The Electoral Registration (Postponement of 2013 Annual Canvass) Order 2013

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order postpones the annual canvass for 2013 to be conducted under section 10(1) of Representation of the People Act 1983, as part of the transitional arrangements for the implementation of individual electoral registration under the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013.

Article 2 provides that the 2013 canvass is postponed. In England the canvass must be conducted within the period starting on 1st October 2013 and ending on 17th February 2014. In Wales and Scotland the canvass must be conducted within the period starting on 1st October 2013 and ending on 10th March 2014. A registration officer must not conduct any part of the 2013 canvass before 1st October 2013.

Article 2(4) modifies section 10A(2A) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 providing that, where the return of a canvass form is treated as an application for registration in the register, the application shall be treated as having been made on the date the canvass form was received by the registration officer, instead of on 15th October. Article 2(5) modifies section 10A(5)(a) of that Act providing that an elector must be resident at the address in respect of which they are registered at the conclusion of the 2013 canvass, instead of on 15th October, in order to be entitled to remain registered.

Article 3 provides for new publication dates of the revised version of the registers in consequence of the canvass having been postponed. Registration officers in England must publish a revised version of their registers by 17th February 2014 and registration officers in Wales and Scotland by 10th March 2014.

Article 4 makes consequential provisions, removing the requirement in section 10(2) of the Act that the 2013 canvass be conducted by reference to residence on 15th October that year and the requirement in section 13(1) that revised versions of the registers be published by 1st December in 2013, and by 1st February 2014 in the case of an election to which section 13B applies being held during the canvass period. Article 4(1)(d) modifies section 13BB by extending the period to which that section applies to the postponed canvass period. Article 4(2) and (3) modifies the form of canvass which is prescribed in England and Wales and in Scotland to take account of the omission of references to 15th October and the revised publication dates of the registers.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.