UK Parliamentary general election 2024 media guide for Northern Ireland

• Candidates in the UKPGE on 4 July must be:  
• at least 18 years old; and  
• a British or Irish citizen, or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen    

Candidates are not required to be registered to vote, or to live in the Parliamentary constituency in which they wish to stand.

The rules around standing for election and the disqualifications that apply are complex. Further information can be found in our guidance for candidates and agents.

The earliest that a person can officially become a candidate is on the day that the UK Parliament is dissolved, which is 30 May 2024

Prospective candidates may be selected by their party or announce their intention to stand before this date.

All prospective candidates must submit the following to the Returning Officer for the constituency they want to stand in by 4pm on Friday 7 June:  

• a completed nomination form. Prospective candidates cannot submit the nomination form until the date stated on the notice of election  
• a completed home address form  
• their consent to nomination  
• a deposit of £500

Candidates standing for a political party must also submit:

• a certificate from the political party authorising the use of the party name or a party description as registered by the Electoral Commission  
• a written request to use one of the party’s registered emblems (optional)

Candidates standing for a political party can request the use of a party name or description on the ballot paper, but they cannot request both.  

Independent candidates may only use the word ‘Independent’ as their description on the ballot paper; or they can choose not to have a description. They decide this when they complete their nomination form.

The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland will publish the full list of candidates standing in each constituency. This will happen by 5pm on Friday 7 June.

If objections to nominations are made, they will publish the updated candidate list no later than 4pm on Monday 10 June.

Only those political parties registered with the Electoral Commission can have their name and approved descriptions and emblems appear on a ballot paper. If a party is not registered with the Commission, it can still campaign at elections, but any candidates it wants to stand on its behalf would have either nothing or ‘independent’ next to their name, rather than a party name.

No, a person may stand as an independent candidate, i.e. not for any political party.

The regulated period is the period in the run up to an election during which electoral spending rules apply to campaigning. Political parties must report all spending which takes place during this period. It begins 365 before a general election. It started on 6 July 2023 for this election.

For political parties that are contesting the UKPGE in Northern Ireland, the party’s spending limit is:

• £54,010 x the number of seats the party is contesting  

If a party is contesting all 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland. The spending limit will be:

• £54,010 x 18 = £972,180

Campaign spending is what a party spends on certain activities to promote itself or its candidates, or criticise other parties, during the regulated period.  

Party spending includes, among other things, the cost of:  

• party advertising of any kind, such as posters, newspaper adverts, websites, online display advertising, promoted social media posts or YouTube videos  
• unsolicited material sent to voters, such as letters, leaflets or emails that are not sent in response to specific queries  

Further information on which activities count towards the spending limit can be found in our guidance for political parties.

Any spending by a party promoting their candidates before the candidate’s regulated period starts will fall under the rules for party spending. 

Further information can be found in our guidance for candidates and agents.

The regulated period for candidates standing, sometimes referred to as the short campaign, will begin the day after a person officially becomes a candidate and ends on polling day.  The earliest date a person can officially become a candidate at this election is the date Parliament is dissolved (30 May) the regulated period for any candidates that had announced their intention to stand by that date will begin on 31 May.

If their intention to stand has not been announced by the date of the dissolution of Parliament, they will officially become a candidate on the earlier of:

• the date their intention to stand is announced
• the date when they submit their nomination papers

Candidates must ensure that any donation worth more than £50 is only accepted if it is from a permissible source. Donations that are not from a permissible source must be returned to the donor within 30 days. After that, the donation may be forfeited.  

In Northern Ireland, permissible sources are:  

• individuals registered on a UK electoral register, including overseas electors    
• most UK-registered companies  
• UK-registered political parties  
• UK-registered trade unions  
• UK-registered building societies  
• UK-registered limited liability partnerships (LLP) that carry on business in the UK  
• UK-registered friendly societies  
• UK-based unincorporated associations that carry on business or other activities in the UK

In November 2023, the UK Government made changes to spending limits. The new limits for candidates are:

• UKPGE (short campaign): £11,390 + 8p (borough) / 12p (county) per elector

The number of voters in a particular constituency is based on the electoral register as it stands on the last date that the notice of election can be published.  

