Northern Ireland Assembly Parties’ Panel: 29 January 2026

KR welcomed attendees, noted apologies and initiated introductions of panel-members.

HP provided overview of organisation. JCF published a call to action last year, and a specific devolved nations action plan is to be announced imminently. Recommendations successfully adopted include: Candidate safety costs exempted in spending limits for campaigning, and guidance for candidate’s family.  

New recommendations proposed for Northern Ireland include: Political parties consistency in enforcing code of conducts and screening of candidates, and the NI Assembly to embed guidance on security and respectful politics in induction and ongoing professional development.  

HP: What actions would you like to see effectively addressed?  

KR: Will political parties be provided with screening templates?

HP: No, party specific screening processes initially, JCF encouraging an enhanced screening process. Exploring through Elections Bill how to embed further, and incentivise political parties.

CH: EC pilot on deepfakes taking place in Scotland will help inform best approach to tackle issue across UK. Coordination between EC and JCF on this.

JMurn: PowerPoint slides to be circulated post meeting. 

Project delivered through Corporate Plan to comprehensively map voter journeys across the UK to identify barriers. This project will take a holistic approach, looking at education in schools, voter information and on-the-day attendance at polling stations to cast vote. Aimed for completion by 2027/2028 with actions identified.  

CM: Accessibility issues maintain to be an issue at polling stations.

KR: Thanks for this work. In relation to the standing EDI item, can ongoing commitments be embedded in this meeting?

RM: Yes, EC can provide updates and tie-in relevant sections of this project to panel meetings. 

The minutes and actions from previous meeting were agreed. 

TUV raised two queries regarding candidate qualifications and deposits for Local Government elections and NI Assembly elections respectively.    

KR: EC have agreed to circulate overview of meeting prior to minutes, as requested by TUV.

6.1) Northern Ireland Assembly Parties’ Panel Review, RM  

Participants thanked for input into review paper. Main recommendations, for feedback:  

• Moving day of week NIAPP is scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday  
• Invite the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) to participate on a meeting-by-meeting basis.  
• The Electoral Commissioner for Northern Ireland will continue to Chair the panel.
• Review of the EDI item, trialling having it at the start of the Agenda and considering a specific annual EDI-focused event.  
• Updated terms of reference

JH: Delighted to have comments adopted.

KR: In terms of the NIO attending meeting, whose decision is this?  

CH: Attendance would be valued at upcoming panel meetings upon laying and passage of the Elections Bill through UK Parliament.  

DM: Potential challenge for operational delivery.  

KR: Decision to be reserved for panel agreement. 

6.2) Elections Bill Update, RM  

Factsheet to be published and circulated upon laying of the Elections Bill in Parliament, that will outline the implications for Northern Ireland (NI) specifically. EC have been working closely with Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in clause development and reflecting NI perspectives.  

6.3) Communications and Engagement Update, JMurn

EC met with the Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald to combine efforts to increase awareness of democratic practices across the higher education sector.

EC met separately with Julie Harrison, Permanent Secretary for the NIO and Tonia Antoniazzi, Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee to discuss measures proposed in the Elections Bill.

EC attended a husting event hosted by the Integrated Education Fund in an independent capacity to provide overview of voting practices to young people.  

6.4) Partnership and Education, AD

AD introduced herself to panel and outlined current position of Partnership and Education work in NI working with a range of stakeholders including youth practitioners, education and EDI partners to ensure resources to support voter participation are representative, trustworthy and impartial. Important strand of youth work is promoting the introduction of learnings related to elections and voting to be included in the school curriculum. EC currently working towards delivering an engaging Welcome to Your Vote Week in March 2026.

7.1 Canvass 2021, DM

UK Government have agreed canvas reform by 2030 but issues persist from the 2021 canvas. Of the 114,000 people carried forward, 75,500 people have not responded to communication to re-register before their automatic removal in November 2027; projected that c. 3.5% will be removed from the Electoral Register in November 2027. Most recent data of EONI’s actions published on website last week.  

KR: Does the data reveal any specific demographics being more-greatly impacted by this?

DM: Have not published socio-economic data. New law allows EONI to take a household approach rather than personal data-based approach, which may assist with reaching people.  

KR: Propose EONI and EC to work with Census ahead of 2031.  

CH: Confirmed EC did engage with Census previously due to delay to 2021 Canvas.

7.2 Combined Elections 2027, JMitch

Legislation to be enacted 6 months prior to the poll.  

Planning has commenced, steering group of council representatives set up in August 2025. By Autumn 2026, full operational plan to be finalised.  

Operational differences compared to past elections due to the logistical challenge of combined polls. Including, only 1 polling card for the two elections (EONI working to match up constituent boundaries to ensure electors only have to attend one polling station), and voting cards will be separate colours and placed in the one ballot box. Count expected for Assembly Elections on Friday, with Local Government elections ballots secured over weekend until Sunday when counting expected to commence.  

CM: Where will this happen, capacity for this?  

DM: Contracts not signed yet. Will engage with political parties during operational planning.

KR: Increased complication of co-option with joint polls?

CH: No regulatory change to co-option prior to 2027 polls. Issues relating to co-option realised during these elections will be captured in post-election reports.

DM: Notification of co-option deadlines different for Assembly and Local Government elections.  

CH: Campaign spending guidance if candidate running in both elections to be issued by EC prior to polls.

JC: Example of Joint Poster use – one side Local Government and one side Assembly. How do you administer this?

RMcD: Parties must consider how to apportion amount to each candidate.  

JH: Last combined election in 2011, how does the operations of 2027 compare?  

JMitch: Timeline for the count broadly aligns, but differences in numbers of ballot boxes and polling cards. DM: Reduced capacity in EONI.

RMcD outlined key dates for parties.

• Q4 2025 financial reporting deadline is tomorrow, Friday 30th January 2026.  

Crypto asset valuation and reporting guidance published by EC to make clear they are to be treated the same as any other monetary donations. JMurn to circulate link.

• Thursday 26th March  
• Thursday 4th June  
• Thursday 15th October

N/A – crypto-asset guidance discussed in item 8.

1. EC to share PowerPoint slides of JCF Presentation and EONI Presentation to all invited participants.  
2. EC to circulate link to new crypto-asset guidance post meeting.  
3. EC to confirm any postponing of NIAPP Q2 date due to conflicting schedules