The European Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Regulations 2009

Amendments to the 2004 Regulations

38.  Before regulation 123 (public notices and declarations) insert—

“Translations etc. of certain documents

122A.— (1) Paragraphs (2) and (3) apply to any document which by virtue of these Regulations is required or authorised to be given to voters or displayed in any place for the purposes of a European Parliamentary election.

(2) The person who is required or authorised to give or display the document must, as he thinks appropriate, give or display or otherwise make available in such form as he thinks appropriate—

(a) the document in Braille;

(b) the document in languages other than English;

(c) graphical representations of the information contained in the document;

(d) other means of making the information contained in the document accessible to persons who might not otherwise have reasonable access to the information.

(3) The person required or authorised to give or display the document must also, as he thinks appropriate, make available the information contained in the document in such audible form as he thinks appropriate.

(4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) do not apply to—

(a) the nomination paper; and

(b) the ballot paper.

(5) The local returning officer at a European Parliamentary election must cause to be displayed at every polling station in the election an enlarged sample copy of the ballot paper in accordance with rule 32(5)(a) of the European Parliamentary elections rules.

(6) The sample copy mentioned in paragraph (5) —

(a) must have printed the words “Vote once (X) in one blank box” at the top; and

(b) may include a translation of those words into such other languages as the local returning officer thinks appropriate.

(7) The local returning officer at a European Parliamentary election must provide at every polling station in the election an enlarged hand-held sample copy of the ballot paper for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted.

(8) The sample copy mentioned in paragraph (7) must be clearly marked as a specimen provided only for the guidance of voters. ”