Candidates can contact the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland who will publish the most up-to-date number of electors to help them plan their spending during the campaign.

Who do candidates report their spending to?Agents for candidates must submit the candidate’s campaign spending return to the Chief Electoral Officer within 35 days of the election result being declared.  

If no spending is incurred, a nil return must be submitted by the agent.

Exceeding the spending limit can be a criminal offence. Allegations relating to the Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1983, including candidate spending offences, are generally for the police to consider.  

Whilst the Electoral Commission has a statutory duty to monitor compliance with parts of the RPA relating to candidate and agent expenses, it is not legally empowered to investigate and impose sanctions for offences under the RPA.  

The Commission’s guidance for candidates and agents contains further information on spending and donations for candidates.

In some instances, people spend money to promote a candidate without providing or transferring something for the candidate’s use or benefit during the campaign. Likewise, people may spend money to criticise a candidate or encourage voters not to support them.

Organisations or individuals, who are not standing as candidates at the elections, who campaign for or against a candidate in a constituency are known as ‘local non-party campaigners. This is also known as spending under section 75 of the Representation of the People Act 1983.

Once the candidate is officially a candidate, local non-party campaigners can spend up to £700 on campaigning for or against a candidate in the constituency. This is known as the permitted sum.

A local non-party campaigner cannot spend more than this permitted sum without the agent’s written authorisation to incur the additional spending, which will count towards the candidate’s spending limit.

Some individuals and organisations that are not registered political parties' campaign for or against political parties or candidates or on issues around elections, without standing candidates themselves.

In electoral law, these individuals and organisations are defined as third parties. The Commission calls them non-party campaigners.

There are laws that non-party campaigners must follow on campaign spending, donations, and reporting.

Many individuals and organisations campaign in the run up to elections and meet the definition of a non-party campaigner but are not covered by the regulatory regime.

Campaigners spending more than a certain amount on general campaigning have to register with the Electoral Commission. The regulated period for the July 2024 UKPGE began on 6 July 2023 and ends on polling day Thursday 4 July.

Only registered non-party campaigners can spend over £10,000 across the UK. On registration, a campaigner can declare that they will not spend over the reporting thresholds below.

The spending limits for non-party campaigners are:

During the regulated period for a general election, the maximum amount a registered or unregistered non-party campaigner can spend on general regulated campaign activity in a particular parliamentary constituency is £17,553.

Parties and registered non-party campaigners must ensure that any donation worth more than £500 is only accepted if it is from a permissible source. Donations that are not from a permissible source must be returned to the donor within 30 days. After that, the donation may be forfeited.

In Northern Ireland parties and registered campaigners may accept donations from:

• individuals registered on a UK electoral register, including overseas electors and those leaving bequests  
• most UK-registered companies  
• UK-registered political parties  
• UK-registered trade unions  
• UK-registered building societies  
• UK-registered limited liability partnerships (LLP) that carry on business in the UK  
• UK-registered friendly societies  
• UK-based unincorporated associations that carry on business or other activities in the UK

In addition, parties may accept donations from

• Irish citizens (including bequests)  
• most Irish-registered companies  
• Irish-registered political parties  
• Irish-registered trade unions  
• Irish-registered building societies  
• Irish-registered limited liability partnerships (LLP) that carry on business in the island of Ireland  
• Irish-registered friendly societies  
• Irish-based unincorporated associations that carry on business or other activities in Ireland
• some types of trust, and certain public funds 

Parties contesting the UKPGE must submit weekly donation reports to the Commission in the election.

