Representation of the People Act 1983

202 General provisions as to interpretation. U.K.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

• F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• [F2 “anonymous entry”, in relation to a register of electors, shall be construed in accordance with section 9B above and “the record of anonymous entries”, means the record prepared in pursuance of regulations made by virtue of paragraph 8A of Schedule 2 to this Act;]

• F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• [F4 “citizen of the Union” shall be construed in accordance with Article 8.1 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (as amended by Title II of the Treaty on European Union), and “relevant citizen of the Union” means such a citizen who is not a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland;]

• “the City” means the City of London;

• “Clerk of the Crown” means Clerk of the Crown in Chancery;

• “Common Council” means the Common Council of the City;

• [F5 “disability”, in relation to doing a thing, includes a short term inability to do it;]

• [F6 “dwelling” includes any part of a building where that part is occupied separately as a dwelling;]

• “election” means a parliamentary election[F7 , an Authority election] or an election under the local government Act;

• “election court” means—

  (a)

  In relation to a parliamentary election petition, the judges presiding at the trial;

  (b)

  in relation to a petition questioning [F8 an Authority election or] an election under the local government Act, the court constituted under this Act for the trial of that petition;

• “election petition” means a petition presented in pursuance of Part III of this Act;

• “elector” in relation to an election, means any person [F9 who has for the time being an entry] on the register to be used at that election, but does not include those shown in the register [F10 (or, in the case of a person who has an anonymous entry in the register, in the record of anonymous entries)] as below voting age on the day fixed for the poll;

• “legal incapacity” includes (in addition[F11 , where applicable,] to any incapacity by virtue of any subsisting provision of the common law) any disqualification imposed by this Act or any other Act;

• [F12 “legal process” means a claim form, application notice, writ, summons or other process;]

• [F13 “the list of proxies” has, in relation to any election, the meaning given by [F14 paragraph 5(3) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 or, as respects Northern Ireland, by] section 7 of the Representation of the People Act 1985]

• [F15 “overseas elector’s declaration” means a declaration made under and in accordance with section 1C of the Representation of the People Act 1985;]

• “parliamentary election petition” means an election petition questioning a parliamentary election or return;

• [F16 “the postal voters list” means—

  (a)

  in relation to England and Wales and Scotland, the list of persons kept in pursuance of paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (persons whose applications to vote by post have been granted);

  (b)

  in relation to Northern Ireland, the list of persons kept in pursuance of section 7(4)(a) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (persons whose applications to vote by post have been granted);

• “the proxy postal voters list” means—

  (a)

  in relation to England and Wales and Scotland, the list of persons kept in pursuance of paragraph 7(8) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (persons whose applications to vote by post as proxy have been granted);

  (b)

  in relation to Northern Ireland, the list of persons kept in pursuance of section 9(9) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (persons whose applications to vote by post as proxy have been granted).]

• “parliamentary elections rules” means the parliamentary elections rules in Schedule 1 to this Act;

• “person” includes (without prejudice to the provisions of the M1 Interpretation Act 1978) an association corporate or unincorporate;

• “prescribed” except in Part III of this Act means prescribed by regulations;

• [F17 “proper officer”—

  (a)

  in relation to the Greater London Authority, has the same meaning as in the 1999 Act (see section 424(2) of that Act);

  (b)

  except as provided by paragraph (a) above, in England and Wales means a proper officer within the meaning of section 270(3) and (4) of the M2 Local Government Act 1972;]

• [F18 “qualifying address” shall be construed in accordance with section 9(8) above;]

• [F19 "qualifying foreign national” means a person of any nationality who—

  (a)

  is not a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, and

  (b)

  either—

  (i)

  is not a person who requires leave under the Immigration Act 1971 to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or

  (ii)

  is such a person but for the time being has (or is, by virtue of any enactment, to be treated as having) any description of such leave,]

• [F20 “registered political party” means [F21 a party registered under Part II of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;]]

• [F22 “service declaration” means a declaration made by a person under and in accordance with section 15;]

