Concern at ID confusion in NI elections

Polling got under way today for Northern Ireland’s crucial Assembly election, with parties insisting that voting was following traditional patterns.

Polling stations opened at 7am in 18 six-seat constituencies.

Several parties reported that there was an initial rush to the polls, but that was beginning to slow down as children were taken to school and voters began work.

Voters in Northern Ireland were being asked to produce photographic identification at polling stations, prompting concerns amongst some parties - most notably Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionists – that there could be confusion among the electorate about what ID they should use.

Among the identification required at polling booths were drivers’ licences, passports, senior citizens’ travel passes or a special voter identification card.

Northern Ireland’s Electoral Office warned voters that medical cards could not be used as a means of identification.

A DUP source said: “We will have to wait and see how the voter identification requirement goes today.

“Parties will be watching very closely to see what kind of confusion it causes.

“But there is an expectation that it will hit working class areas in particular.”

In Portadown, in Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble’s Upper Bann constituency, there was a steady turnout in polling stations.

The DUP source said: “In my area 105 people had cast their vote in one rural polling station but that would follow traditional voting patterns.

“That would be commuters trying to get their votes in early as they head to Belfast for work.”

In Carryduff, SDLP election workers were engaged in an early morning leaflet drop around homes to encourage voters to turn out.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan was due to tour the 18 constituencies after casting his vote in Derry.

“There are leaflet drops taking place in constituencies right across the North,” a party spokesman said.

“This is part of an unprecedented effort to get the vote out.”

Mr Trimble today cast his vote in the Lagan Valley constituency where his chief critic Jeffrey Donaldson is standing.

Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley was voting in East Belfast.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was due to vote this morning in his West Belfast constituency, before taking part in an Australian radio interview to promote his latest book.

A spokesman for Mr Adams said: “We are trying to ensure that there is a steady flow of voters.

“When Gerry finishes his interview, we will be reviewing how the vote is going right across the Six Counties.

“Then Gerry will take to the streets as he usually does to urge people in Belfast to cast their votes for Sinn Féin.”

A total of 256 candidates are vying for 108 seats at Stormont.

The election was taking place against the background of direct rule from Westminster following the suspension of the Stormont Assembly in October last year.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are expected to review the Assembly election results when they meet in Cardiff on Friday.

Polling stations were due to close at 10pm.

Ballots will be counted tomorrow and on Friday, with the seats decided under Northern Ireland’s complex proportional representation system.