Candidates can only accept donations over £50 from permissible, mainly UK sources.  Permissible sources include:

• individuals registered on a UK electoral register, including overseas electors
• most UK-registered companies  
• UK-registered political parties  
• UK-registered trade unions  
• UK-registered building societies  
• UK-registered limited liability partnerships (LLP) that carry on business in the UK  
• UK-registered friendly societies  
• UK-based unincorporated associations that carry on business or other activities in the UK

Candidates cannot accept donations from Irish sources, only Northern Ireland parties are able to.

Candidates are not required to declare donations with a value of £50 or less in their spending and donations return. Details of donations over £50 in value must be declared in the candidate’s return. There are no limits on the number of donations a candidate can accept during the UKPGE.

Political parties must report their spending to the Electoral Commission. The deadline for reporting spending of £250,000 or under is three months from polling day. The deadline for reporting spending over £250,000 is six months from polling day.

Political parties’ central HQs must submit weekly donation and loan reports setting out what donations and loans they have received over £11,180 until polling day.

Agents for candidates must submit their campaign spending returns to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland within 35 days of the election result being declared.  

If no spending is incurred, a nil return must be submitted by the agent.

Exceeding the spending limit can be a criminal offence. Allegations relating to the Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1983, including candidate spending offences, are generally for the relevant local police force to consider.  

Whilst the Electoral Commission has a statutory duty to monitor compliance with parts of the RPA relating to candidate and agent expenses, it is not legally empowered to investigate and impose sanctions for offences under the RPA.  

Our guidance for candidates and agents contains more information on spending and donations for candidates.

Like political parties, registered non-party campaigners can only accept donations of over £500 given for regulated activity, if they are from a permissible source. They must report any donations that total over £7,500 to the Electoral Commission. These donations are reported along with spending after the poll.

Non-party campaigners must report spending and donations if they intend to spend more than £20,000 in England or £10,000 in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. When they register with the Commission, campaigners may declare that they will not spend more than the reporting thresholds.

Registered non-party campaigners must report donations received during the regulated period over a certain value to the Electoral Commission before the date of the poll. This is called ‘pre-poll reporting’.  

Registered non-party campaigners spending over the reporting threshold must submit donation reports setting out what donations they have received over £7,500. The reporting period began on 17 December 2023 (or the date of registration, if later).  

Reporting is done in quarters starting from that date. When Parliament is dissolved, the last quarterly report will end, and campaigners must submit weekly reports from the date of the dissolution of Parliament until polling day. The Commission will publish these on a weekly basis during the campaign.

For more information, please see our guidance for non-party campaigners at UK Parliamentary general elections.

Registered non-party campaigners that have spent £250,000 or less must submit their return to the Electoral Commission by three months of the poll. The deadline for reporting spending over £250,000 is six months after the poll.

As at all elections, it is illegal to make a false statement about the personal character of a candidate to influence the result of the election. Rules about defamation also apply to election materials.

The police may investigate allegations of the specific electoral offence of making a false statement. Defamation issues are a matter for the civil courts.

As with all elections, the Electoral Commission does not have any regulatory role in relation to the content of campaign material or what candidates say about each other.

We recognise that robust political debate is part of a healthy democracy, but sometimes things can go too far.

The Commission has worked with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to produce guidance documents for candidates and campaigners, to help them understand when behaviour goes beyond political debate and may be unlawful.

Our joint guidance for candidates in elections provides more detail on the nature of possible offences

By law, candidates, parties and non-party campaigners must use ‘imprints’ on all their printed election material. An imprint includes the name and address of the printer and promoter (the person who authorised the material to be printed). It must be included on all printed material such as posters, placards and leaflets. This is so that electors can be clear about the source of the campaign material. It is an offence not to include an imprint on printed election material.

Imprints are required on all paid digital political adverts. Candidates, parties, registered campaigners and some other groups are also required to include an imprint on other digital campaign material, if it meets certain tests. A digital imprint must include the name and address of the promoter and any person on behalf of whom the material is published.

Once someone legally becomes a candidate, they are entitled to receive, free of charge, a copy of the full electoral register and the lists of people voting by post or proxy (the absent voters’ lists) for the constituency that they are contesting.