• F23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “service voter” means a person who has made a service declaration and is registered or entitled to be registered in pursuance of it;

• F24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “sub-agent” has the meaning given by section 68(1) above;

• [F25 “universal postal service provider” means a universal service provider (within the meaning of [F26 Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011]);]

• “voter” means a person voting at an election and includes a person voting as proxy and, except in the parliamentary elections rules, and the rules under section 36 [F27 , 36A] and 42 above, a person voting by proxy, and “vote” (whether noun or verb) shall be construed accordingly, except that in those rules any reference to an elector voting or an elector’s vote shall include a reference to an elector voting by proxy or an elector’s vote given by proxy.

(2) For the purposes of the Representation of the People Acts a person shall be deemed not to have attained a given age until the commencement of the relevant anniversary of the day of his birth.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 202(1): definition of "absent voters list" repealed (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 74, 77, Sch. 1 para. 128(2), Sch. 2; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(aa)(bb)(v) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2, 4

F2 S. 202: definition of "anonymous entry" inserted (E.W.S.) (1.1.2007) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 10, 77, Sch. 1 para. 13(2); S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 1, 12(a) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2) (amendment extended to N.I. (15.9.2014) by The Anonymous Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1116), arts. 1(1), 2(2))

F3 Definition of “Attorney General” in s. 202(1) repealed (30.9.1997) by 1997 c. 60, s. 3(2)(3), Sch.

F4 Definition of “citizen of the Union” in s. 202(1) inserted (6.8.1995) by S.I. 1995/1948, regs. 1(2), 4(2)(a)

F5 S. 202(1): definition of "disability" inserted (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 47, 77, Sch. 1 para. 76; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(w)(bb)(iii) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2, 4

F6 S. 202(1): definition substituted (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, s. 8 Sch. 1 para. 22(a); S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F7 S. 202(1): words in definition of "election" inserted (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 38(1)(2)(a) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2

F8 S. 202(1): words in definition of "election" in para. b inserted (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 38(1)(2)(b) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2

F9 S. 202: words in definition of "elector" substituted (E.W.S.) (1.1.2007) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 10, 77, Sch. 1 para. 13(3)(a); S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 1, 12(a) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2) (amendment extended to N.I. (15.9.2014) by The Anonymous Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1116), arts. 1(1), 2(2))

F10 S. 202: words in definition of "elector" inserted (E.W.S.) (1.1.2007) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 10, 77, Sch. 1 para. 13(3)(b); S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 1, 12(a) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2) (amendment extended to N.I. (15.9.2014) by The Anonymous Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1116), arts. 1(1), 2(2))

F11 S. 202: words in definition of "legal incapacity" inserted (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 73(2), 77; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(z) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2, 4

F12 S. 202(1): definition of “legal process” inserted (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 2, s. 138(1), Sch. 18 para. 9(6) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 1 Pt. II)

F13 Definition of “the list of proxies” inserted by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 11, Sch. 2 para. 3(b)

F14 S. 202(1): words in definition of “the list of proxies”substituted (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, s. 15, Sch. 6 para. 9(b); S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F15 Words in s. 202(1) substituted (16.1.2024) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), s. 67(1), Sch. 7 para. 3 (with Sch. 7 para. 13); S.I. 2023/1405, reg. 2

F16 S. 202(1): definitions of "the postal voters list" and "the proxy postal voters list" inserted (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 74(1), 77, Sch. 1 para. 128(3); S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(aa)(bb)(v) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2, 4

F17 S. 202(1): definition of "proper officer" substituted (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 38(1)(2)(c) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2

F18 S. 202(1): definition of "qualifying address" inserted (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, s. 8, Sch. 1 para. 22(b); S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F19 Words in s. 202(1) inserted (S.) (3.8.2020) by Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Act 2020 (asp 6), ss. 1(9), 12(2); S.S.I. 2020/162, reg. 2

F20 S. 202(1): definition of "registered political party" inserted (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 38(1)(3) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2

F21 Words in s. 202(1) substituted (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 158(1), Sch. 21 para. 6(8); S.I. 2001/222, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 1 Pt. II)

F22 Words in s. 202(1) inserted (31.10.2023) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), s. 67(1), Sch. 4 para. 3; S.I. 2023/1145, reg. 2(f)(iii)

F23 Definition of “registration duties” repealed by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), ss. 24, 28, Sch. 4 para. 70 Sch. 5

F24 S. 202(1): definitions of "standard scale" and "statutory maximum" repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. XIV.

