The Representation of the People (Postal Vote Handling and Secrecy) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017

11.—(1) The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017(1) is amended as follows.

(2) In Schedule 1 (combined authorities mayoral elections rules)—

(a) in rule 32 (admission to polling station), in paragraph (1) after sub-paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) persons aged 18 or over returning a postal ballot paper or postal voting statement by hand in accordance with rule 47(3)(b),”;

(b) in rule 47 (procedure at verification of ballot paper accounts), in paragraph (2)—

(i) omit the “and” at the end of sub-paragraph (c);

(ii) after sub-paragraph (d) insert—

“and

(e) the postal ballot paper is not one that falls to be rejected in accordance with regulation 79B, 79D, 82B or 82D of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001.”;

(c) in Part 9 (appendix of forms), for form 7 (postal voting statement), form 9 (official postal poll card) and form 11 (official proxy postal poll card) substitute the corresponding forms set out in Part 1 of Schedule 9 to these Regulations.

(3) In Schedule 2 (modifications of Acts and statutory instrument), in paragraph 5 (Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (5) for “after paragraph (b)” substitute “in paragraph (1), after sub-paragraph (b)”;

(b) after sub-paragraph (6) insert—

“(6A) Regulation 82A (postal voting documents handed in to the returning officer) has effect as if, in paragraph (1), in sub-paragraph (b), after paragraph (i) there were inserted—

“(ia) rule 47(3)(a) or 50(6)(a) of the Combined Authority Mayoral Elections Rules;”.”.

(4) In Schedule 3 (combined authority mayoral election (combination of polls) rules—

(a) in rule 32 (admission to polling station) in paragraph (1) after sub-paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) persons aged 18 or over returning a postal ballot paper or postal voting statement by hand in accordance with rule 47(3)(b),”;

(b) in rule 47 (procedure at verification of ballot paper accounts) in paragraph (2)—

(i) omit the “and” at the end of sub-paragraph (c);

(ii) after sub-paragraph (d) insert—

“and

(e) the postal ballot paper is not one that falls to be rejected in accordance with regulation 79B, 79D, 82B or 82D of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001.”;

(c) in Part 9 (appendix of forms), for forms 7(1) and 7(2) (postal voting statements), form 9 (official postal poll card) and form 11 (official proxy postal poll card) substitute the corresponding forms set out in Part 2 of Schedule 9 to these Regulations.

(1)

S.I. 2017/67, amended by S.I. 2022/1353; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant