub-agents, if appointed to the part of the constituency in which the count venue is located) Counting Agents Electoral Commission representatives Observers accredited by the Electoral Commission
Access to the Count Count centre opens 07.15am Security search Admission process Count will start 8am Count teams
Sample Count Layout
The Count process Verify ballot box contents Mix and sort process Count process Adjudication of doubtful ballot papers Recount request
Communication Count Information pack Information point Candidate s briefing Stage results Announcements Declaration of results
Count Centre Name and Address Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Trostan Avenue, Ballymena BT43 7BL Banbridge Leisure Centre, 15 Downshire Road, Banbridge BT32 3JY Foyle Arena, 2 Limavady Road, Derry/Londonderry BT47 6JY Lagan Valley Leisureplex, 18 Lisburn Leisure Park, Governors Road, Lisburn, BT28 1LP Valley Leisure Centre, 40 Church Road, Newtownabbey BT36 7LJ Titanic Exhibition Centre, 17 Queens Road, Belfast BT3 9DU Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex, 3 Valentine Road, Bangor BT20 4UT Omagh Leisure Centre, Old Mountfield Road, Omagh BT79 7EG Constituencies North Antrim Mid Ulster Upper Bann Newry & Armagh Foyle East Londonderry Lagan Valley South Down East Antrim South Antrim Belfast East Belfast North Belfast South Belfast West North Down Strangford West Tyrone Fermanagh & South Tyrone
Any Questions?