The Overseas Electors, Postal Vote Handling and Secrecy (Amendment) Rules 2023

The Greater London Authority Elections Rules 2007

5.—(1) The Greater London Authority Elections Rules 2007 are amended as follows.

(2) In Schedule 1 (the constituency members election rules)—

(a) in rule 33 (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 49(3)(b);”;

(b) in rule 49 (verification and the count), 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.”.

(3) In Schedule 2 (the London members election rules)—

(a) in rule 34 (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 50(3)(b);”;

(b) in rule 50 (verification and the local count), 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.”.

(4) In Schedule 3 (the Mayoral election rules)—

(a) in rule 33 (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 49(3)(b);”;

(b) in rule 49 (verification and the local count), 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.”.

(5) In Schedule 5 (the constituency members election rules)—

(a) in rule 33 (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 49(6)(b);”;

(b) in rule 49 (verification and the count), in paragraph (5)—

(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.”.

(6) In Schedule 6 (the London members election rules)—

(a) in rule 34 (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 50(6)(b);”;

(b) in rule 50 (verification and the local count), in paragraph (5)—

(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.”.

(7) In Schedule 7 (the Mayoral election rules)—

(a) in rule 33 (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 49(6)(b);”;

(b) in rule 49 (verification and the local count), in paragraph (5)—

(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.”.

(8) In Schedule 10 (schedule of forms), for the following forms substitute the corresponding form in Schedule 3 to these Rules—

(a) form 11 (postal voting statement: ordinary elections or constituency member or mayoral by-election);

(b) form 11A (postal voting statement: for use at a combined election where issue and receipt of postal ballot papers are taken together);

(c) form 11B (postal voting statement: for use at a combined election where issue and receipt of postal ballot papers are not taken together);

(d) form 13 (official postal poll card);

(e) form 15 (official proxy postal poll card).