European elections: Voting in Northern Ireland

Q Radio news

Polling stations have opened as the European elections get underway. 

11 candidates are standing for 3 seats on offer in Northern Ireland, as part of the 73 available across the United Kingdom. 

There are 614 polling stations across the region with around 1,500 ballot boxes which will remain open until 10pm tonight. 

This election uses the single transferable voting system, so you vote for as many or few candidates as you like.

Rank them in order of preference, with one being your most favorable candidate, two being your second preference and so on.

You'll need to bring Photo ID such as a UK/ Ireland or EU passport, Driving licence, electoral ID card, or Translink smartpass.

You're advised to bring a polling card to speed up the process, but it's not essential. 

A total of 1,278,951 people are eligible to vote in Northern Ireland.

Voting will continue across other parts of Europe this weekend, and the result's can't be counted until all countries have completed their ballots. 

Votes cast in Northern Ireland will be verified before counting gets underway on Monday. 

The eleven candidates hoping to secure your vote are as follows:

• Alliance Party - Naomi Long

• Conservative - Amandeep Bhogal

• Democratic Unionist Party - Diane Dodds

• Green Party - Clare Bailey

• Sinn Féin - Martina Anderson

• Social Democratic and Labour Party - Colum Eastwood

• Traditional Unionist Voice - Jim Allister

• Ulster Unionist Party - Danny Kennedy

• UKIP - Robert Hill

• Independent - Neil McCann

• Independent - Jane Morrice