The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006

Issue of official poll cards

25.—(1) The council of the parish or community may, not later than noon on the nineteenth day before the day of the election, request the returning officer to issue official poll cards for that election.

(2) Where the returning officer receives a request under paragraph (1), he must, as soon as practicable, send to electors and their proxies an official poll card.

(3) An elector’s official poll card must be sent or delivered to his qualifying address, and a proxy’s to his address as shown in the list of proxies.

(4) The official poll card must be in the appropriate form in the Appendix, or a form to the like effect, and must set out—

(a) the name of the council and, where appropriate, of the ward to which councillors are to be elected;

(b) the elector’s name, qualifying address and number on the register;

(c) the date and hours of the poll and the situation of the elector’s polling station.

(d) such other information as the returning officer thinks appropriate,

and different information may be provided in pursuance of sub-paragraph (d) to different electors or descriptions of elector.

(5) In the case of an elector with an anonymous entry—

(a) the returning officer must issue an official poll card in the appropriate form in the Appendix to every such elector or to his proxy (if appointed) whether or not the local council of the parish or community make the request mentioned in paragraph (1);

(b) instead of containing the elector’s name and qualifying address, the polling card must contain the elector’s number on the register and such other matter as is specified in the appropriate form in the Appendix; and

(c) the official poll card must be sent in an envelope or other form of covering so as not to disclose that the elector has an anonymous entry in the register.

(6) Paragraph (7) of rule 6 shall apply for the interpretation of this rule.

(7) If the returning officer and the returning officer for each relevant election or referendum think fit, an official poll card issued under this rule may be combined with the official poll card issued at every relevant election or referendum.