Candidates may only use the full electoral register to help them complete their nomination form, to campaign and to check that donations they receive come from a permissible source.

Yes, candidates are entitled to one free mailing (by Royal Mail) to electors in the constituency they are contesting. This includes:  

one unaddressed election communication of up to 60 grams to every postal address, or  

one election communication of up to 60 grams addressed to each elector  

Candidates contact Royal Mail directly to make the arrangements for their leaflets. The costs of the material itself is not covered, only the postage.

Hustings can be organised by anyone, and are events designed to give the public an opportunity to hear from the candidates or parties standing for election in their constituency.  

There is no legal requirement for the person organising a husting to invite all candidates or parties standing in a constituency. However, spending on hustings may be regulated depending on how it is organised. This may happen where the organiser selectively invites or excludes candidates or parties.  

We have more guidance available on the organisation of hustings.

Television broadcasters decide how many party election broadcasts (PEBs) are allocated to political parties.  

Political parties pay for and produce the content of PEBs, which must observe the law on, for example, copyright, defamation, contempt, obscenity and incitement to racial hatred or violence.  

They must comply with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and the BBC Editorial Guidelines that relate to harm and offence and fairness and privacy.

News reports, features and editorials in print or online media are not subject to electoral law, and the law does not require them to be impartial.  

TV, radio and online debates between party leaders are also a matter for the relevant broadcasters and newspapers. The Electoral Commission has no regulatory role in relation to debates between party leaders or PEBs.

An election pact is an agreement that a party or candidate will not stand in a particular area, to give another party or candidate a better chance of winning the seat.  

We have published new guidance for parties and campaigners who are considering entering an election pact, or who have already done so.

A person can register to vote in the UKPGE if they are:  

• aged 18 or over on polling day  
• a British or Irish citizen resident in the UK
• or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen resident in the UK

 British or eligible Irish citizens living overseas who have previously been either registered to vote, or resident in the UK can register as overseas electors and vote. Service voters stationed abroad can also register and vote.

The deadline to apply to register to vote in the UKPGE is Tuesday 18 June.

Voters can register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. People can still apply by completing a paper registration form if they prefer. They can contact the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland for forms or download them from their website.

You can be registered to vote at two different addresses in Northern Ireland, however you can only vote in one place in a UKPGE. It is an offence to vote twice in a UKPGE. It is for the Chief Electoral Officer to determine whether someone is eligible to register.

The deadline to apply for a post vote and a proxy vote is 5pm on Friday 14 June.  

To apply for a postal or proxy vote, voters should visit the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland’s (EONI) website to download and complete the relevant application form and return it to EONI.

The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland has launched an ‘Am I Registered’ online service to help voters quickly check if they are accurately Registered to Vote in Northern Ireland. The service will also supply your Digital Registration Number.

To use this service, users must provide a mobile phone number that will be verified by text message. If they have recently registered to vote, they should allow up to 10 days for your electoral registration to be processed before checking this service.

Service personnel and their spouses or civil partners, serving in the UK or overseas, can register either at their home address or their barracks in the usual way, or as a ‘service voter’. Service voters fill out an armed services declaration so they can be registered when away from their home address on duty.

Remand prisoners (those who have not been convicted and sentenced) can vote. Convicted prisoners detained because of their sentence cannot.  

In some limited circumstances, prisoners released on temporary licence may meet the criteria to register to vote.

All polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm.

Any voter who arrives at their polling station and is in a queue waiting to vote at 10pm will be able to vote.

At the UKPGE, the first past-the-post electoral system is used.  

Voters should mark their ballot paper with a single ‘X’ in the box next to the candidate they wish to represent them.

Registered voters can visit their local polling station between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 4 July to cast their vote.  

