Scottish Elections (Reform) Act 2020

22 Reports on elections: voting by disabled persons at devolved Scottish elections

In section 5 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (reports on elections and referendums), after subsection (2B) insert—

“(2C) Subsection (2D) applies where a report under this section relates to one of the following elections—

(a) a Scottish Parliamentary general election,

(b) an election held under section 9 of the Scotland Act 1998 (constituency vacancies), or

(c) an ordinary election of councillors for local government areas in Scotland.

(2D) The report must include a description of the steps taken by returning officers to assist disabled persons (within the meaning of section 6(2) of the Equality Act 2010) to vote at the election.

(2E) In subsection (2D), “returning officer”—

(a) in the case of a Scottish Parliamentary general election, means an officer who is—

(i) appointed by order in accordance with section 12(1) of the Scotland Act 1998, or

(ii) appointed by order under section 12(6) of that Act,

(b) in the case of an election held under section 9 of that Act, means an officer who is appointed by order in accordance with section 12(1) of that Act,

(c) in the case of an ordinary election of councillors for local government areas in Scotland, means an officer who is appointed under section 41(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983.”.

Miscellaneous”.