Transcript NOMINATIONS - Electoral Commission

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
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
• 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
Formal
In 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 +
Temporary
-
5pm Monday 11 April 2011
Late Illness
or
Employment
-
5pm Thursday 21 April 2011
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?