The Representation of the People (Postal Vote Handling etc.) (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Statutory Instruments

2024 No. 319

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE, NORTHERN IRELAND

The Representation of the People (Postal Vote Handling etc.) (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Made

5th March 2024

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2) and (4)

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 13BA, 13BC, 53(1)(c) and 201(3) of, and rules 24(1)(c), 31A, 45(2)(a), 55(1)(f) and 57(3) of Schedule 1 and paragraphs 12(b) and (c) and 12ZB of Schedule 2 to, the Representation of the People Act 1983(1), section 15(5) of the Representation of the People Act 1985(2), section 34(4) and (6) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998(3) and paragraph 13(1) and (2) of Schedule 8 to the Elections Act 2022(4).

The Secretary of State has consulted the Electoral Commission in accordance with section 7(1) and (2)(e) and (h) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000(5).

In accordance with section 201(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1983(6), section 96(2)(b) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998(7) and paragraph 13(4) of Schedule 8 to the Elections Act 2022, a draft of this instrument was laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

(1)

1983 c. 2. Section 13BA was inserted by section 6(2) of the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33). Section 13BC was inserted by paragraph 7 of Schedule 2 to the Recall of MPs Act 2015 (c. 25). Section 201(3) was inserted by paragraph 21 of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (c. 2) and amended by paragraph 6(7)(d) of Schedule 21 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41). Rule 24 was substituted by section 37 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22). Rule 28(3) was amended by paragraph 70(3) of Schedule 1 to the Electoral Administration Act 2006. Rule 31A was inserted by section 45(2) of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 and amended by S.I. 2014/1116. Rule 45(2) was amended by paragraph 10(4)(b) of Schedule 6 to the Representation of the People Act 2000, section 3(4)(c) of the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 13) and section 5(2) and (4)(b) of the Elections Act 2022 (c. 37). Rule 55(1)(f) was inserted by section 45(3) of the Electoral Administration Act 2006. Rule 57(3) was substituted by section 41(5)(b) of the Electoral Administration Act 2006. Paragraph 12(b) of Schedule 1 was substituted by paragraph 3 of Schedule 6 to the Representation of the People Act 2000. Paragraph 12ZB of Schedule 2 was inserted by section 5(5) of the Elections Act 2022. See section 202(1) for the meaning of “prescribed” in rules 24(1)(c), 31A, 45(2)(b) and 55(1)(f) of Schedule 1.

(2)

1985 c. 50.

(3)

1998 c. 47.

(4)

2022 c. 37.

(5)

2000 c. 41.

(6)

Section 201(2) was substituted by paragraph 69 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50) and amended by paragraph 6(7)(b) of Schedule 21 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, section 13(2) of the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 (c. 13), paragraph 1(9)(a) of Schedule 8 to the Elections Act 2022 and S.I. 1991/1728.

(7)

Amendments have been made to section 96(2), but none is relevant.