The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008

1. Introductory Text

2. PART 1 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 elections rules

   13. 13. Applications for an electoral identity card

   14. 13A. Notification of determination of application for electoral identity card

   15. 13B. Appeal following determination

   16. 14. Registration of European parliamentary overseas electors

   17. 15. Amendment of rule 37(1E) of the elections rules

3. PART 2 SERVICE AND OVERSEAS ELECTORS’ DECLARATIONS

   1. Service declarations

      1. 16. Qualification for Crown servant

      2. 17. Contents of service declaration

      3. 18. Transmission of service declaration

      4. 19. Notification by registration officer in respect of service declaration

   2. Overseas elector’s declarations

      1. 20. Contents of overseas elector’s declaration

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

      3. 22. Attestation of certain overseas electors’ declarations

      4. 23. Notification about registration as overseas elector

      5. 23A. Reminders to electors registered in pursuance of an overseas elector’s declaration

      6. 23B. Renewal declarations

      7. 23C. Notification about continued registration as an overseas elector following renewal declaration

4. PART 3 REGISTRATION

   1. Information about electors

      1. 24. Power to require information

      2. 25. Alteration of registers under section 13BA(3) or 13BC of the 1983 Act

      3. 25A. Regulation 25 supplementary: additional supporting material in relation to identity

      4. 25B. Regulation 25 supplementary: additional supporting material in relation to nationality

      5. 25C. Regulation 25 supplementary: additional supporting material in relation to address claimed as qualifying address

      6. 26. Reminders to electors registered in pursuance of a service declaration or declaration of local connection

      7. 26A. Reminders to persons who have an anonymous entry

      8. 27. Applications for registration

      9. 27ZA. Overseas electors: power to require additional evidence where applicant under 18 when last resident in the United Kingdom

      10. 27ZB. Overseas electors: power to require additional evidence of previous residence

      11. 27ZC. Overseas electors: power to require attestation as to applicant’s previous residence at address claimed as qualifying address

      12. 27ZD. Overseas electors: power to require additional evidence as to previous registration in pursuance of a service declaration, residence as a merchant seaman or an overseas elector’s declaration

      13. 27ZE. Overseas electors: power to require additional evidence as to declaration of local connection

      14. 27ZF. Overseas electors: power to require attestation as to applicant’s connection to address claimed as qualifying address

      15. 27ZG. Overseas electors: power to require additional evidence as to change of name

      16. 27ZH. Attestations: general requirements

      17. 27ZI. Meaning of qualifying attestor

      18. 27A. Processing of information provided in connection with an application for registration

      19. 28. Objections to registration

      20. 29. Inspection of applications and objections

   2. Determination of applications and objections

      1. 30. Procedure for determining applications for registration and objections without a hearing

      2. 31. Notice of hearing

      3. 32. Hearing of applications and objections

      4. 33. Objections relating to applications which have been allowed, but before alterations to the register have taken effect

      5. 34. Other determinations by registration officer of entitlement to registration

      6. 35. Summary procedure for determining in specified circumstances whether a person has ceased to satisfy conditions for registration

      7. 36. Procedure for reviewing entitlement to registration

      8. 37. List of reviews

      9. 38. Hearings of reviews

      10. 38A. Anonymous registration: applications and declarations

      11. 38B. Anonymous registration: determination of applications by the registration officer

      12. 38C. Anonymous registration: evidence consisting of relevant court orders or injunctions

      13. 38D. Anonymous registration: evidence by attestation

      14. 38E. Anonymous registration: review of entitlement to an anonymous entry

      15. 39. Registration appeals

      16. 40. Representations regarding clerical errors

      17. 41. Requests for information

      18. 42. Provision of information to the registration officer

      19. 42A. Verification of information provided in an application

      20. 43. Disclosure of information

      21. 44. Notices in connection with registration

      22. 45. Communication of notices made on polling day

      23. 46. Notice by registration officer of a change of address

      24. 46A. Prescribed form for canvass

      25. 46B. Retention of entries on the register following a canvass

   3. The register

      1. 47. Separate part of register for each parliamentary polling district

      2. 48. Different letter for each parliamentary polling district

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

      4. 50. Order of names

      5. 50A. Anonymous entries

      6. 51. Marking of names

      7. 52. Publication of register

      8. 53. Preparation and publication of list of overseas electors

      9. 53A. Record of anonymous entries

      10. 53B. Duties of registration officer and his staff in relation to record of anonymous entries

      11. 53C. Supply of the record of anonymous entries to police forces and other organisations

      12. 53D. Certificate of anonymous registration

5. PART 4 ABSENT VOTERS

   1. 54. Interpretation of Part 4

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

   3. 55A. Additional requirement for applications for ballot papers to be sent to a different address to that in register

   4. 55B. Additional requirement for applications for ballot papers to be sent to different address from that shown in the record kept under section 6(3) or section 9(6) of the 1985 Act

   5. 56. Additional requirements for applications for the appointment of a proxy

   6. 57. Additional requirements for applications on grounds of blindness or other disability

   7. 58. Additional requirements for applications based on occupation, service, employment or attendance on a course

   8. 59. Additional requirements for applications in respect of a particular election

