The Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001

1. Introductory Text

2. PART I GENERAL, INTERPRETATION AND MISCELLANEOUS

   1. 1. Citation, commencement and extent

   2. 2. Revocations

   3. 3. Interpretation

   4. 4. Forms

   5. 5. Communication of applications, notices etc.

   6. 6. Electronic signatures and related certificates

   7. 7. Copies of documents

   8. 8. Time

   9. 9. Official poll card and postal poll card at parliamentary elections

   10. 10. Return and declaration of election expenses

   11. 11. Interference with notices etc.

   12. 12. Device referred to in rule 29(3A) (b) of parliamentary elections rules

   13. 13. Registration of European Parliamentary overseas electors

3. PART II SERVICE AND OVERSEAS ELECTORS' DECLARATIONS

   1. Service declarations

      1. 14. Qualification for Crown servant

      2. 15. Contents of service declaration

      3. 16. Transmission of service declaration

      4. 17. Notification by registration officer in respect of service declarations

   2. Overseas electors' declarations

      1. 18. Contents of overseas elector’s declaration

      2. 19. Certain declarants to supply copy of birth certificates

      3. 20. Attestation of certain overseas electors' declarations

      4. 21. Transmission of overseas elector’s declaration

      5. 22. Notification about registration as overseas elector

4. PART III REGISTRATION

   1. Information about electors

      1. 23. Power to require information

      2. 24. Evidence as to age and nationality

      3. 25. Reminders to electors registered pursuant to a declaration

      4. 25A. Reminders to persons who have an anonymous entry

      5. 26. Applications for registration

      6. 26A. Application for alteration of register in respect of name under section 10ZD

      7. 26B. Power to request additional evidence where certain information is unavailable or where the registration officer considers it necessary

      8. 27. Objections to registration

      9. 28. Inspection of applications and objections

   2. Determination of applications and objections

      1. 29ZA. Verification of information provided in an application

      2. 29ZB. Processing of information provided in connection with an application under section 10ZC or 10ZD

      3. 29. Procedure for determining applications for registration and objections without a hearing

      4. 30. Notice of hearing

      5. 31. Hearing of applications and objections

      6. 31A. Objections relating to applications that have been allowed, but before alterations to register have taken effect

      7. 31B. Other determinations by registration officer of entitlement to registration

      8. 31C. Summary procedure for determining in specified circumstances person has ceased to satisfy conditions for registration

      9. 31D. Procedure for reviewing entitlement to registration

      10. 31E. List of reviews

      11. 31F. Hearings of reviews

      12. 31FA. Determinations of entitlement to remain registered during the annual canvass

      13. 31G. Anonymous registration: applications and declarations

      14. 31H. Anonymous registration: determination of applications by registration officer

      15. 31I. Anonymous registration: evidence consisting of relevant court orders or injunctions

      16. 31J. Anonymous registration: evidence by attestation

      17. 32. Registration appeals

      18. 32ZA. Annual canvass

      19. 32ZB. Steps to be taken by a registration officer where no information in response to an annual canvass form is received in respect of a particular address

      20. 32ZC. Invitations to apply for registration

      21. 32ZD. Steps to be taken by a registration officer to encourage a person to make an application for registration in response to an invitation to do so

      22. 32ZE. Requiring a person to make an application for registration

      23. 32ZF. Notice of Civil Penalty

      24. 32ZG. Payment, enforcement and cancellation of civil penalty

      25. 32ZH. Review of registration officer’s decision to impose a civil penalty

      26. 32ZI. Appeals to the First-tier Tribunal against a notice of civil penalty

      27. 32A. Representations regarding clerical errors

      28. 33. Circumstances when the power in section 10A(5)(b) of the 1983 Act applies

      29. 34. Retaining entries in register

      30. 35. Registration officer’s right to inspect certain records

      31. 35A. Disclosure of certain local authorities’ records

      32. 36. Notices in connection with registration

      33. 36A. Communication of notices made on polling day

      34. 37. Notice by registration officer of a change of address

   3. The register

      1. 38. Separate part of a register for each parliamentary polling district

      2. 39. Different letter for each parliamentary polling district

      3. 40. Qualifying addresses which are not included in the register

      4. 41. Order of names

      5. 41A. Anonymous entries

      6. 42. Marking of names

      7. 43. Publication of register

      8. 44. Information about register

      9. 45. Preparation and publication of list of overseas electors

      10. 45A. Record of anonymous entries

      11. 45B. Duties of registration officer and his staff in relation to record of anonymous entries

