Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly will be held on 5 May, 2011.
The Northern Ireland Assembly is made up of 108 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Six MLAs are elected in each of the 18 UK Parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland.
Political Party profiles: We take a look at the history of the political parties running candidates in the Assembly elections. More...
Constituency profiles: A closer look at the 18 UK Parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland. More...
State of play for nationalist parties: The battle for the unionist vote is largely between the DUP and the UUP. However, there is scope for the Traditional Unionist Voice to make an impact in North Antrim, where the Paisley name will be absent from the ballot paper for the first time in decades. Listen...
State of play for unionist parties: Sinn Féin won 28 seats in the 2007 election, just eight fewer than the DUP. This time round, there is talk of Sinn Féin getting more seats than any other party. Listen...
Powers
The Assembly represents the people of Northern Ireland and has the power to make decisions and pass laws in the following areas:
- agriculture and rural development
- culture and the arts
- economic development
- education and training
- the environment
- health and social services
- housing
- industry, trade and investment
- local government
- sport and leisure
- tourism
- town and country planning
- transport and roads
- water and flood defence
Justice and policing responsibilities, which were traditionally reserved matters, were transferred to Northern Ireland from Westminster in April 2010.
Areas such as defence and taxation are excepted matters, which means they remain the responsibility of the UK Parliament.
Voting system
The voting system used in Northern Ireland is called the single transferable vote (STV) system.
In the first stage of counting the votes, first preference votes are counted and a quota is calculated - the minimum number of votes a candidate must have to be elected.
Any candidate with a number of first preference votes equal to or higher than the quota is elected.
If fewer than six candidates are elected, the surplus votes are transferred to second preference candidates.
If there are still seats unfilled because six candidates have not reached the quota, candidates with the lowest number of votes are eliminated and their votes transferred to second preference candidates.
The process continues until all six seats are filled.
Local Elections
Elections to the councils will also take place on 5 May.
There are 26 local councils in Northern Ireland and 582 councillors.
Each local council is responsible for providing a range of public services including waste management, sports and leisure facilities and tourism.
Note: More information from the UK Electoral Commission
