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Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962
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There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
- Act applied by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 11 para. 5(3)
- Act applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2013/3156 art. 4
- Act modified by S.I. 2013/3156 art. 8
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 11(1A)(aa) inserted by S.I. 2023/290 art. 2(2)
- s. 39(3)(ca) inserted by 2022 c. 37 s. 22(2)
- s. 42(1ZC) inserted by S.I. 2019/564 art. 2
- s. 46(3)(ca) inserted by S.I. 2019/564 art. 3
- s. 52B(1A) inserted by 2022 c. 37 s. 20(7)
- s. 79(1A) inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(2)
- s. 96(3A)(ba) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 2(b)
- s. 105(9) inserted by 2023 c. 32 Sch. 1 para. 1(2)
- s. 106(1A) inserted by 2023 c. 32 Sch. 1 para. 1(3)
- s. 108(5) inserted by 2023 c. 32 Sch. 1 para. 1(4)
- s. 111(2A)(ca) inserted by 2023 c. 12 s. 2(1)(a)
- s. 111(2B) inserted by 2023 c. 32 Sch. 1 para. 1(5)
- s. 112(1A)(ba) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 4(b)
- s. 118(4) inserted by 2023 c. 32 Sch. 1 para. 1(7)
- Sch. 9 para. 5ZA and cross-heading inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 25
- Sch. 9 para. 12A(1A) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 26(2)
- Sch. 9 para. 12A(6A) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 26(5)
- Sch. 9 para. 27(3A)-(3F) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 27(3)
- Sch. 9 para. 27(5)(6) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 27(4)
- Sch. 9 para. 26A inserted by 2023 c. 12 s. 2(1)(b)
- Sch. 1 Appendix Form 3 substituted by S.I. 2015/566 art. 2(5) Sch. 1
- Sch. 2 Appendix Form 4 substituted by S.I. 2015/566 art. 2(6) Sch. 2
- Sch. 3 Appendix Form 5 substituted by S.I. 2015/566 art. 2(7) Sch. 3
- Sch. 3A para. 10(1) Sch. 3A para. 10 renumbered as Sch. 3A para. 10(1) by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(4)(a)
- Sch. 3A para. 10(2) inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(4)(a)
- Sch. 3B para. 13 inserted by S.I. 2019/564 art. 4
- Sch. 4 Appendix Form 6 substituted by S.I. 2015/566 art. 2(8) Sch. 4
- Sch. 5 rule 26 amendment to earlier affecting provision 2001 c. 7 Sch. para. 19 by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 9(5)
- Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms form 5 asterisk and words inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(16)(b)
- Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms form 5 asterisk inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(16)(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 10(2)(c) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 10 para. 1(2)
- Sch. 5 rule 16B and cross-heading inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 9
- Sch. 5 rule 22(5) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 10
- Sch. 5 rule 26(3)(f) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 12(2)
- Sch. 5 rule 26(3B)-(3E) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 12(4)
- Sch. 5 rule 32(2A) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 13(4)
- Sch. 5 rule 32(6) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 13(6)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(2A) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(3)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(5A)-(5C) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(7)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(6)(ka) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(8)(d)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(6)(m) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(8)(e)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(6B)(6C) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(9)
- Sch. 5 rule 41(1)(db) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 19
- Sch. 5 rule 56A(1A) inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 20(3)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(1A) inserted by S.I. 2013/3156 art. 3(4)
- Sch. 5 rule 6(8) inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(6)
- Sch. 5 rule 25(5)(6) inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(8)(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 37(10) inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(10)
- Sch. 5 rule 37A inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(11)
- Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms Form 6A inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(17) Sch
- Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms Form 7A inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(18) Sch
- Sch. 5 rule 25(2A) inserted by S.I. 2014/1880 art. 3(2)(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 5(5)-(9) inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 3(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 9(6) inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 4(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 10(1)(aa) inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 5(a)(ii)
- Sch. 5 rule 12(2ZA)(2ZB) inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 6(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 12(3A)-(3E) inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 6(c)
- Sch. 5 rule 12(4A) inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 6(d)
- Sch. 5 rule 12A(2)(d) and word inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 7(b)(ii)
- Sch. 5 rule 56A inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 8
- Sch. 5 rule 45(2)(c) and word inserted by S.I. 2024/382 art. 9(2)(c)
- Sch. 5 rule 37A(10A)(10B) inserted by 2001 c. 7 Sch. para. 24A (as inserted) by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 9(6)
- Sch. 5 rule 37A modified by SI 2013/3156 Sch. para. 13A (as inserted) by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 10(3)
- Sch. 5 rule 26(5)-(10) omitted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 12(5)
- Sch. 5 rule 5(2)(b) omitted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 3(a)(ii)
- Sch. 5 rule 5(2A) substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 7
- Sch. 5 rule 26(3A)(b) substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 12(3)
- Sch. 5 rule 32(2) substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 13(3)
- Sch. 5 rule 32(3) substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 13(5)
- Sch. 5 rule 34 heading substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(2)
- Sch. 5 rule 10(4)(4A) substituted for Sch. 5 rule 10(4) by S.I. 2020/635 art. 5(c)
- Sch. 5 rule 5(2)(a) word inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 3(a)(i)
- Sch. 5 rule 12A(2)(b) word omitted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 7(b)(i)
