Commission proposals aim to improve voting procedures

The Electoral Commission today outlined 40 recommendations aimed at improving the general administration of elections in Northern Ireland.

The Commission's official statutory report on the administration of the Northern Ireland Assembly elections follows last November's Assembly elections.

A large number of sources informed the report including specially commissioned public opinion research, an academic analysis of the results, a disability access audit of polling stations, an expert report on media coverage of the elections and the views of political parties and candidates who contested the elections.

Among its recommendations were:

• amending the law so that the timeframe for including names on the register is moved closer to election day;
• use of alternative venues for polling stations;
• reviewing postal and proxy voting in Northern Ireland;
• reviewing arrangements for recruiting, retaining and paying staff for election duty;
• amending the law to allow for the introduction of watermarks on ballot papers;
• making more information available on the voting system both at polling stations and on ballot papers;
• reviewing the role and function of polling agents;
• reviewing and consulting on the location and suitability of count venues;
• exploring the possibility of improving the efficiency of the count through the use of technology;
• developing a code of practice to improve media access;
• inviting the National Audit Office to conduct an audit of the efficiency, economy and effectiveness of the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland and;
• reviewing the funding arrangements currently in place for the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

Commenting on the reports findings Karamjit Singh, Electoral Commissioner with a special interest in Northern Ireland affairs, said: "This is our first report on a Northern Ireland Assembly election. The Assembly elections provided us with an opportunity to gauge at first hand the impact of the Electoral Fraud Act at Northern Ireland wide elections.

"We have concluded that confidence generally in the democratic process has improved as a result of the new legislation, a view shared by most of the political parties, presiding officers and members of the public. The evidence collated suggests that fraud was not an issue at the elections."

Commenting on the turnout, which was officially recorded at 64%, Mr Singh said: "We think that uncertainties around these elections and the new voting requirements may partly explain why 122,000 fewer people voted.

"This was the first Northern Ireland wide election where voters had to present one of four forms of photographic identification before being issued with a ballot paper. Altogether just under 3,500 people presented invalid or out of date identification."

The report concludes that overall the elections were administered satisfactorily in what were less than ideal conditions.

The Commission said it acknowledged that the decision to hold elections in the middle of the annual registration period caused major logistical difficulties for the Chief Electoral Officer and his staff.

(MB)