The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985

Manner of voting

6.—(1) A local elector may vote in person at the polling station allotted to him under the local elections rules in Schedule 5 to the Act of 1962 (as substituted by Schedule 1) unless he is entitled as an elector to an absent vote at the election.

(2) He may vote by post if he is entitled as an elector to vote by post at the election.

(3) If he is entitled to vote by proxy at the election, he may so vote unless, before a ballot paper has been issued for him to vote by proxy, he applies at the polling station allotted to him for a ballot paper for the purpose of voting in person, in which case he may vote in person there.

(4) The provisions of Parts I and II of Schedule 2 shall have effect as respects the entitlement to vote by post or to vote by proxy at a local election and as respects the appointment of proxies and voting by post or by proxy.

(5) Accordingly, at the end of section 67 of the Act of 1962 (voting by proxy)(1), there shall be added the following subsection—

“(5) This section and Schedule 7 shall not apply at a local election.”.

(6) A local elector shall not be entitled to vote in person as an elector where he has applied to be treated as an absent voter and is entitled in pursuance of the application to vote by post.

(7) If a local elector is not entitled as an elector to vote by post or by proxy at the election but is unable or likely to be unable to go to the polling station allotted to him by reason of the particular circumstances of his duties on the date of the poll either—

(a) as a constable,

(b) as a member of Her Majesty's forces (including Her Majesty's reserve or auxiliary forces) in connection with the election, or

(c) by reason of his employment by the returning officer in connection with the election,

he may vote in person as elector at any polling station in the district electoral area.

(8) The proceedings in connection with the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers at a local election shall be conducted in accordance with Part III of Schedule 2.

(1)

Section 67 was extended by Article 6 of the Northern Ireland (Local Elections) Order 1977.