Northern Ireland Assembly Parties’ Panel: 07 October 2025

KR welcomed attendees to the meeting, introduced new-members and noted apologies.

The minutes and actions from previous meeting were agreed.

PK queries regarding electoral administration answered separately in advance of meeting.  

a)    UK Government's Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections – JP

The upcoming Election Bill is expected to be laid in Parliament before the end of 2025. Key measures include:

• Votes at 16 – Strong focus of EC work streams on promoting youth democratic education and engaging young people in the electoral process earlier.  
• Automatic registration - would significantly change how voters engage in the electoral process. It would also facilitate better quality of voter registration data.
• Political Finance Enforcement - Proposals to further enforcement powers of the EC.
• Voter ID Changes –Amendments across UK may impact voter-ID criteria in NI.

CM: Request timeframe of lowering of voter age and introduction of automatic voter registration.  

JP: No certainty until an Act is passed. Expect earliest to be the UK Parliamentary election but automatic registration has logistical challenges.  

PK: What exemption criteria would be in place to opt-out of automatic registration?

DM: One can’t legally remove themselves from register under current legislation, only if no longer live at address. Explains possible approaches of notifying people.

RML: Is it confirmed that automatic registration is being introduced in NI? And any potential for this to simultaneously to rectify Digital Registration Number (DRN) issues.

CH: No certainty at this point. When the Act is finalised, EC will circulate a document on the impact on NI election structures.

CM: Request for further details of changes to political finance.

JP: It is proposed that all political finance reporting to be submitted to EC and EC to have enhanced powers as regulator including increased fine thresholds.

b. Communications and Engagement Update – NB

CH and KR attended an event on the safety and abuse of elected representatives hosted by the Speaker of the NI Assembly, Edwin Poots MLA.
In July, EC met with the Commissioner for Children and Young People, Include Youth, Diverse Youth, and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) to get industry views on implementation of Votes @ 16.

c. Voter Education - NB

The Partnership and Education officer, Amelia Deehan, is due to start early November. 
This afternoon EC is meeting with the Economy Minister, Dr. Caoimhe Archibald MLA, who has responsibility for Further Education, to discuss the means of engaging young voters. For example, by youth democratic education.

CM: Suggestion of targeting uniformed youth organisations in a relaxed environment.

RMD: Acknowledge challenge of garnering young peoples’ interest in politics. EC to be transparent on details of the delivery of impartial youth democratic education.
 

d. Review of the Northern Ireland Assembly Parties’ Panel (NIAPP) – RM
The EC are reviewing the operation of the NIAPP and have met with 5 out of 7 parties. The review is seeking feedback on what is working well, what do political parties want to get from meeting, and agenda development.  

e. Review of regulated donee guidance - CH
EC Regulatory Guidance team reviewing and updating political finance guidance. A survey has been shared with primary stakeholders for preliminary feedback, and a more focused consultation will begin shortly.

Project background provided; Project board established, procurements initiated with suppliers and key-stakeholders identified. Request for volunteers as expert users to help map user-journeys. Please contact Tomi to volunteer.
CM: Volunteered party 
CP: Additionally, EC review being conducted of the website and guidance offering.
 

EONI is undertaking several exercises to modernise structures:

•  Canvass 2021 - Letter from Secretary of State for Northern Ireland supporting reform of canvass prior to 2030 published on EONI website. Significant issue whereby 82,000 people at threat of removal from the register for 2027 elections if they do not re-register.

  KR: Clarification of communication approach; text, emails, letters?
  CM: Are all avenues explored before removal?
  DM: Correct. And cross-check of activity with other government data sources

   

• Move to Colby House – EONI moved to new building 30 June 2025.

   

• Combined Elections 2027 – Major logistical challenge, complexity of having two Single Transferable Votes polls with different constituent boundaries. Final operational plan to be in place by Autumn 2026. Advised the Count will take time due to logistics. 
  18 new Parliamentary constituencies, same for Assembly. Currently working to align electoral areas to ensure voters only have to attend one polling station. Will keep stakeholders updated.
  CM: Concern raised about the knowledge of staff. 
  JMitch: Rolling out training course that must be passed by election staff
  PK: Query of order of election counts. Raised concern regarding different ballot papers in a single ballot box.
  DM: No legal certainty yet.
  JMitch: Likely ballot papers to be different colours.
  CH: EC will support public awareness and guidance for political parties on running joint campaigns. Co-option remains an EC concern. Solution may be a substitution list but not enforced before 2027 elections. 
  DM: Will keep stakeholders informed upon decisions made by Government. 
      PowerPoint slides to be shared with all parties post meeting.
   

Changed agenda order to accommodate attendees who need to leave early. 
CQ introduced himself in his role as Commissioner and previous experience. CQ familiar and complementary of the work EC do with the National Youth Forum for Northern Ireland. 
CQ stresses public awareness needs to be increased, and political education rolled out, regardless of if the voting age is lowered or not. The delivery of education must be well considered to ensure it is impartial and presents a safe opportunity for open dialogue and increase capacity to engage in debates.  Education Minister Paul Givan undertaking a Curriculum review and Youth Forum are participating to represent young people needs. 
CQ highlights the importance of data. The All-Party Group on Policy and Public data identified as an opportunity for EC to progress in this area.

NB: EC to take away CQ suggestions and meet again. 
KR: Thanked CQ for attending on behalf of panel.

The deadline for parties to submit their quarter 3 2025 donation and loan reports is 30 October 2025.
31 October 2025 is the deadline for parties with income and expenditure of £250,000 or less to renew their registered details and pay the annual fee of £25.  Parties with income or expenditure over £250,000 must renew their registration by 7 January 2026.  
 

To be confirmed in due course upon completion of the NIAPP review. 

• Electoral Observer Scheme, RM - On the 8 September we launched a consultation on the scheme's proposed new code of practice for observers which will run until November. This was a collaborative piece of work with commission colleagues across different teams. The consultation offering has been shared with primary stakeholders, including our current list of electoral observers and relevant organisations.  
   

1.    PowerPoint slides to be shared with all political parties for agenda item 5 and 6.
2.    Dates for 2026 NIAPP to be confirmed before the end of the year.
3.    Report from NIAPP Review to be shared with participants before the end of the year.