• Before polling day, voters will be sent a poll card which includes details of where their polling station is  
• Voters can only vote at the polling station specified on this card  
• Polling station staff will be on hand to explain the ballot paper and how to vote  
• Voters do not need to take their poll card with them to the polling station but doing so will speed up the process  

Voters must present photographic identification at their polling station to confirm their identity. Voters must present one of the following to poll staff before they can be issued with a ballot paper:  

• A UK, Irish or EEA driving licence  
• An electoral identity card issued by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland  
• A Translink Half Fare Smartpass  
• A Translink Senior Smartpass  
• A Translink 60+ Smartpass  
• A Translink War Disablement Smartpass  
• A Translink Registered Blind Smartpass  
• A Biometric Immigration Document

The identification does not need to be ‘current’ but the presiding officer must be satisfied that the photograph matches that of the person intending to vote.

If voters are unable to go to a polling station (for example if they are ill or away on holiday) then they may apply for a postal vote. To vote by post, registered electors need to apply for a postal vote before Friday 14 June.  

• Postal ballot papers will be sent directly to voters about a week before polling day  
• Voters must also remember to complete the postal voting statement with their signature and date of birth, or their vote will not be counted

Voters can also apply for a ‘proxy vote’ if they are unable to go to a polling station. This means they ask someone they trust to vote on their behalf for the candidate they wish to vote for. Applications forms to appoint a proxy must be returned to the EONI by Friday 14 June.

As of 31 October 2023, proxy voting rights changed with individuals limited to acting as a proxy for two electors living in Northern Ireland. The updated proxy application form is available via the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland’s website.

The Digital Registration Number (DRN) is a unique number issued to voters by the Electoral Office once they successfully register online.  

The DRN is used to check the identity of postal or proxy vote applicants. It is important that voters who registered online keep hold of this number as it is necessary for applying for a postal or by proxy vote.

They will need to provide their DRN on their application to vote by post or proxy. They can request their DRN by visiting the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland’s ‘Am I Registered’ online service which allows voters to quickly check if they are accurately registered to vote in Northern Ireland and receive their Digital Registration Number.

Voters can also call EONI’s helpline on 028 9044 6680 for further information.

The Returning Officer should take all necessary steps to ensure that polling stations are laid out with the voter in mind. In particular, the needs of voters with a range of disabilities should be considered. The positioning of all the required polling station furniture and equipment, as well as the positioning of notices, should also be considered, along with the placement of signage within the polling station and external signage.  

It is a legal requirement to provide a tactile voting device at every polling station. This allows someone who is blind or partially sighted to mark the ballot paper themselves, once the details on the ballot paper have been read out either by their companion or the member of staff in charge of the polling station (the Presiding Officer). In addition, a large print version of the ballot paper must be displayed inside the polling station for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted. Enlarged hand-held copies, marked as ‘sample’, must also be available to anyone who requires them.

The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland provides guidance to polling station staff, to help them make sure that polling stations are accessible to everyone.  

Changes introduced in the Elections Act permit disabled voters to choose anyone who is over 18 to accompany them in the polling station to help them vote. The Act also changes the assistance available at polling stations.  

We consulted charities and electoral administrators, before updating our accessibility guidance for administrators, to make sure that disabled voters can access the service they are entitled to in polling stations. Our guidance aims to support returning officers to understand and identify the barriers to voting faced by disabled voters. It sets out the equipment that should be made available as a minimum at the polling station, and what other equipment or support may also be helpful to provide. This should include measures such as a tactile voting device, polling booth at wheelchair level, magnifiers and pencil grips. Returning officers must have regard to this guidance.

There is nothing in law which states whether a pen or a pencil should be used to mark a ballot paper. Pencils have been used to mark ballot papers for practical reasons: for example, with ink pens there is a chance the ink may dry out or spill. Also, ink may cause the mark which the voter has made to transfer when the ballot paper is folded, which could lead to the ballot paper being rejected. Should a voter wish to, they are able to use a pen to mark their ballot paper.

The law relating to obtaining information in polling stations and disclosing such information is complex. Given the risk that someone taking a photo inside a polling station may be in breach of the law, whether intentionally or not, our advice is against taking any photos inside polling stations.

Postal ballot papers are treated differently in electoral law, compared to polling station ballot papers. A postal voter may take a picture of their own postal ballot paper and publicise it (including via social media).  

However, while the postal voter themselves may publicise the information, if someone else persuades or induces them to make this information available, they would be committing an offence. If there are any suggestions or allegations that this could be happening, the matter should be reported to the police.

The Commission’s public awareness campaign to encourage voter registration runs until the registration deadline on 18 June. Advertising will take place via TV, outdoors, online search and social channels. This is supported by PR activity. The Commission is also sharing resources for partners to use as part of their public engagement work.  

Alongside the voter registration campaign, the Commission is also building on their Digital Registration Number campaign to encourage voter registration and build awareness of the Digital Registration Number requirement for postal and proxy voting. This campaign will also run across social media platforms and digital channels, Google search, online adverts, and print publications.

As at all recent elections, the Commission is working with a range of partner organisations, from the corporate, public and third sectors to try to reach traditionally under-registered voters and encourage them to register to vote. Any organisation that would like to promote these messages should visit the ‘Voting and elections’ section of our website, where they can also sign up for our voter registration newsletter, ‘Roll Call’.

Count venues in Northern Ireland

The Chief Electoral Officer has overall responsibility for the counting of the votes. This includes ensuring Presiding Officers transport ballot boxes from polling stations to the count venue in a secure and timely manner; and that those recruited to count ballot papers have been well trained in how to carry out their duties.

There are three count venues for the general election in Northern Ireland, including:

• Meadowbank Sports Magherafelt (8 constituencies – 1600 attendees)
• Titanic Exhibition Centre Belfast (6 constituencies – 1200 attendees)
• South Lake Leisure Centre Craigavon (4 constituencies – 800 attendees)

The DRO must take reasonable steps to begin counting the votes given on the ballot papers as soon as practicable within four hours after the close of the poll. Polls close at 10pm.

The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland will be able to provide projected count times.

The following people are entitled by law to attend the count:  

• the DRO and their staff  
• candidates and one guest  
• election agents (or a sub agent on their behalf)
• counting agents  
• Electoral Commission representatives  
• accredited observers  
• any other person permitted to attend by the Chief Electoral Officer

Members of the media and photographers who want to attend a count must obtain media accreditation in advance by completing the online accreditation form on EONI’s website.

Postal ballot boxes and ballot boxes from the polling stations arrive at the count venue

1. Staff count the postal ballot papers and verify that the number of ballot papers in postal ballot boxes matches the numbers recorded by the DRO  
2. Staff also count the ballot papers from each polling station. They verify that the number of ballot papers matches the number of papers issued, as recorded on the Presiding Officer’s ballot paper accounts  
3. The DRO produces a statement showing how many ballot papers have been received against how many ballot papers were expected

1. Staff sort ballot papers by candidate
2. Staff then count the number of votes cast for each candidate
3. The DRO will share the provisional result with candidates and their agents. At this point, a candidate or their agent can ask for a recount of the votes. The DRO can refuse the request if they think it’s unreasonable 

The DRO will declare the number of votes cast for each candidate and will then announce the name of the candidate with the most votes as the elected Member of Parliament for the constituency

Once the verification phase of the count is complete, ballot papers will be sorted by candidate and any doubtful ballot papers will be identified. The DRO will adjudicate any doubtful ballot papers in the presence of candidates and agents and the Commission has provided guidance to help them do this.  

The DRO will announce how many ballot papers were rejected when they announce the results of the election.  

Any ballot papers which are considered ‘good’ in this process are returned and allocated to the relevant candidate.

