New electoral identity card set for issue

The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland, Denis Stanley, has today announced the arrangements for the issue of the new electoral identity card.

The new card is one way in which voters can provide photographic proof of identity if elections take place as expected in May.

Mr Stanley said the requirement would then apply to every election in Northern Ireland after 1 May 2003. Only four forms of photographic to prove identity will be acceptable at election time. They are:

• A valid UK or Irish passport
• A valid UK photographic driving licence
• A valid Translink Senior SmartPass
• the new electoral identity card

Mr Stanley stressed that people should apply for the card now if they do not have any of the other form of photographic proof of identity.

He cautioned that if voters leave their application for a card too late there is a risk they may not receive it in time for the May elections.

With arrangements now in place for the issue of the electoral identity card, people can apply for a new card through the post or at a card application centre.

Personal applications will be taken at a number of special application centres which the Electoral Office will be operating throughout Northern Ireland over the next three months. There will be two fixed centres, the first operating at the Electoral Office HQ at Church Street, Belfast, and the second at the Area Electoral Office, Queen Street, Londonderry, starting on Thursday.

Both will operate weekdays and Saturdays from 9am to 5pm. Other mobile centres will start operating from Thursday January 23.

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