Representation of the People Act 1983

16 Contents of service declaration. E+W

[F1 (1)] A service declaration shall state—

(a) the date of the declaration.

(b) F2 . . . that on that date the declarant is, or but for the circumstances entitling him to make the declaration would have been, residing in the United Kingdom,

F3 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d) the address where the declarant is or, as the case may be, F4 . . . would have been residing in the United Kingdom or, if he cannot give any such address, an address at which he has resided in the United Kingdom,

(e) that on the date of the declaration the declarant is a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland [F5 or [F6 —

(i) if the declaration is made for the purposes only of the registration of local government electors in England, a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights, or

(ii) if the declaration is made for the purposes only of the registration of local government electors in Wales, a relevant citizen of the Union or a qualifying foreign citizen,]]

(f) whether the declarant had on the date of the declaration attained the age of 18 years, and, if he had not, the date of his birth, and

(g) such particulars (if any) as may be prescribed of the declarant’s identity and service qualifications,

and (except where the declarant is a member of the forces or the [F7 spouse or civil partner] of such a member) shall be attested in the prescribed manner.

[F8 (2) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, a service declaration made by a person claiming to have a service qualification under section 14(1A) does not require to be attested.]

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales; separate versions have been created for Scotland and Northern Ireland only

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 16 renumbered as s. 16(1) (E.W.) (1.6.2020) by Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 (anaw 1), ss. 20(4)(a), 42(3)(a)

F2 Words in s. 16(b) repealed (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, ss. 8(a), 15(2), Sch. 1 para. 9(a), Sch. 7 Pt. I; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F3 S. 16(c) repealed (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, ss. 8(a), 15(2), Sch. 1 para. 9(b), Sch. 7 Pt. I; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F4 Words in s. 16(d) repealed (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, ss. 8(a), 15(2), Sch. 1 para. 9(c), Sch. 7 Pt. I; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F5 Words in s. 16(e) inserted (6.8.1995) by S.I. 1995/1948, regs. 1(2), 5(2), Sch. 2 paras. 3(b), 6

F6 Words in s. 16(1)(e) substituted (E.W.) (7.5.2024) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), s. 67(4)(a), Sch. 8 para. 1(5); S.I. 2023/1145, reg. 5(b) (with Sch. para. 1(3))

F7 Words in s. 16 substituted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 261(1), 263, Sch. 27 para. 81; S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2, Sch. 1

F8 S. 16(2) inserted (E.W.) (1.6.2020) by Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 (anaw 1), ss. 20(4)(c), 42(3)(a)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C10 Ss. 15-17 applied (with modifications) (17.2.1994) by S.I. 1994/342, regs. 1(2)(3), 2(2), 13(3)

16 Contents of service declaration. S

[F9 (1)] A service declaration shall state—

(a) the date of the declaration.

(b) F10 . . . that on that date the declarant is, or but for the circumstances entitling him to make the declaration would have been, residing in the United Kingdom,

F11 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d) the address where the declarant is or, as the case may be, F12 . . . would have been residing in the United Kingdom or, if he cannot give any such address, an address at which he has resided in the United Kingdom,

(e) that on the date of the declaration the declarant is a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland [F13 or [F14 (except where the declaration is made for the purposes only of the registration of local government electors in Scotland] a relevant citizen of the Union] [F15 or (if the declaration is made for the purposes only of the registration of local government electors in Scotland) a qualifying foreign national],

(f) whether the declarant had on the date of the declaration attained the age of 18 years, and, if he had not, the date of his birth, and

(g) such particulars (if any) as may be prescribed of the declarant’s identity and service qualifications,

and (except where the declarant is a member of the forces or the [F16 spouse or civil partner] of such a member) shall be attested in the prescribed manner.

[F17 (2) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Scotland, a service declaration made by a person claiming to have a service qualification under section 14(1A) does not require to be attested.]