- Sch. 5 rule 45(2)(a) word omitted by S.I. 2024/382 art. 9(2)(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 26(6) word substituted by S.I. 2015/566 art. 2(3)(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 26(7) word substituted by S.I. 2015/566 art. 2(3)(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 26(8) word substituted by S.I. 2015/566 art. 2(3)(c)
- Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms Form 10 words inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 22(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 32(1A) words inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 13(2)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(4) words inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(5)(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(4) words inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(5)(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(5) words inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(6)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(6)(j) words inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(8)(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(6)(k) words inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(8)(c)
- Sch. 5 rule 37(2) words inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 17(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 38(2) words inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 18
- Sch. 5 rule 56A heading words inserted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 20(4)
- Sch. 5 rule 45(3) words inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(12)(i)
- Sch. 5 rule 45(5) words inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(12)(ii)
- Sch. 5 rule 57(2) words inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(13)
- Sch. 5 rule 58(1)(c) words inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(14)
- Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms form 5 words inserted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(16)(c)
- Sch. 5 rule 45(2A) words inserted by S.I. 2018/699 reg. 4(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 9(3) words inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 4(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 10(1) words inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 5(a)(i)
- Sch. 5 rule 10(3) words inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 5(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 12(2) words inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 6(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 12A(1) words inserted by S.I. 2020/635 art. 7(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 45(2)(a) words inserted by S.I. 2024/382 art. 9(2)(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 36(3) words omitted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 16(4)
- Sch. 5 rule 25(1) words omitted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(8)(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 25(2) words omitted by S.I. 2014/1880 art. 3(2)(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 16A(3) words repealed by S.I. 2018/1310 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (This S.I. is amended by S.I. 2019/1389, reg. 2)
- Sch. 5 Appendix of Forms Form 10 words substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 22(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 12(2A) words substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 8(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 12(2A) words substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 8(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 23(3) words substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 11
- Sch. 5 rule 34(3) words substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(4)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(6) words substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 14(8)(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 35(2) words substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 15
- Sch. 5 rule 36(2)(b)(i) words substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 16(2)
- Sch. 5 rule 36(2A) words substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 16(3)
- Sch. 5 rule 37(2) words substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 17(a)
- Sch. 5 rule 56A words substituted by 2022 c. 37 Sch. 6 para. 20(2)
- Sch. 5 rule 21(1) words substituted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(7)
- Sch. 5 rule 26(3)(c) words substituted by S.I. 2014/1116 art. 6(9)
- Sch. 5 rule 21(2) words substituted by S.I. 2015/566 art. 2(2)
- Sch. 5 rule 45(2A) words substituted by S.I. 2018/699 reg. 4(b)
- Sch. 5 rule 34(6)(b) words substituted by S.I. 2022/47 reg. 2(2)
- Sch. 6 Appendix Form 7 substituted by S.I. 2015/566 art. 2(10) Sch. 6
Commencement Orders yet to be applied to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962
Commencement Orders bringing legislation that affects this Act into force:
- S.R. 2014/153 art. 3 Sch. 2 commences (2014 c. 8)
- S.R. 2016/387 art. 2 commences (2015 c. 9 (N.I.))
Rejected ballot papersN.I.
46(1)Any ballot paper—
(a)which does not bear the official mark; or
(b)on which the figure 1 standing alone is not placed so as to indicate a first preference for some candidate; or
(c)on which the figure 1 standing alone indicating a first preference is set opposite the name of more than one candidate; or
(d)on which anything (other than the printed number [F1and other unique identifying mark] on the back) is written or marked by which the voter can be identified; or
(e)which is unmarked or void for uncertainty,
shall be void and not counted, but the ballot paper shall not be void by reason only of carrying the words one, two, three, (and so on) or any other mark instead of a figure if, in the opinion of the returning officer, the word or mark clearly indicates a preference or preferences.
(2)The returning officer shall endorse rejected on any ballot paper which under this rule is not to be counted and if an election agent objects to his decision shall add to the endorsement the words rejection objected to.
(3)The returning officer shall prepare a statement showing the number of ballot papers rejected by him under each of sub-paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of paragraph (1) and shall, on request, allow any candidate or agent of a candidate to copy such statement.
(4)The decision of the returning officer on any question arising in respect of a ballot paper shall be final but shall be subject to review on an election petition.
F1Words in Sch. 5 rule 46(1)(d) inserted (16.12.2010) by Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. 1 para. 73 (with art. 1(3))
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