F25 S. 202(1): definition inserted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 57(4)

F26 Words in s. 202(1) substituted (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5), s. 93(2)(3), Sch. 12 para. 120; S.I. 2011/2329, art. 3

F27 Words in s. 202(1) inserted (E.W.) (20.3.2021) by Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1), s. 175(3)(f), Sch. 2 para. 2(17)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 202 applied with modifications (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/2250, regs. 2, 3, 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I

C2 S. 202 applied (with modifications) (2.4.2001) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/1298), reg. 8(1), Sch. 3 Table 2 (with reg. 10(4))

S. 202 applied (with modifications) (9.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/1184, reg. 9. Sch. 1 Pt. I (as substituted (17.3.2009) by S.I. 2009/726, regs. 1(1), 2(3)(4), Sch.)

C3 S. 202 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/1220), art. 3(1)(b)(5)-(8), Sch. 1

S. 202 applied (N.I.) (25.4.1998) by Northern Ireland Negotiations (Referendum) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1126), art. 6, Sch. 2

S. 202 applied (with modifications) (W.) (24.3.2004) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Wales) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/870), reg. 8, {Sch. 3 Table 2} (which S.I. was revoked (24.7.2008) by S.I. 2008/1848)

C4 S. 202 applied (E.) (28.7.2007) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2089), regs. 8, 11, 13, {Sch. 4 Table 1}

C5 S. 202 applied (with modifications) (W.) (24.7.2008) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Wales) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1848), reg. 8, {Sch. 4 para. 1 Table 1}

C6 S. 202 applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by The Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/2599), art. 3, Sch. 1 (as substituted (10.2.2009) by S.I. 2009/256, arts. 1(2), 3, Sch. 1)

C7 S. 202 applied (with modifications) (E.) (9.2.2012) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums)(England) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/323), reg. 1, Sch. 4 para. 1

C8 S. 202 applied (with modifications) (18.2.2012) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/444), reg. 1, Sch. 4 para. 1 (with reg. 27)

C9 S. 202 applied (with modifications) (3.8.2012) by The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2031), regs. 1, 8, 12, 13, Sch. 4 Pt. 1

C10 S. 202 applied (with modifications) by The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2031), reg. 17, Sch. 8 Table 1 (as inserted (E.W.) (6.4.2013) by S.I. 2013/798, regs. 1, 7, Sch. 3)

C11 S. 202(1) applied in part (with modifications) (23.7.2004) by The Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1962), art. 6(2), Sch. 2 Pt. 2

C12 S. 202(1) applied (with modifications) (26.2.2016) by The European Union Referendum (Conduct) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/219), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 46 (with Sch. 1 para. 1(3))

C13 Definition in S. 202(1) applied (1.5.1999) by 1999 c. 1, S. 2 Sch. 1 (subst. 1978 c. 10, Sch. 2 at para 4(4)); S.I 1999/717 art. 2(1) with art. 2(2)(3)

C14 Definition of “prescribed” is extended (N.I.) (with modifications) by Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 (c. 3, SIF 42), ss. 2, 13(6), Sch. 1 Pt. I

C15 S. 202(2) applied (with modifications) (31.7.1997) by Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Act 1997 (c. 61), s. 3, Sch. 3 para. 13 Table 1

S. 202(2) applied in part (with modifications) (23.7.2004) by The Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1962), art. 6(2), Sch. 2 Pt. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 1978 c. 30.

M2 1972 c. 70.