Extent Information

E2 This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; separate versions have been created for England and Wales and Northern Ireland only

Textual Amendments

F9 S. 16 renumbered as s. 16(1) (S.) (25.7.2015) by Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Act 2015 (asp 7), ss. 9(4)(a), 21

F10 Words in s. 16(b) repealed (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, ss. 8(a), 15(2), Sch. 1 para. 9(a), Sch. 7 Pt. I; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F11 S. 16(c) repealed (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, ss. 8(a), 15(2), Sch. 1 para. 9(b), Sch. 7 Pt. I; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F12 Words in s. 16(d) repealed (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, ss. 8(a), 15(2), Sch. 1 para. 9(c), Sch. 7 Pt. I; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F13 Words in s. 16(e) inserted (6.8.1995) by S.I. 1995/1948, regs. 1(2), 5(2), Sch. 2 paras. 3(b), 6

F14 Words in s. 16(1)(e) inserted (S.) (3.8.2020) by Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Act 2020 (asp 6), ss. 1(6)(a), 12(2); S.S.I. 2020/162, reg. 2

F15 Words in s. 16(1)(e) inserted (S.) (3.8.2020) by Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Act 2020 (asp 6), ss. 1(6)(b), 12(2); S.S.I. 2020/162, reg. 2

F16 Words in s. 16 substituted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 261(1), 263, Sch. 27 para. 81; S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2, Sch. 1

F17 S. 16(2) inserted (S.) (25.7.2015) by Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Act 2015 (asp 7), ss. 9(4)(b), 21

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C11 Ss. 15-17 applied (with modifications) (17.2.1994) by S.I. 1994/342, regs. 1(2)(3), 2(2), 13(3)

C12 S. 16 applied (with modifications) (S.) (8.8.2013) by Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Act 2013 (asp 13), ss. 6, 13(1), sch. 1 Pts. 1, 2 (with s. 13(2))

C13 S. 16 modified by Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Act 2013 (asp 13), s. 7A(5) (as inserted (S.) (18.12.2013) by Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013 (asp 14), ss. 3(3), 36)

16 Contents of service declaration. N.I.

A service declaration shall state—

(a) the date of the declaration.

(b) F18 . . . that on that date the declarant is, or but for the circumstances entitling him to make the declaration would have been, residing in the United Kingdom,

F19 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d) the address where the declarant is or, as the case may be, F20 . . . would have been residing in the United Kingdom or, if he cannot give any such address, an address at which he has resided in the United Kingdom,

(e) that on the date of the declaration the declarant is a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland [F21 or a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights],

(f) whether the declarant had on the date of the declaration attained the age of 18 years, and, if he had not, the date of his birth, and

(g) such particulars (if any) as may be prescribed of the declarant’s identity and service qualifications,

and (except where the declarant is a member of the forces or the [F22 spouse or civil partner] of such a member) shall be attested in the prescribed manner.

Extent Information

E3 This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; separate versions have been created for England and Wales and Scotland only

Textual Amendments

F18 Words in s. 16(b) repealed (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, ss. 8(a), 15(2), Sch. 1 para. 9(a), Sch. 7 Pt. I; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F19 S. 16(c) repealed (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, ss. 8(a), 15(2), Sch. 1 para. 9(b), Sch. 7 Pt. I; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F20 Words in s. 16(d) repealed (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, ss. 8(a), 15(2), Sch. 1 para. 9(c), Sch. 7 Pt. I; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F21 Words in s. 16(1)(e) substituted (N.I.) (7.5.2024) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), s. 67(4)(c), Sch. 8 para. 1(6); S.I. 2023/1145, reg. 5(b) (with Sch. para. 1(3))

F22 Words in s. 16 substituted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 261(1), 263, Sch. 27 para. 81; S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2, Sch. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C14 Ss. 12–17 extended (N.I) (with modifications) by Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 (c. 3), ss. 2, 13(6), Sch. 1 Pt. I

C15 Ss. 15-17 applied (with modifications) (17.2.1994) by S.I. 1994/342, regs. 1(2)(3), 2(2), 13(3)