The Act
7.In particular the Act requires a canvass form and an application for voter registration to be signed by, and to include the date of birth and national insurance number (or a statement that he does not have a national insurance number) of, each of the persons to whom the form or application relates.
8.The photographic electoral-ID card provided for by the Act is added to the list of specified documents. It is proposed to replace all non-photographic ID on the list of specified documents before the scheduled Northern Ireland Assembly Election on 1 May 2003 (though the Act makes no provision to this effect). Thereafter the electoral-ID card, the passport, the driving licence and the Senior SmartPass will be the only ID acceptable at the polling station. No one will be disenfranchised until they have had every reasonable opportunity to acquire photographic ID.
9.The Act also enables the presiding officer to ask a voter (who is not a proxy) an additional statutory question – “what is your date of birth?” at the polling station. He can then check the answer given against the date of birth on the specified document and the information provided by the elector at the time of registration. This will facilitate identification of the voter.