An election agent in a county constituency may appoint sub-agents to act on their behalf.1
No sub-agents can be appointed in a borough constituency (i.e. in the 4 Belfast constituencies).
Election agents may appoint individual sub-agents for particular parts of the constituency, as long as those parts do not overlap. The agent can determine the parts into which they wish to sub-divide the constituency.
The office of the sub-agent must be in the area within they are appointed to act.2
A sub-agent can do anything that the election agent is entitled to do within the area to which they are appointed.
The election agent should ensure that whoever they decide to appoint as a sub-agent is aware of the election and spending rules. Anything done by the sub-agent will be treated as if it had been done by the election agent.
By the second working day before the poll the election agent must declare in writing to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland the name, address and office address of any sub-agents and the area in which they are each appointed to act. The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland will provide a form you can use and it will be available on their website.
The election agent can revoke the appointment of a sub-agent at any time and another sub-agent may be appointed. If another sub-agent is appointed, the election agent must declare in writing the name, address, office address and area of appointment of the new sub-agent to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.