All set for Westminster Election - A list of the Candidates

The selection of the future MP for Newry and Armagh or South Down is in your hands!

Polling day is approaching rapidly, bringing to an end for another while all those political flyers landing on your doormat and the constant knocking doors as prospective candidates jostle for position as your favourite for the job. 

Thursday 4 July is election day for the UK Parliamentary elections and polling stations are open from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm on the day.

Eight candidates have put their names forward for Newry and Armagh while nine have stood in the South Down electoral area. Remember it's a 'first past the post' election so you just need to place an X beside the candidate of your choice.

The Candidates

Newry and Armagh

1. Pete Byrne - Social Democratic & Labour Party (SDLP)
2. Dáire Hughes - Sinn Féin
3. Sam Nicholson - Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
4. Keith Ratcliffe - Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV)
5. Samantha Rayner - Conservative and Unionist Party
6. Liam Reichenberg - Aontú
7. Gareth Wilson - Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
8. Helena Young - Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

South Down

1. Diane Forsythe - Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
2. Chris Hazzard - Sinn Féin
3. Rosemary McGlone - Aontú
4. Colin McGrath - Social Democratic & Labour Party (SDLP)
5. Andrew McMurray - Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
6. Michael O'Loan - Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
7. Declan Walsh - Green Party
8. Jim Wells - Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV)
9. Hannah Westropp - Conservative and Unionist Party

When voting at a polling station here you are required to present acceptable photographic identification. The identity document does not need to be current.

Accepted ID

• A UK, Irish or EEA driving licence (photographic part) (provisional accepted)
• A UK or Irish passport (including the Irish Passport Card)
• An Electoral Identity Card
• A Translink Half Fare SmartPass
• A Translink Senior SmartPass
• A Translink 60+ SmartPass
• A Translink War Disablement SmartPass
• A Translink Registered Blind SmartPass
• A Biometric Immigration Document

The identification document does not need to be current, but the photograph must be of a good enough likeness to allow polling station staff to confirm your identity. It also doesn’t matter if the identity document has a different address to your current address on the register.

The Count

The Newry and Armagh and South Down counts will take place at South Lakes Leisure Centre in Craigavon and of course Columba O'Hare and Paul Welsh will be there to represent Newry.ie, no doubt  drinking endless coffee and eating a ridiculous amount of junk food.

Counting will begin at 10pm on Thursday night with it continuing through the night. Lagan Valley and Upper Bann counts are also taking place at the centre.