Secure Voting Rights Now, Says Commission

The Electoral Commission is calling on thousands of 'missing' voters to secure their vote in time for the European Parliamentary elections on 4 June.

The appeal starts today - the start of 'Register to Vote Week', in which a series of activities will take place across Northern Ireland to raise awareness of the need to register to vote.

Séamus Magee, Head of the Electoral Commission's office in Northern Ireland, said: "We want to encourage all eligible voters to make sure they are registered.

"You can download a registration form from www.aboutmyvote.com or call 0800 0323 700 to check your details on the register.

"If you don't register to vote, you won't have a say on the issues that affect you. It's that simple," he said.

"The European Parliamentary elections are coming and we want to see an electoral register that is as accurate and as comprehensive as possible - so that everyone eligible to vote can have their say on 4 June."

A survey carried out for the Electoral Commission revealed that almost 200,000 people in Northern Ireland could lose their voice in this year's election - or in any future election - if they fail to add or update their details on the electoral register. Those aged between 18 and 24 and those that have recently changed addresses are most at risk of losing out, according to the figures.

The elections watchdog will be spreading the message across Northern Ireland all this week, building on a major advertising campaign launched earlier this month that carries the slogan 'Secure your vote or lose your voice'.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún has urged all parties to back their Stormont motion which aims at highlighting the difficulties people are experiencing when trying to register to vote and calling for the registration process to be simplified.

Ms de Brún said: "The concern is that the Electoral Office is not doing all it can or should to ensure that everyone entitled to vote can.

"I am also concerned that people entitled to vote are also being forced off the live register by the approach adopted by the Chief Electoral Officer.

"People moving home or those living in what the Electoral Office describes as homes with high numbers of adults registered are facing particular difficulties.

"If we are going to address this democratic deficit then we need to see the registration process simplified.

"The documentation and letters from the Electoral Office are often overly complicated and threatening and the decision to seek additional information in all cases, despite the fact that all applicants submit personal identifiers and sign a declaration, acts as a further barrier," she insisted.

(BMcC/JM)