People testing positive for coronavirus will still be able to vote in person in the upcoming Northern Ireland Assembly election, it has emerged.
Northern Ireland's Chief Electoral Officer, Virginia McVea, told BBC Good Morning Ulster the rules around the issue had been directed by the UK government.
Ms McVea also confirmed there has been no change in the rules regarding postal and proxy voting to make allowances for coronavirus.
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She added that anyone who is vulnerable or has been shielding throughout the pandemic should apply by the deadline of April 12.
In addition, Ms McVea said if voters wake up on May 5 with symptoms or having tested positive for coronavirus, they won't lose their vote.
"You can go to the polling station we are asking you to take every precaution,” she told BBC Radio Ulster.
"For others going into the polling station you will see all of the normal precautions that have come in everywhere else - perspex, automatic hand sanitisers, ventilation.
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"You don’t lose your vote because what government has directed is that people who test positive or who have symptoms may still go to vote.
"That is as the legislation sits. I am dutybound to communicate that to people, people will have different views on that, but that is what the government has directed. That is your choice.”
For the upcoming election on May 5, polling stations will open at 7am and remain open until 10pm that evening.
When asked if individuals can apply for a postal or proxy vote in advance in the event they have coronavirus, Ms McVea said this wasn't possible.
She added: "Anyone is free to apply but what must happen is it can’t be an entirely hypothetical situation. If someone has been shielding or there are mental health issue or other vulnerabilities, it would be reasonable at this point to say ‘I couldn’t expose myself to risk’.
"Government has directed that in Northern Ireland the normal absent vote legislation should apply, so there has been no change in Northern Ireland to make allowance for Covid and that means April 12 is such an important deadline for anyone who has been shielding or who is frail or vulnerable.”
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