Electoral Register Gets Data Base Boost

The NI Electoral Office has introduced a new procedure to assist its review of addresses where a high number of people are included on the Electoral Register.

The Electoral Office now has access to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) database for Northern Ireland which means that much of the information which previously had to be confirmed in writing by individuals can now be checked directly by the office and in many cases removes the need for further action.

Douglas Bain, Chief Electoral Officer said: "Earlier this year, to maintain the current high level of the accuracy of the register, I undertook a review of addresses where an unusually high number of people were included on the Electoral Register.

"Since then, my staff have been provided with access to the DWP database for Northern Ireland and this will allow them to access information required to verify addresses directly.

"As a result of this, individuals will be removed from the electoral register only if they were unable to provide the information I requested in my letter and the DWP records indicate that they no longer resides at the address at which they are currently registered," he said.

"I hope that this will address some of the concerns raised in relation to the review and I will be contacting all those to whom I wrote earlier in the year to explain the new arrangements," Mr Bain concluded.

(BMcC/NS)