Northern Ireland

Late surge in voter registration 'biggest ever'

Virginia McVea said around 73,500 names had been added to the electoral register since November 7
Virginia McVea said around 73,500 names had been added to the electoral register since November 7 Virginia McVea said around 73,500 names had been added to the electoral register since November 7

THE number of people in Northern Ireland registered to vote has surged by more than five per cent over the past three weeks, according to the Electoral Office.

Chief electoral officer Virginia McVea said around 73,500 names had been added to the electoral register since November 7.

She said recent registration was the "biggest ever".

The figure represents an increase of almost six per cent in little under three weeks.

In recent months the Electoral Office has held a series of clinic in an effort to encourage more people to register to vote.

Ahead of May's European and council election, the total number registered to vote was 1,279,000.

By Tuesday night's deadline to register there were expected to be in the region of 1,378,000 people eligible to vote.

According to the Electoral Reform Society, more than 3.1m people have applied to register to vote across the UK since the general election was called at the end of October.