The battle for Northern Ireland's three European Parliament seats is set to intensify today following the closure of nominations.
Seven candidates are bidding to win seats.
Democratic Unionist Mr Jim Allister is due to shift gear in his campaign today with the first appearance of the party's election bus.
The Reverend Ian Paisley's party believes the barrister can continue their leader's tradition of topping the poll in every European election. It is the first European Election the DUP has fought without Mr Paisley as its candidate.
The SDLP is also stepping up its campaign by premiering its election broadcast in west Belfast today. Belfast Lord Mayor Mr Martin Morgan is the party's candidate following former leader Mr John Hume's decision to retire from Strasbourg and Brussels.
However the party faces a stiff challenge from Sinn Féin which is still basking in its success in last November's Assembly Election where it became the second largest party in Northern Ireland behind the DUP.
Ulster Unionist Mr Jim Nicholson is the only Northern Ireland MEP defending a seat.
Former Ulster Farmers' Union president Mr John Gilliland is running as an independent, with the backing of the cross community Alliance Party, the Workers' Party and West Tyrone Assembly member Dr Kieran Deeny.
The Green Party is fielding former Alliance Party member Lindsay Whitcroft as its candidate.
Derry-based journalist Eamonn McCann is also contesting the election as a Socialist Environmental Alliance candidate.