The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985

Applications under paragraph 4

9.—(1) An application under paragraph 4 to vote by post or vote by proxy at a particular election shall be made in—

(a) Form 5 in any case where the application is based on the grounds in paragraph 4(2)(a);

(b) Form 6 in any case where the application is based on the grounds in paragraph 4(2)(b) or (c); and

(c) Form 7 in any case where the application is based on the grounds in paragraph 4(2)(d).

(2) An application to be treated as an absent voter based on the ground of religious observance shall not be allowed by the Chief Electoral Officer unless it is accompanied by a certificate signed by a minister of the applicant's religious denomination certifying the nature and times of the religious observances and that the applicant is bound to observe them.

(3) An application to be treated as an absent voter based on the ground that the applicant is a patient or inmate in a hospital or institution in Northern Ireland shall not be allowed by the Chief Electoral Officer unless it is accompanied by a declaration, signed by a registered medical practitioner who has responsibility for the applicant or who has examined him, declaring that the applicant is such a patient.

(4) An application to be treated as an absent voter based on the ground of blindness or physical incapacity shall not be allowed by the Chief Electoral Officer unless it is accompanied by a declaration signed by a registered medical practitioner or by a Christian Science practitioner declaring—

(a) that the applicant cannot reasonably be expected by reason of blindness or other physical incapacity to go in person to the polling station allotted to him, or, if able to go, to vote there unaided; and

(b) that, in the case of a registered medical practitioner, the applicant is registered with him as that practitioner or, in either case, that he has examined the applicant immediately before making the declaration.