      12. 45C. Supply of record of anonymous entries to returning and counting officers

      13. 45D. Supply of record of anonymous entries in connection with summoning of juries

      14. 45E. Supply of record of anonymous entries to the security services

      15. 45F. Supply of the record of anonymous entries to police forces and other organisations

      16. 45G. Certificate of anonymous registration

      17. 45H. Certificate of anonymous registration prescribed for purposes of paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 2A

      18. 46. Supply of free copies of register and list of overseas electors otherwise than on request

      19. 47. Supply of free copies of register and list of overseas electors on request

      20. 48. Sale of register and list of overseas electors

      21. 49. Supply of register and list of overseas electors in data form

5. PART IV ABSENT VOTERS

   1. 50. Interpretation of Part IV

   2. 51. General requirements for applications for an absent vote

   3. 51A. Additional provision concerning the requirement that an application for an absent vote must be signed by the applicant

   4. 51AA. Additional requirement for applications for ballot papers to be sent to different address from that stated in application

   5. 51B. Additional requirements for applications for ballot papers to be sent to different address from that shown in the record kept under paragraph 3(4) or 7(6) of Schedule 4

   6. 52. Additional requirements for applications for the appointment of a proxy

   7. 53. Additional requirements for applications for a proxy vote for a definite or indefinite period on grounds of blindness or any other disability

   8. 54. Additional requirements for applications for a proxy vote for a definite or indefinite period based on occupation, service, employment or attendance on a course

   9. 55. Additional requirements for applications for a proxy vote in respect of a particular election

   10. 55A. Additional requirements for application for an emergency proxy vote in respect of a particular election

   11. 56. Closing date for applications

   12. 57. Grant or refusal of applications

   13. 58. Notice of appeal

   14. 59. Cancellation of proxy appointment

   15. 60. Inquiries by registration officer

   16. 60A. Requirement to provide fresh signatures at five yearly intervals

   17. 60B. Requirement to provide fresh signatures following rejection of a postal voting statement

   18. 61. Records and lists kept under Schedule 4

   19. 61A. Conditions on the use, supply and inspection of absent voter records or lists

   20. 61B. The personal identifiers record

   21. 61C. Notification of a rejected postal voting statement

   22. 62. Marked register for polling stations

   23. 63. Certificate of employment at a parliamentary election

   24. 63A. Corresponding number lists

6. PART V ISSUE AND RECEIPT OF POSTAL BALLOT PAPERS

   1. 64. Interpretation of Part V

   2. Issue of Postal Ballot Papers

      1. 65. Combination of polls

      2. 66. Form of postal voting statement

      3. 67. Persons entitled to be present at proceedings on issue of postal ballot papers

      4. 68. Persons entitled to be present at proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers

      5. 69. Agents of candidates who may attend proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers

      6. 70. Notification of requirement of secrecy

      7. 71. Time when postal ballot papers are to be issued

      8. 72. Procedure on issue of postal ballot paper

      9. 73. Refusal to issue postal ballot paper

      10. 74. Envelopes

      11. 75. Sealing up of completed corresponding number lists and security of special lists

      12. 76. Delivery of postal ballot papers

      13. 77. Spoilt postal ballot papers

      14. 78. Lost postal ballot papers

      15. 78A. Cancellation of postal ballot papers

   3. Receipt of Postal Ballot Papers

      1. 79. Alternative means of returning postal ballot paper or postal voting statement

      2. 80. Notice of opening of postal ballot paper envelopes

      3. 81. Postal ballot boxes and receptacles

      4. 82. Receipt of covering envelope

      5. 83. Opening of postal voters' ballot box

      6. 84. Opening of covering envelopes

      7. 84A. Confirming receipt of postal voting statements

      8. 85. Procedure in relation to declarations of identity

      9. 85A. Procedure in relation to postal voting statements: personal identifier verification

