§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps were taken by Her Majesty's 296W Government to monitor the numbers of electors unable to vote due to lack of identification in the 1985 local government elections and in the 1986 by-elections; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottMinisters received reports and representations from a wide range of Northern Ireland politicians, the chief Electoral Officer and others involved in the electoral process. There is no evidence that turn-out was significantly affected by the introduction of the specified document requirement.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken since 1985 to inform the public about new requirements for voting in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottIn the weeks preceding the Northern Ireland district council elections in May 1985, the Government mounted an extensive public information campaign to advise electors of the need to produce a specified document before receiving a ballot paper. The campaign included distribution of an explanatory leaflet to all Northern Ireland households; the provision of a further 100,000 leaflets and posters in public buildings and offices; frequent broadcasts on local radio and television; and advertisments in all Northern Ireland newspapers. A further campaign was mounted before the Parliamentary by-elections on 23 January 1986. On both occasions, explanations of the new voting requirements were also included in the Chief Electoral Officer's pre-election publicity campaign.