Home > 1. The principles of Europe's electoral heritage > UNITED KINGDOM - Opinion on the Electoral Law
 
 
 
Download file    
 
 
Paragraph 84
 
 
84.  In Northern Ireland, the postal ballot shall be taken to be duly returned when a) it is returned in the proper envelope and in the proper time-limit, and is accompanied by the declaration of identity duly signed, and (b) that declaration of identity states the date of birth of the elector and the returning officer is satisfied that the date stated corresponds with the date supplied as the date of the elector’s birth in the register. The declaration of identity referred shall be taken not to be duly signed unless the returning officer is satisfied that the signature on the declaration corresponds with the signature supplied as the elector’s signature on the register (Rule 45, Schedule 1, Representation of the People Act 1983). All postal votes in Northern Ireland are checked for the correct signature and date of birth, rather than the 20% minimum checked in Great Britain.