High Street vouchers: ‘sign up to electoral register’

ECONOMY Minister, Gordon Lyons, has urged people to sign up to the electoral register in order to help verification for the High Street £100 Voucher Scheme.

The Minister said, “I want to ensure as many of those who are eligible can access my department’s High Street Scheme and their pre-paid card worth £100. The additional spending power been given to consumers through the scheme will help to give our local businesses and high streets a much needed boost after the impact of Covid-19.

“I would therefore urge members of the public to sign up for the electoral register if they have not already done so as we plan to use this as one of the databases to check registrations for the High Street Scheme and it is the quickest and easiest way to check an applicant’s details. If you are on the current electoral register your identity can still be checked.”

According to the Electoral Office for NI, the deadline for applying to be added to the September 1 Register is today (August 10).

A spokesperson for EONI said, “If you have applied to register from July 1 you do not need to re-apply in connection with the High Street Voucher Scheme.

“The scheme will have its own application process and the Electoral Register as at September 1 will be purchased by the Department for the Economy for the detection of fraud in accordance with Regulation 111 of the Representation of the People (NI) Regulations 2008.”

Mr Lyons said the process was very easy and should take no longer than five minutes to complete online.

He added, “The details you need include information such as your name, address and national insurance number. For more information and to register click here.

“I will be announcing further details on eligibility and how you can apply for your pre-paid card in the very near future.”