NI voters are urged to register

The elections have been moved to 5 May

Northern Ireland voters have been urged to be registered before May's local elections.

Successive registers have seen a dip in the numbers of people on the register, according to the Electoral Commission.

More than 200,000 people have failed to register to vote in Northern Ireland, it said.

The commission has launched a campaign specifically targeting "those groups who are most disenfranchised from the registration process".

These include those living in socially disadvantaged areas, ethnic minority groups and young people.

The Electoral Commission said it had embarked on an intensive multi-media campaign aimed at increasing the numbers on the electoral register in time for the local council election on 5 May.

I would urge all those who have not registered to do so as soon as possible Seamus Magee Electoral Commission

Local government elections in Northern Ireland were brought forward.

They had originally been due to happen later in May but had been changed to bring the date into line with the rest of the UK.

The move added to speculation that a general election would be called for the same date.

Voting population

Seamus Magee, head of the Electoral Commission's office in Northern Ireland, said: "The campaign uses a variety of media to reach the electorate, including radio and television advertising.

"I would urge all those who have not registered to do so as soon as possible."

He said the number of those people not registered amounted to about 16% of the voting population.

"It is a very significant number. There are many reasons why people aren't registered.

"We have house-movers in Northern Ireland, we have people who are generally apathetic about the political process, we have people who are confused about the individual registration process that takes place on an annual basis.

"The campaign is aimed at targeting those particular groups."

Registration forms are available by calling the Electoral Commission's helpline on 0800 0323 700 or can be downloaded from the Electoral Office website.