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Written question asked by Lady Hermon (Ulster Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 17 May 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 May 2005. It was answered by Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 June 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Voting (General Election)

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of those eligible to vote in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland who were unable to vote at the general election on 5 May as a result of not having a correct form of identification.
Answer

According to figures provided by the Chief Electoral Officer, 3,818 electors were originally turned away from polling stations without valid photographic identification. Of those electors, 1,555 subsequently returned before the close of poll with an alternative, correct form of ID and were able to cast their vote. The remaining 2,263 electors were unable to vote because of a failure to produce valid identification.The totals recorded for those who were originally turned away, per constituency, were as follows:

Constituency Number originally turnedaway for invalid ID
Belfast, East 162
Belfast, North 193
Belfast, South 187
Belfast, West 164
East Antrim 167
East Londonderry 174
Fermanagh and South Tyrone 368
Foyle 199
Lagan Valley 163
Mid-Ulster 239
Newry and Armagh 352
North Antrim 301
North Down 124
South Antrim 175
South Down 187
Strangford 166
Upper Bann 263
West Tyrone 234
Total 3,818

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
323; 435 c1587-8W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
General elections Northern Ireland General Election 2005