Statutory Instruments
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE, ENGLAND AND WALES
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE, NORTHERN IRELAND
POLICE, ENGLAND AND WALES
Made
15th April 2024
Laid before Parliament
16th April 2024
Coming into force
7th May 2024
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 203A(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1983(1).
In accordance with section 203A(2)(c) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, the requirements of section 20 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010(2) have been met in respect of the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Denmark on the Participation in Certain Elections of Nationals of each Country resident in the Territory of the Other, signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 8th February 2024.
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Representation of the People Act 1983 (Amendment of Schedule 6A) Regulations 2024, and come into force on 7th May 2024.
(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
2. In the Representation of the People Act 1983, in Schedule 6A (list of countries a citizen of which may be a “qualifying EU citizen”), after the last entry in the list, insert—
“5. Denmark”
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Simon Hoare
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
15th April 2024
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations add Denmark to Schedule 6A to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2) (“the Act”) with effect from 7th May 2024, pursuant to a voting and candidacy rights treaty between Denmark and the UK signed on 8th February 2024. Adding Denmark to Schedule 6A means that from 7th May 2024 a citizen of Denmark who is legally resident in the UK will qualify as a “qualifying EU citizen” (as that term is defined in section 203A of the Act), and will be eligible (subject to other standard eligibility requirements) to vote and stand as a candidate in local elections in England and Northern Ireland, and in Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen.
1983 c. 2. Section 203A(2) was inserted by paragraph 1 of Schedule 8 to the Elections Act 2022 (c. 37). See section 203A(5) for the meaning of “qualifying country”, “ratification” and “relevant treaty”.