Fans plead with Electoral Office to reopen Postal Votes as they vote to travel to Ibrox

Football fans in the north east of Ireland are lobbying the Electoral Office to reopen postal voting in order that they can vote on a day that they will be in Scotland. 

Thursday May 5 has long been established as Polling Day for the Assembly but that date seems to have caught some fans on the hop. 

As they cheered their side to an extra-time victory over Braga last week they were left with the dilemma of whether to leave before 8am for the semi-final or whether to stay at home and take part in the election. 

Rather than make that choice it seems that some fans want the Electoral Office to reopen postal voting especially for themselves. 

The Belfast Telegraph reports: 

Thousands of Rangers supporters in Northern Ireland are waiting to hear from the Electoral Office amid fears they will be denied the opportunity to vote in the Assembly election. 

Rangers play their Europa League semi-final second leg against German side RB Leipzig on May 5. 

But because the Glasgow side only qualified last Thursday night, supporters missed the deadline to apply for postal and proxy votes, which was last Tuesday. 

Now fans are hoping political parties can put pressure on the Electoral Office to allow them the opportunity to vote. Barring a late change of heart, unionist parties could miss out on crucial votes.