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

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

Event Deadline

Publication of notice of election Friday 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 on Thursday 5 May 2011

Verification of ballot boxes commences

8am on Friday 6 May 2011

NI Assembly Count commences Friday 6 May 2011

Local Government Count commences Monday 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

QualificationASSEMBLY

18 or over British, Irish, EU or Qualifying Commonwealth

Citizen Not disqualified

LOCAL As Assembly + on nomination day

• Registered 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

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

FormalIn person by

• Candidate• Election Agent• 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• Bankers draft• 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 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

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

or

Employment

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 Day7am – 10pm

Encourage voters to vote early in the day

Notice of votes issued

Polling agents

Campaigning

3 separate ballot boxes, all colour coded

Ballot papersNI 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 1Overnight 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 2Verification 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?