West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Mayor Hartley launches Sinn Fein campaign to encourage citizens to register to vote

Published: 31 March, 2009

A glossy leaflet encouraging citizens to register to vote was launched by Sinn Fein councillor Tom Hartley on Tuesday, 31 March.

Andersonstown Sinn Fein representative Pol Deeds and North Belfast Sinn Fein constituency manager Seaneen Baker joined the Belfast Mayor for the launch of the leaflet.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Hartley said:

''We are here today to launch Sinn Fein's leaflet which is being delivered to homes across Belfast to encourage people to apply to get onto the electoral register so that they can exercise a basic human right - the right to vote.

''This leaflet has important information on how people can apply to get onto the register, how to get photographic ID, and how to apply to vote from home if a person is physically unable to make it to the polling station.

''Sinn Fein has, over the past few months, submitted over a thousand registration forms to the Electoral Office on behalf of people in West Belfast.

''Many of these people were refused their rightful place on the electoral register. This is a disgrace.

''In the last year, the Electoral Office has been rejecting much more people than it is adding.

''People have come in their droves to Sinn Fein advice centres and to community organisations to complain that they have been unable to get on the register.

''The Electoral Office should immediately abolish their unnecessary and excessive demands for additional evidence on top of a registration form.

''The access to databases that allows them to verify information received from electoral registration forms should be enough.

''200,000 people are not on the electoral register but are entitled to be. That is a huge indictment on the Electoral Office that must be rectified. The issue is not one of unionist versus nationalist or republican; it is about the right to vote for us all.''

''So, all of this makes this leaflet very important at this time.

''When a person gets this leaflet, they should take the time to read it, to ensure they are on the electoral register and that they have the correct ID to enable them to vote.

''Don't allow yourself to be disenfranchised.

''Your vote is your voice.

''Use it.''