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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.))
107Power to except innocent act from being illegal practice, payment, employment F1. . . .N.I.
(1)An application for relief under this section may be made to the High Court or an election court or else, if in respect of a payment made in contravention of sub-section (1) or (2) of section forty-three to the county court.
[F2(1A)Where a person makes an application under this section for relief in respect of an act or omission at a local election, he shall notify the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland of the application and the Director or his assistant or any barrister or solicitor duly appointed as the Director's representative may attend the hearing of the application and make representations at the hearing in respect of it.]
(2)If the court is satisfied—
(a)that any act or omission of any person would but for this section by reason of being in contravention of this Act be an illegal practice, payment [F3or employment];
(b)that the act or omission arose from inadvertence or from accidental miscalculation or from some other reasonable cause of a like nature, and in any case did not arise from any want of good faith; and
(c)that such notice of the application has been given in the constituency or, as the case may be, the area of the local authority for which the election was held, as to the court seems fit;
and in the circumstances it seems to the court to be just that either that or any other person should not be subject to any of the consequences under this Act of the act or omission, the court may make an order allowing the act or omission to be an exception from the provisions of this Act making it an illegal practice, payment [F3or employment] and thereupon no person shall be subject to any of the consequences under this Act of the said act or omission.
(3)An appeal shall lie to the High Court from any order of the county court made under this section.
F1Words in s. 107 heading omitted (16.12.2010) by virtue of Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. 1 para. 25 (with art. 1(3))
F2SI 1987/168
F3Words in s. 107(2) substituted (16.12.2010) by Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. 1 para. 25 (with art. 1(3))
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