      10. 85B. Postal Voting Statements: additional personal identifier verification

      11. 86. Opening of ballot paper envelopes

      12. 86A. Retrieval of cancelled postal ballot papers

      13. 87. Lists of rejected postal ballot papers

      14. 88. Checking of lists kept under regulation 87

      15. 89. Sealing of receptacles

      16. 90. Abandoned poll

      17. 91. Forwarding of documents

7. PART VI SUPPLY OF REGISTER ETC

   1. Interpretation and edited register

      1. 92. Interpretation and application of Part VI etc

      2. 93. Edited version of register

      3. 93A. Notifying registration officer of change to edited register preference

   2. General restrictions

      1. 94. Restrictions on supply of full register and disclosure of information from it by the registration officer and his staff

      2. 95. Restrictions on use of the full register supplied under section 3 of the Juries Act 1974 or information contained in it

      3. 96. Restriction on use of the full register, or information contained in it, supplied in accordance with enactments or obtained otherwise

   3. Supply on publication and specific restrictions

      1. 97. Supply of free copy of full register to the British Library and restrictions on use

      2. 97A. Supply of free copy of full register to the National Library of Wales and restrictions on use

      3. 97B. Supply of free copy of full register to the National Library of Scotland

      4. 98. Supply of free copy of full register for electoral purposes and restrictions on use

      5. 99. Supply of free copy of full register etc to Statistics Board and restrictions on use

      6. 100. Supply of free copy of full register etc to Electoral Commission and restrictions on use

      7. 101. Supply of free copy of full register etc to certain Commissions and restrictions on use

   4. Supply on request and specific restrictions

      1. 102. Supply of full register etc under regulations 103 to 109: general provisions

      2. 103. Supply of full register etc to elected representatives for electoral purposes and restrictions on use

      3. 104. Supply of full register to holders of relevant elective offices and candidates

      4. 105. Supply of full register etc to local constituency parties and restrictions on use

      5. 106. Supply of full register etc to registered political parties etc and restrictions on use

      6. 107. Supply of full register etc to certain councils and restrictions on use

      7. 108. Supply of full register etc to certain candidates and restrictions on use

      8. 108A. Supply of full register etc to the security services

      9. 109. Supply of full register etc to police forces and other agencies, and restrictions on use

      10. 109A. Supply of full register to public libraries and local authority archives service, and restrictions on use

   5. Sale of edited anhd full registers and specified restrictions

      1. 110. Sale of edited register

      2. 111. Sale of full register etc: restrictions on supply, charges, etc

      3. 112. Sale of full register etc: general provisions

      4. 113. Sale of full register to government departments and other bodies

      5. 114. Sale of full register to credit reference agencies

   6. Offences

      1. 115. Offences in respect of contravention of Part 3, Part 4 and Part 6 regulations

8. PART 7 ACCESS TO MARKED REGISTERS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION AFTER AN ELECTION

   1. 116. Interpretation of Part 7

   2. 117. Supply of marked registers and lists after an election

   3. 118. Inspection of documents open to public inspection

   4. 119. Conditions on the use, supply and disclosure of documents open to public inspection

   5. 120. Calculating the fee for supply of marked registers or lists

9. PART 8 Access to documents after an election to the National Assembly for Wales

   1. 121. Interpretation of Part 8

   2. 122. Subject to the modifications specified in regulations 123 to 126,...

   3. 123. References in Part 7 to “the marked register or lists”...

   4. 124. Regulation 116 shall apply as if— (a) paragraph (1) were...

   5. 125. Regulation 117 shall apply as if— (a) references to “a...

   6. 126. Regulations 118 and 119 shall apply as if references to...

10. Signature

11. 1. SCHEDULE 1

       ENABLING POWERS

    2. SCHEDULE 2

       REVOCATIONS

    3. SCHEDULE 3

       FORMS

    4. SCHEDULE 4

       APPLICATION WITH MODIFICATIONS OF PROVISIONS OF THE 1983 AND 1985 ACTS FOR REGISTRATION OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY OVERSEAS ELECTORS

    5. SCHEDULE 4A

12. Explanatory Note