- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962
You are here:
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
Opening Options
More Resources
Changes to legislation:
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)
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 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. 2016/387 art. 2 commences (2015 c. 9 (N.I.))
105Prosecution and trial of electoral misdemeanours.N.I.
(1)A corrupt practice shall be an indictable offence and shall not be triable before a county court; but, subject to sub-section (2), a person charged with a corrupt practice may if he so consents be tried summarily[F1 in accordance with Articles 45 and 46 of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981]. A person charged with personation shall not be convicted by a court of summary jurisdiction or, save by an election court, be committed for trial except on the evidence of not less than two credible witnesses.
(2)A person shall not be summarily prosecuted for any corrupt practice where there may be occasion to exercise the powers conferred by sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section one hundred and thirteen.
(3)A person charged with an illegal practice shall be tried summarily; and on a prosecution for an illegal practice it shall be sufficient to allege that the person charged was guilty of an illegal practice.
(4)Any person charged with a corrupt practice may, if the circumstances warrant such a finding, be found guilty of an illegal practice (which misdemeanour shall for that purpose be an indictable offence); and any person charged with an illegal practice may be found guilty of that misdemeanour notwithstanding that the act constituting the misdemeanour amounted to a corrupt practice, and a person charged with illegal payment [F2or illegal employment] under paragraph 29 [F3or paragraph 30] of the Ninth Schedule may be found guilty of that offence notwithstanding that the act constituting the offence amounted to a corrupt or illegal practice.
(5)A person charged with an electoral offence other than the offences specified in paragraphs 24 to 26 of the Ninth Schedule shall be tried summarily and a person charged with any of the electoral offences specified in paragraphs 24 to 26 of that Schedule may be tried either on indictment or summarily.
(6)Subject to sub-section (3) of section one hundred and eight, an election court may in addition to any other functions conferred by this Act exercise for the purposes of this Act the powers of a court of summary jurisdiction.
(7)In this section the expression indictment includes criminal information.
[F4(8)In respect of the prosecution and trial of an electoral misdemeanour committed or alleged to have been committed at a local election, this section shall have effect subject to the following amendments:
(a)in subsection (1) the words, subject to subsection (2), and from A person charged with personation to the end of the subsection shall be omitted;
(b)subsections (2) and (6) shall be omitted; and
(c)in subsections (5) for the words the offences specified in paragraphs 24 to 26 there shall be substituted the offences specified in paragraph 26(2) and for the words charged with any of the electoral offences specified in paragraphs 24 to 26 there shall be substituted to whom section 111(2A)(c)(i) applies charged with the offence specified in paragraph 26(2).]
F2Words in s. 105(4) substituted (16.12.2010) by Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. 1 para. 24 (with art. 1(3))
F3Words in s. 105(4) substituted (16.12.2010) by Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. 1 para. 24 (with art. 1(3))
F4SI 1987/168
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Act
PrintThe Whole Part
PrintThis Section only
You have chosen to open The Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open Schedules only
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.