Guidance for Candidates and Agents at UK Parliamentary general elections in Northern Ireland

A postal voting agent is allowed to attend and observe postal vote issue and opening sessions, which are run by the Returning Officer or their representative.

At each issue session the staff will compile and issue the postal vote packs and the updated postal vote list will be available for candidates.

At each opening session decisions will be made on whether or not the date of birth and signature provided by electors on their declaration of identity match the signature and date of birth previously provided and held on their records. If there is a mismatch, the postal vote will be rejected.

A postal voting agent has a right to observe, but not to interfere with this process. A postal voting agent can, however, object to the decision of the Returning Officer or their representative to reject a postal vote.1 It will not affect their decision, but the Returning Officer or their representative will record any objections by marking the postal voting statement with the words 'rejection objected to'.

Like your postal voting agents, you, your election agent and the person you may have appointed to attend on your election agent’s behalf are also entitled to object to a rejection.

The Returning Officer or their representative will explain the postal vote opening process to you and may issue you with information on the procedures to be followed, including instructions on what you can and cannot do at the session. You should comply with any instructions that the Returning Officer or their representative has given.