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15/05/2023
Electoral Office 'Has Questions To Answer' After MLA's Postal Vote Denied
The Alliance Party has said that the Electoral Office "has questions to answer" after MLA Kate Nicholls after been told she will not be allowed to vote in the council election on Thursday (18 May) despite previously having a postal vote application accepted.
It is understood that the South Belfast representative has been told that 'due to the absence of a digital registration number', her application has been denied, despite the form initially being accepted by the Electoral Office. Ms Nicholl has also claimed that many constituents have also fallen foul of the situation.
Ms Nicholl said: "I hand delivered my correctly filled-in forms for a postal vote to the Electoral Office, where they were checked and accepted.
"I was therefore surprised to subsequently receive a letter from the Electoral Office to state we were not approved, with the reason given being a lack of a digital registration number. It was never made clear on the form that was necessary, and when I spoke to a member of staff there, I was informed the number could have been emailed to me but it was now too late.
"I have now been left without the ability to vote for this week and I am aware of many constituents who are in the same situation. It has come up on the doors many times during canvassing. Clearly the Electoral Office has questions to answer – if they can email people the number with ease, why is it needed, and why are people not provided it being left disenfranchised?
"Given my application was submitted ahead of the deadline and accepted at the office, it is disgraceful my vote will now be denied. I have written to the Electoral Office to request people who have fallen foul of this situation be facilitated, as their votes are otherwise valid."
It is understood that the South Belfast representative has been told that 'due to the absence of a digital registration number', her application has been denied, despite the form initially being accepted by the Electoral Office. Ms Nicholl has also claimed that many constituents have also fallen foul of the situation.
Ms Nicholl said: "I hand delivered my correctly filled-in forms for a postal vote to the Electoral Office, where they were checked and accepted.
"I was therefore surprised to subsequently receive a letter from the Electoral Office to state we were not approved, with the reason given being a lack of a digital registration number. It was never made clear on the form that was necessary, and when I spoke to a member of staff there, I was informed the number could have been emailed to me but it was now too late.
"I have now been left without the ability to vote for this week and I am aware of many constituents who are in the same situation. It has come up on the doors many times during canvassing. Clearly the Electoral Office has questions to answer – if they can email people the number with ease, why is it needed, and why are people not provided it being left disenfranchised?
"Given my application was submitted ahead of the deadline and accepted at the office, it is disgraceful my vote will now be denied. I have written to the Electoral Office to request people who have fallen foul of this situation be facilitated, as their votes are otherwise valid."
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