• It is likely that several postal vote opening sessions will take place before polling day, as well as on polling day itself.  
• The Returning Officer must give candidates at least 48 hours’ notice of when and where the sessions will take place. At each opening session, the Returning Officer or their representative will decide whether or not the date of birth and signatures provided by electors on their postal voting statements match the signature and date of birth previously provided and held on record. If they are not satisfied that they match, the vote is rejected.  
• Candidates can observe the process or appoint a postal voting agent to do so. Ballot papers are handled ‘face down’ at postal vote opening sessions. Anyone attending an opening session must not attempt to look at identifying marks or numbers on ballot papers, disclose how any particular ballot paper has been marked or pass on any such information gained from the session.  
• All valid ballot papers are placed into ballot boxes and stored securely before being delivered to the count venue for counting after the close of poll. 

• Someone can challenge the result of an election by issuing an election petition. This is a legal action and will be adjudicated by a judge in court.  
• A petition at a general election must normally be presented within 21 calendar days after the day on which the election was held. Further time may be allowed in certain circumstances.

The Representation of the People Act 1983 specifies several criminal offences relating to electoral fraud.

The PSNI is responsible for investigating any allegations that an offence may have taken place.  

The Chief Electoral Officer works closely with PSNI to prevent and detect electoral fraud. Deputy Returning Officers will also work closely with police in their local area to identify any concerns relating to the safety of the polls.

. People can also choose to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Anyone, including candidates, politicians and members of the public, who has evidence of electoral fraud taking place should report it to the police immediately, using the 101 non-emergency number, unless there is a crime in progress. 

Offences include:

• Personation – where an individual votes as someone else (whether that person is living, dead or fictitious), either by post or at a polling station, in person or as a proxy.  
• Undue influence / intimidation – A person is guilty of undue influence if they attempt to influence someone’s vote by:  
  • using or threatening force, violence or restraint
  • inflicting or threatening injury, damage, loss or harm
  • impeding or preventing someone from freely exercising their right to vote – even where the attempt is unsuccessful.
• Bribery – A person is guilty of bribery if they directly or indirectly offer any reward (financial or otherwise) to induce any voter to vote or refrain from voting.  
• Treating – A person is guilty of treating if either before, during, or after an election they offer food, drink or entertainment to corruptly influence any voter. Treating requires a corrupt intent - it does not apply to ordinary hospitality.
• False statements – It is an offence to make or publish a false statement of fact about the personal character or conduct of a candidate to affect the return of a candidate at an election. False statements that are not about a candidate’s personal character or conduct are not illegal under electoral law but could be considered as libel or slander. It is an offence to knowingly provide a false statement on a nomination paper.
• Multiple voting and proxy voting offences – There are various offences regarding multiple voting and proxy voting, including voting (whether in person, by post or by proxy) when you are not allowed to and voting more than once in the same election.
• False information in connection with registration and absent voting – It is an offence to supply false registration information to an Electoral Registration Officer. It is also an offence to supply false information for a postal or proxy vote. 

Postal voters must provide their signature date of birth and DRN when applying for a postal vote and when casting their postal vote. Both records are checked against the information provided on the electoral register. If the Returning Officer is not satisfied that they match, the ballot paper is not counted.

The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity. Our role in these elections is to:    

• produce guidance for candidates standing for election and their agents    
• produce guidance for parties that are campaigning at the election    
• produce guidance for non-party campaigners that are campaigning at the election    
• register political parties and non-party campaigners  
• raise public awareness of the elections and how to take part in them  
• report on the conduct of the elections    
• publish details of where political parties get their money from and how they spend it

The Chief Electoral Officer, David Marshall, administers elections and compiles the register of electors in Northern Ireland. He has responsibility for the organisation and conduct of the election – including nominations, distribution of poll cards and postal ballots, the conduct of the poll and the counting of votes. The Chief Electoral Officer is supported in his duties by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI) aims to ensure the smooth running of elections and referendums in Northern Ireland while maintaining an impartial independent electoral service.

EONI recognises the important role that the media provide in communicating with the wider public and getting key messages out to voters.

Presiding Officers are appointed by EONI to run polling stations. Duties include organising the layout of the polling station, supervising poll clerks, issuing ballot papers, checking photographic ID, assisting voters, accounting for all ballot papers and ensuring that ballot boxes are transported securely to the count venue or a ballot box collection point.