A grand total of 136 candidates are slated to run in Northern Ireland’s upcoming general election on July 4th, according to the Electoral Office. This marks an increase from the 102 candidates who ran in the previous such election five years ago. Just two of the major political parties in Northern Ireland – the SDLP and Alliance – will run in all of the region’s 18 constituencies.
Sinn Féin will not participate in the constituencies of Belfast South and Mid Down, Belfast East, Lagan Valley, or North Down. The Democratic Unionist Party will not run in Fermanagh and South Tyrone or North Down but will compete in the other 16 seats. The Ulster Unionist Party will run in 17 constituencies, with leader Doug Beattie publicly confirming that the party would avoid running a contender in Belfast North.
Meanwhile, after not running any candidates in the last general election, the Traditional Unionist Voice Party will field 14 candidates, who sought to run under the joint banner of “TUV/Reform UK” but were denied by the Electoral Office and are standing instead under “TUV no sea border”. Other major parties running include the Green Party in eleven areas, People Before Profit with three candidates, and the Northern Ireland Conservative Party with candidates in five constituencies.
While nine independent candidates are running, the election will see a total of 45 women standing for office, representing about 30% of all candidates. This is an increase from the 28 women who contested the election in 2019. The deadline to register to vote is June 18th, and postal or proxy vote applications must be received by June 14th. The general election is set to take place on July 4th, with voting from 7 am until 10 pm BST
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