Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Electoral Registration Story - Easier to Register in Birmingham, Alabama than Newry/Armagh

Published: 13 February, 2009

Newry /Armagh Sinn Fein MP & MLA, Conor Murphy has commented after the revelation that it is easier to get onto the electoral register in Birmingham, Alabama, than it is to get on the register in the North of Ireland.

Mr Murphy said:

''Sinn Fein contacted officials in the Elections Division of the Office of the Alabama Secretary of State to enquire about the process involved in getting onto the electoral register in Alabama.

''Alabama election official Brandon Walters confirmed that extra identification evidence is not required in Alabama on top of filling in a registration form.

''In the 1960s Birmingham, Alabama, was the centre of the Civil Rights struggle for African Americans. It was a place where discrimination was institutional.

''Now today we find that the process involved in getting registered in Alabama is much simpler and easier than the process in the North of Ireland.

''All you need to do in Alabama to get on the register is fill in an electoral registration form and send it in.

''Yet here, in the North of Ireland, even after filling in a registration form and providing their name, address, date of birth, national insurance number and signature, people are still been denied their place on the register.

''This is unacceptable and is a clear denial of the right to vote and we have to question the motives of the Electoral Office which is accountable to, and funded by, the NIO and is therefore not independent.

''The Electoral Office has access to lists of deaths, people who will be turning 18, Central Services Agency, Council and NIHE databases which deal with changes of address. This access to information should allow the Electoral Office to track changes themselves.

''Many people are turned off by the complex process involved in getting registered. These are largely people from disadvantaged areas, who already feel detached from the system.

''The Electoral Office must end their excessive demands on individuals for unnecessary additional evidence and they must prioritise getting those people who are not on the electoral register onto the register.

''In particular, the Electoral Office needs to be proactive in bringing forward initiatives to bring increased numbers of people from disadvantaged areas onto the electoral register.

''These are the people who are suffering most from the excessive demands of the Electoral Office.''

''I am sure that people in Newry and Armagh will be shocked and alarmed that it is easier to register to vote in Birmingham, Alabama, once the centre of discrimination against African Americans, than it is to register in the North of Ireland.'' ENDS