Nominations have closed for the Stormont Assembly elections to be held on May 5th.
Details of the numbers of nominations are being compiled and will be released shortly. There are 108 seats in 18 constituencies, each of which will return six members.
Electors will use the single transferable vote version of proportional representation (PR-STV). Unlike Dáil Éireann elections, the Speaker is not automatically returned.
Voters are also electing new local councils across Northern Ireland.
Some 582 council seats are up for election across the North's 26 councils. This election will also be held using the PR-STV system of voting.
A referendum on the voting system for Westminster parliamentary elections is also being put to a referendum across Northern Ireland and Britain.
The referendum is being called as a result of the coalition agreement between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
Voters will be given the option of changing from the current first-past-the-post system to the alternative vote (AV).
This retains the UK's single-member constituency system for parliament. However, it means a successful candidate has to reach a 50 per cent share of support before being deemed elected.
If the measure is passed, voters will cease placing the traditional 'X' opposite their favoured candidate. Instead, they will number their preferences as if in a proportional representation election.
More than one count will be needed if the leading candidate does not make the 50 per cent threshold to be deemed elected on the first count.
Constituency boundaries in Northern Ireland are being reviewed and the results will be published most likely within two years.
The 18 constituencies are likely to be reduced to 16 which will result in a significant redrawing of boundaries. The result of this review is not linked to the outcome of the electoral system referendum.