Representation of the People Act 1985

1985 CHAPTER 50

An Act to amend the law relating to parliamentary elections in the United Kingdom and local government elections in Great Britain, to provide for combining polls taken on the same date at such elections and elections to the Assembly of the European Communities, to extend the franchise at elections to that Assembly, to amend the law relating to the effect of the demise of the Crown on the summoning and duration of a new Parliament and to repeal section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act 1918.

[16th July 1985]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Act (except ss. 6-10): functions transferred (25.11.2002) by S.I. 2002/2626, art. 11(1), Sch. 1 (with arts. 12, 13)

C2 Act: functions transferred (19.8.2003) by The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1887), art. 4, Sch. 1

C3 Act amended (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 7(2)(e) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 1 Pt. II)

Act applied (2.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/1298, reg. 10(4)

C4 By European Communities (Amendment) Act 1986 (c. 58, SIF 29:5), s. 3(1)-(3) in the long title for the references to the Assembly of the European Communities and the Assembly there are substituted retrospectively references to the European Parliament

C5 In this Act references to constituency to be construed as mentioned in Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (c. 56, SIF 42), s. 1(2)

C6 Act amended (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/1091, reg. 51(6)

C7 Act amended (E.W.) by S.I. 1986/1081, reg. 51(6)

C8 Act applied (with modifications) (31.7.1997) by 1997 c. 61, s. 3, Sch. 3 para. 13 Table 3

Act applied (with modifications) (18.3.1998) by S.I. 1998/746, art. 12, Sch. 1, Table 3

Act applied in part (with modifications) (22.5.1998) by S.I. 1998/1287, art. 3(1)(3), Sch. 1

Act applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (1.2.2002) by S.I. 2002/185, art. 3(2), Sch. 2

C9 Act: Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), s. 46(1)-(4) to be construed as one with this Act (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by virtue of Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 46(5), 77; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(v) (subject to art. 6 and with Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2(2), 4(s)

C10 Act: power to amend conferred (1.1.2007) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 72(2)(b), 77; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 10 (subject to art. 6 and with Sch. 2)

C11 Act: power to modify conferred by Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32), s. 4(4), the amending provision coming into force immediately after "the 2007 election" (held on 3.5.2007) subject to s. 161(4)(5) of the amending Act, which provides for certain provisions to come into force for specified purposes immediately after the end of "the initial period" (which ended with the day of the first appointment of a First Minister on 25.5.2007) - see ss. 46, 161(1)(4)(5) of the amending Act (with Sch. 11 para. 22)

C12 Act: power to modify conferred by Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32), s. 13(4)(5), the amending provision coming into force immediately after "the 2007 election" (held on 3.5.2007) subject to s. 161(4)(5) of the amending Act, which provides for certain provisions to come into force for specified purposes immediately after the end of "the initial period" (which ended with the day of the first appointment of a First Minister on 25.5.2007) - see ss. 46, 161(1)(4)(5) of the amending Act (with Sch. 11 para. 22)

C13 Act applied (with modifications) (27.3.2007) by The Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1024), reg. 3, Sch. 2 (as amended (31.12.2020) by S.I. 2018/1310, reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 7)

C14 Act certain functions made exercisable concurrently (18.8.2010) by Lord President of the Council Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1837), arts. 1(2), 3

C15 Act power to apply or incorporate (with modifications) conferred (15.9.2011) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 58(1)-(3)(7)

C16 Act power to apply or incorporate (with modifications) conferred (25.4.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 54(2)-(5), 157(1); S.I. 2012/1129, art. 2(b)

C17 Act functions transferred (22.6.2015) by The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1376), arts. 1(2), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 9)

C18 Act functions transferred (9.11.2016) by The Transfer of Functions (Elections, Referendums, Third Sector and Information) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/997), arts. 1(2), 3(1), Sch. 1(b) (with arts. 3(2), 6, 12)

C19 Act applied (with modifications) (31.1.2017) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/67), art. 3(2)-(4), Sch. 2 (as amended: (31.12.2020) by S.I. 2018/1310, reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 14; and (7.2.2024) by S.I. 2024/131, regs. 1(3), 12(3)

C20 Act: power to apply (with modifications) conferred by 1998 c. 46, s. 12(4)(5) (as substituted (18.5.2017) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 4(1), 72(4)(a); S.I. 2017/608, reg. 2(1)(b))