Northern Ireland’s voters go to the polls today in the European Parliamentary elections.
Polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm.
The head of the Electoral Commission’s office in Northern Ireland Seamus Magee reminded voters that they do not necessarily need a polling card to vote, but they must bring the correct photographic ID.
“As long as you are registered, you do not need to bring a polling card but do bring your ID or you will not be able to vote,” he said.
“If you’re not sure if you are on the electoral register, or of the location of your polling station, you should telephone our helpline on 0800 0323 700.”
The eligible electorate in Northern Ireland is 1,141,979, an increase on the 2004 figure of 1,072,669.
At the last European Poll 51.72 per cent of people eligible to vote did so, which represented 554,744 votes.
Northern Ireland has seven candidates fighting for the region’s three European Parliamentary seats.
They are Stephen Agnew of the Green Party, Jim Allister of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), Bairbre de Brun of Sinn Féin, Diane Dodds of the DUP, Alban Maginness of the SDLP, Jim Nicholson of the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists, and Ian Parsley of the Alliance party.
The votes cast will be validated at the King’s Hall in Belfast on Sunday before counting starts on Monday morning.
The first results are expected by mid afternoon on Monday.
The Electoral Commission is urging anyone with any questions to call the helpline on 0800 0323 700 or log on to www.aboutmyvote.com.
PA