Campaigners are an essential element of a healthy democracy, and their right to put their arguments to voters should be supported and protected. It is equally important, however, to ensure that the activities of campaigners do not bring into question the integrity of the electoral process.
This code has been produced jointly by the Electoral Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland. It provides a guide for campaigners to what is, and is not, acceptable behaviour at polling stations and in the community (including online) during the lead-up to polling day. It contains information about the new offence of handling postal voting documents by campaigners and the requirement of secrecy for postal voters.
We have consulted all the registered political parties in Northern Ireland and will draw it to the attention of all Northern Ireland candidates and parties contesting future elections.
We use the terms “must” and “should” throughout this code. We use the term “must” when the person in question is legally required to do something and when we refer to criminal offences. We use “should” when the advice should be followed unless there is good reason not to.
Meaning of the term “campaigner”
All references to campaigners in this code include:
Candidates standing at an election, their agents and their staff and supporters
Political party officers, staff, members and supporters campaigning at an election
Other people and organisations campaigning for or against a candidate, a group of candidates or a party at an election where they are employed or engaged by the candidate or political party.
Campaigners not employed or engaged by a candidate or party
We strongly advise all people and organisations campaigning for or against a candidate, a group of candidates or a party at an election to comply with this code, even where they are not employed or engaged by a candidate or political party.
Compliance with this code
Any concerns that criminal offences referred to in this code have taken place should be raised with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Any concerns that best practice set out in this Code has not been followed should be raised first with the candidate, political party or campaigner in question. Thereafter any remaining concerns should be drawn to the attention of the Chief Electoral Officer and the Electoral Commission. We will raise them with the relevant party or campaigner if appropriate and agree appropriate actions to remedy or prevent a reoccurrence of any breach.