Northern Ireland: Electoral Register

House of Lords written question – answered at on 7 March 2005.

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Photo of Lord Maginnis of Drumglass Lord Maginnis of Drumglass Crossbench

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many canvassers are employed by the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland in connection with the annual canvass of electors; what are their duties; and what is the cost of this operation.

Photo of Baroness Amos Baroness Amos President of the Council, Privy Council Office, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lords (Privy Council Office)

In 2004 930 canvassers were employed by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. Their duties were:

to call at each household within a specified area to hand deliver pre-addressed individual electoral registration forms; where contact with a member of the household was achieved, to explain the registration process, to provide new or additional forms to accommodate changes to the information for that household on the then current register, and to obtain a signature as proof of delivery; where no contact was made, to deliver the individual electoral registration forms for that household and guidance notes; to review the then current database of residential properties in the allocated area and to update the information held accordingly; to revisit each household within 10 days of the delivery date to collect the forms and to check that they are fully completed; to assist electors with queries regarding the completion of the form; where no contact was made, to leave additional forms, guidance notes and a Freepost return envelope; and to make a weekly visit to the local area electoral office to submit all collected forms.

The cost of this operation in 2004 was £829,000.

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