The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985

Absent vote at a particular local election

4.—(1) Where a person applies to the Chief Electoral Officer to vote by post, or to vote by proxy, at a particular local election, the Chief Electoral Officer shall grant the application if—

(a) he is satisfied that the applicant is a person to whom this paragraph applies,

(b) he is satisfied that the applicant is or will be registered in the register of local electors,

(c) in the case of an application to vote by post, the applicant has provided an address in the United Kingdom as an address to which his ballot paper is to be sent, and

(d) the application meets the requirements of paragraphs 9 and 10.

(2) This paragraph applies to the following persons—

(a) any person who cannot reasonably be expected to go in person to the polling station allotted or likely to be allotted to him under the local elections rules for one of the following reasons, that is—

(i) the general nature of his occupation, service or employment or that of his spouse,

(ii) his service as a member of any of Her Majesty's reserve or auxiliary forces,

(iii) the particular circumstances of his employment on the date of the poll either as a constable or, for a purpose connected with the election, by the returning officer, and

(iv) religious observance,

(b) any person who cannot reasonably be expected—

(i) to go in person to the polling station allotted or likely to be allotted to him under the local elections rules; or

(ii) to vote unaided there

by reason of blindness or other physical incapacity,

(c) any person who is a patient or inmate in any hospital or institution in Northern Ireland, and

(d) any person who is unable to go in person from his qualifying address to the polling station without making a journey by air or sea.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer shall notify the applicant if he disallows his application under this paragraph.