Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962

N.I. DIRECTIONS FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE VOTER IN VOTING

F1 . . .

F1 Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms: para. 1 in the Directions for the guidance of voters in voting repealed (1.7.2008) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 47, 74(2), 77(2), Sch. 1 para. 61(5)(a), Sch. 2; S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2(3), 5(f)(iii)(g)(i)

 2. Go into one of the voting compartments provided. Look at the ballot paper carefully and then record your vote by placing, in the spaces provided at the left-hand side of the paper, the figure 1 opposite the name of the candidate of your first choice and then proceed if you wish by placing the figure 2 opposite the name of the candidate of your second choice; and the figure 3 opposite the name of the candidate of your third choice and so on. You may indicate as many or as few preferences as you wish.

 3. In no circumstances write anything else on the ballot paper, if you do your vote may be invalid.

 4. To ensure that a ballot paper is a valid vote you must, at least, place the figure 1 opposite the name of the candidate of your first choice. If you fail to place the figure 1 on the ballot paper, or place the figure 1 and some other figure opposite the name of the same candidate, or place any mark or writing on the ballot paper by which you may be identified, your ballot paper will be invalid and your vote will not be counted.

 5. If by accident you damage or spoil your paper or if you mark it in such a way that it may be rejected as spoilt, or if you place a wrong mark on it or mark it inadvertently in a wrong place, then take the paper back to the presiding officer, tell him what has happened and ask him for a fresh ballot paper.

 6. When you have marked your ballot paper, fold it so that the front of it is hidden [F2 , show the back of it to the presiding officer so as to disclose the number and other unique identifying mark] and, F3 . . . , put it into the ballot box.

F2 Words in Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms inserted (16.12.2010) by The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 89 (with art. 1(3))

F3 Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms: words in para. 6 in the Directions for the guidance of voters in voting repealed (1.7.2008) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 47, 74(2), 77(2), Sch. 1 para. 61(5)(b), Sch. 2; S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2(3), 5(f)(iii)(g)(i)

  

 7. You must neither take your ballot paper out of the polling station nor put any other paper into a ballot box. To do so is a serious offence.

 8. When you have voted leave the polling station at once.

F4 Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms, Forms 8A, 8B inserted (16.12.2010) by The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 90 (with art. 1(3))

9. Form of certificate of employment (rule 29(3))

Local government election

............................................................ district electoral area

I certify that [ name] ........................................

who is numbered ........................................ in the register of electors used at this district council election in the district electoral area named above is likely to be unable to go in person to the polling station allotted to him by reason of the particular circumstances of his employment on that date

*Delete whichever is inappropriate	* (a) as a constable;
	Para. (b) omitted by SI 1987/168
	* (c) by me for a purpose connected with the election.
	␣Signature ............................................................
	␣*Police officer (F5 ... Inspector or above)
␣*Major or above
	␣*Returning officer
	>Date ........................................
	Note.—The person named above is entitled to vote at any polling station in the above district electoral area on production and surrender of this certificate to the presiding officer.

F5 Word in Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms omitted (16.12.2010) by The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 91 (with art. 1(3))

10. Form of declaration to be made by the companion of a [F6 voter with disabilities] (rule 36(6))

F6 SI 2001/417

I, A.B. of ........................................, having been requested to assist C.D. (in the case of a[F6 voter with disabilities] voting as proxy add voting as proxy for M.N.) whose number on the register is ␣␣, to record his vote at the election now being held in this district electoral area hereby declare that [I am entitled to vote as an elector at the said election] [I am the *␣␣ of the said voter and have attained the age of 18 years] and that I have not previously assisted any[F6 voter with disabilities] [except E.F. of ............................................................] to vote at the said election.

*state relationship of companion to voter.

(Signed) A.B.,

........................................day of........................................19........................................

I, the undersigned, being the presiding officer for the ............................................................ polling station for the ............................................................ district electoral area, hereby certify that the above declaration, having been first read to the above-named declarant, was signed by the declarant in my presence.

(Signed G.H.)

............................................................day of

........................................19........................................

minutes past....................o'clock [a.m.] [p.m.]

NOTE:

[F6 1.] If the person making the above declaration knowingly and wilfully makes therein a statement false in a material particular, he will be guilty of an offence.

[F6 2.] A voter with disabilities is a voter who has made a declaration under the elections rules that he is so incapacitated by his blindness or other [F7 disability] , or by his inability to read, as to be unable to vote without assistance.

F7 Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms: words in Note number 2 to the Form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter with disabilities substituted (1.7.2008) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 47, 77(2), Sch. 1 para. 68; S.I. 2008/1316, art. 2(3), 5(f)(iii)