Final statistics for the recent electoral canvass show that Newry and Armagh now has the highest recorded eligible electorate. Figures released by the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland illustrate that 78,958 from a potential 85,101 voters in the constituency have registered constituting a total of 92.78 per cent of the potential electorate. The South Down constituency also has one of the highest eligible electorates for the forth coming elections with 74,758 of potential 82,269 (90.87 per cent) registering to vote. Both Newry and Armagh and South Down are above the Northern Ireland average of 88.3 per cent and are significantly higher than the lowest constituency Belfast South which sits at a low 70.5 per cent. Wards within Newry and Armagh threw up some interesting with 100.19 per cent and 105 per cent eligible electors in Kileen and Creggan respectively now eligible to vote. Graham Shields Chief Electoral Officer explained that the estimated eligible population figure for each of the electoral wards is provided by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NIRSA) on the basis of figures extrapolated from the 2011 census. “The estimated figures provide the most accurate assessment of the number of people who are believed to be eligible to appear on the electoral register in each ward: it is not possible to give an exact figure because there is no definitive completely up to date source from which to draw such information,” he said. “For this reason the actual number of people registered may (in a relatively small number of occasions) actually exceed the projected number of eligible electors resident in a ward.” Figures ion some of the wards within Newry’s city boundaries show a low number of voters registered with only 82.77 per cent registered in Ballybot, 84.48 per cent in Drumalane and 85.73 per cent in Drumgullion. Bessbrook is the lowest of the wards in South Armagh at 86.2 per cent and this pales in comparison to wards with a high level registration such as Camlough at 98.16 per cent and Silverbridge at 97.31 per cent. Figures in local wards in South Down constituency also varied with Rathfriland showing 86.16 per cent compared to the much higher registration in Burren and Kilbroney (93.42 per cent).
11th December 2013
Newry Reporter
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