   9. 60. Additional requirements for applications by proxies to vote by post at a particular election

   10. 61. Closing date for applications

   11. 62. Grant or refusal of applications

   12. 63. Notice of appeal

   13. 64. Cancellation of proxy appointment

   14. 65. Inquiries by registration officer

   15. 66. Records and lists kept under sections 6, 7 and 9 of the 1985 Act

   16. 67. Marked register for polling stations

   17. 68. Certificate of employment at a parliamentary election

   18. 69. Form of Corresponding number lists

6. PART 5 ISSUE AND RECEIPT OF POSTAL BALLOT PAPERS

   1. 70. Interpretation of Part 5

   2. Issue of Postal Ballot Papers

      1. 70A. Time when postal ballot papers are to be issued

      2. 71. Form of declaration of identity

      3. 72. Persons entitled to be present at proceedings on issue and receipt of postal ballot papers

      4. 73. Agents of candidates who may attend proceedings on issue or receipt of postal ballot papers

      5. 74. Notification of requirement of secrecy

      6. 75. Notice of issue of postal ballot papers

      7. 76. Procedure on issue of postal ballot paper

      8. 77. Refusal to issue postal ballot paper

      9. 78. Envelopes

      10. 79. Sealing up of completed corresponding number lists and security of special lists

      11. 80. Delivery of postal ballot papers

      12. 81. Spoilt postal ballot papers

      13. 81A. Tendered postal ballot papers

   3. Receipt of Postal Ballot Papers

      1. 81B. Alternative means of returning postal ballot paper

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

      3. 83. Postal ballot boxes and receptacles

      4. 84. Receipt of covering envelope by post

      5. 84A. Return of postal voting documents by hand

      6. 84B. Return of postal voting documents form: prescribed information

      7. 84C. Rejection of postal voting documents handed in to the returning officer

      8. 84D. Procedure where no postal voting document handed in by P is rejected in accordance with regulation 84C

      9. 84E. Procedure where at least one postal voting document handed in by P is rejected under regulation 84C

      10. 84F. Postal voting documents left behind with the returning officer

      11. 84G. Packets of postal voting documents and return of postal voting documents forms

      12. 84H. List of electors whose postal voting documents have been rejected in accordance with regulation 84C or left behind

      13. 84I. Notification of a postal ballot paper rejected in accordance with regulation 84C or left behind

      14. 85. Opening of postal voters’ ballot box

      15. 86. Opening of covering envelopes

      16. 87. Procedure in relation to declarations of identity

      17. 88. Opening of ballot paper envelopes

      18. 89. Sealing of receptacles

      19. 90. Abandoned poll

      20. 91. Forwarding of documents

7. PART 6 SUPPLY OF REGISTERS ETC.

   1. Interpretation and edited register

      1. 92. Interpretation of Part 6

      2. 93. Edited version of register

   2. General restrictions

      1. 94. Restrictions on supply of full register and disclosure of information from it by the Chief Electoral Officer and his staff

      2. 95. Restriction on use of the full register or information contained in it supplied in accordance with any enactment or otherwise obtained

   3. Supply on publication and specific restrictions

      1. 96. Supply of free copy of full register to the British Library

      2. 97. Supply of free copy of full register to deputy returning officer at local elections and restrictions on use

      3. 98. Supply of free copy of full register etc to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and restrictions on use

      4. 99. Supply of free copy of full register etc to Electoral Commission

      5. 100. Supply of free copy of full register etc to Local Government Boundary Commissioner, the Boundary Commission and the District Electoral Areas Commissioner and restrictions on use

   4. Supply on request and specific restrictions

      1. 101. Supply of full register etc under regulations 102 to 107A: general provisions

      2. 102. Supply of full register etc to elected representatives and restrictions on use

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

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

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

      6. 106. Supply of full register etc to certain candidates and restriction on use

      7. 107. Supply of full register etc to police forces and restrictions on use

      8. 107A. Supply of full register etc to a registered medical practitioner and restrictions on use.

   5. Sale of edited and full register and specific restrictions

      1. 108. Sale of edited register

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

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

      4. 111. Sale of full register etc to government departments

      5. 112. Sale of full register etc to credit reference agencies

   6. Supply to assist the registration officer to meet the relevant registration objectives

      1. 112A. Supply of additional elector information to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

   7. Supply to processor and offences

      1. 113. Supply of register to processor

      2. 114. Offences in respect of contravention of Part 3 or Part 6

8. PART 6A Supply of date of birth lists to police and pursuant to a court order

   1. 114A. Interpretation of Part 6A

   2. 114B. Supply of date of birth lists to police forces and restrictions on use

   3. 114C. Court orders for production of date of birth lists

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

   1. 115. Interpretation of Part 7

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

   3. 117. Inspection of documents open to public inspection

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

   5. 119. Fees relating to the supply of marked registers and lists

10. Signature

11. 1. SCHEDULE 1

       ENABLING POWERS

    2. SCHEDULE 2

       REVOCATIONS

    3. SCHEDULE 3

       FORMS

       1. ARRANGEMENT OF FORMS

    4. SCHEDULE 4

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

    5. SCHEDULE 5

       Form of words about two versions of the register

12. Explanatory Note