Representation of the People Act 1983

[F3 10 Maintenance of registers: [F1 duty to conduct canvass] [F2 in Northern Ireland]. U.K.

F4 (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F5 (1A) The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland must conduct a canvass in Northern Ireland in such years as are determined in accordance with section 10ZA.]

(2) The canvass [F6 under subsection F7 ... (1A)] shall be conducted by reference to residence on 15th October in [F8 the year in which it is conducted].

(3) A canvass [F9 under this section] shall not, however, be concerned with—

(a) the registration of persons in respect of residence in penal institutions (within the meaning of section 3 above) or mental hospitals (within the meaning of section 7 above) or other places at which persons to whom section 7A above applies may be detained; or

(b) the registration of persons in pursuance of—

(i) declarations of local connection,

(ii) service declarations, or

(iii) overseas electors’ declarations[F10 ; or

(c) the registration of persons with anonymous entries in the register.]

[F11 (4) The form to be used for the purposes of a canvass under this section must [F12 comply with such requirements as to its form or content as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of State after having consulted the Electoral Commission].]

[F13 (4A) Subject to [F14 subsections (4B) and (4BZA)] below, the information to be obtained by the use of such a form F15 ... shall include—

(a) the signature of each of the persons in relation to whom the form is completed;

(b) the date of birth of each such person; and

(c) in relation to each such person—

(i) his national insurance number or a statement that he does not have one,

F16 (ii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and

(iii) any address in the United Kingdom in respect of which he is or has applied to be registered (other than the address in respect of which the form is completed),

and the power in subsection (4) above to [F17 prescribe requirements] includes power to give effect to the requirements of this subsection.

(4B) The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland may dispense with the requirement mentioned in subsection (4A)(a) above in relation to any person if he is satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable for that person to sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of [F18 blindness or any other disability] of his or because he is unable to read.]

[F19 (4BZA) The requirement mentioned in subsection (4A)(a) above does not apply to forms that are submitted through the UK digital service.]

[F20 (4BA) If requested to do so by the Secretary State for the purposes of making regulations under subsection (4), the Electoral Commission must design a form for the purposes of a canvass under this section.]

(5) In connection with a canvass [F21 under this section the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland] may, for the purpose of—

(a) supplementing the information obtained by the use of any such form, or

(b) where any such form has not been returned, obtaining any information designed to be obtained by the use of the form,

make such house to house inquiries as he thinks fit.

(6) On the conclusion of a canvass [F22 under this section the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland] shall make such alterations in his registers as fall to be made in accordance with section 10A below as a result of the canvass.

[F23 (7) In this section—

• “residence” means residence for the purposes of section 4 above;

• “the UK digital service” has the same meaning as in section 10ZF below, and references to submitting a form through the UK digital service shall be construed in accordance with subsection (4) of that section.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 10: words in heading substituted (1.12.2006) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), ss. 2(5), 31; S.I. 2006/2688, art. 3(1)(2)(a)

F2 Words in s. 10 heading inserted (10.6.2014 for E.W., 15.9.2014 for N.I., 19.9.2014 for S.) by Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6), s. 27(1), Sch. 4 para. 9(9) (with Sch. 5); S.I. 2014/414, art. 5(m); S.I. 2014/2439, art. 2(l)

F3 Ss. 10, 10A substituted (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) for s. 10 by 2000 c. 2, s. 8(a), Sch. 1 para. 4; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F4 S. 10(1) omitted (10.6.2014 for E.W., 15.9.2014 for N.I., 19.9.2014 for S.) by virtue of Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6), s. 27(1), Sch. 4 para. 9(2) (with Sch. 5); S.I. 2014/414, art. 5(m); S.I. 2014/2439, art. 2(l)

F5 S. 10(1A) inserted (1.12.2006) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), ss. 2(3), 31; S.I. 2006/2688, art. 3(1)(2)(a)

F6 Words in s. 10(2) substituted (1.12.2006) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), ss. 2(4)(a), 31; S.I. 2006/2688, art. 3(1)(2)(a)

F7 Words in s. 10(2) omitted (10.6.2014 for E.W., 15.9.2014 for N.I., 19.9.2014 for S.) by virtue of Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6), s. 27(1), Sch. 4 para. 9(3) (with Sch. 5); S.I. 2014/414, art. 5(m); S.I. 2014/2439, art. 2(l)

F8 Words in s. 10(2) substituted (1.12.2006) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), ss. 2(4)(b), 31; S.I. 2006/2688, art. 3(1)(2)(a)

F9 Words in s. 10(3) inserted (10.6.2014 for E.W., 15.9.2014 for N.I., 19.9.2014 for S.) by Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6), s. 27(1), Sch. 4 para. 9(4)(a) (with Sch. 5); S.I. 2014/414, art. 5(m); S.I. 2014/2439, art. 2(l)

F10 S. 10(3)(c) and preceding word inserted (E.W.S.) (1.1.2007) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 10(2), 77, Sch. 1 para. 5; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 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. 10(4) substituted (10.6.2014 for E.W., 15.9.2014 for N.I., 19.9.2014 for S.) by Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6), s. 27(1), Sch. 4 para. 9(5) (with Sch. 5); S.I. 2014/414, art. 5(m); S.I. 2014/2439, art. 2(l)

F12 Words in s. 10(4) substituted (10.6.2014 for E.W., 15.9.2014 for N.I., 19.9.2014 for S.) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 (c. 13), ss. 13(1)(a), 28(4) (with s. 13(3)(a)(b))

F13 S. 10(4A)(4B) inserted (N.I.) (1.9.2002) by Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 13), s. 1(2); S.I. 2002/1648, art. 3

F14 Words in s. 10(4A) substituted (6.7.2020) by The Representation of the People (Electronic Communications and Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/581), regs. 1(2), 4(2)

F15 Words in s. 10(4A) omitted (10.6.2014 for E.W., 15.9.2014 for N.I., 19.9.2014 for S.) by virtue of Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6), s. 27(1), Sch. 4 para. 9(6) (with Sch. 5); S.I. 2014/414, art. 5(m); S.I. 2014/2439, art. 2(l)

F16 S. 10(4A)(c)(ii) repealed (1.10.2014) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 (c. 13), ss. 14(1)(a)(iv), 28; S.I. 2014/2613, art. 2(2)(a)

F17 Words in s. 10(4A) substituted (13.5.2014) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 (c. 13), ss. 13(1)(b), 28(4)

F18 Words in s. 10(4B) substituted (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 10, 77, Sch. 1 para. 105; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(bb)(v) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316), {arts. 2(2)}, 4

F19 S. 10(4BZA) inserted (6.7.2020) by The Representation of the People (Electronic Communications and Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/581), regs. 1(2), 4(3)

F20 S. 10(4BA) inserted (13.5.2014) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 (c. 13), ss. 13(1)(c), 28(4) (with s. 13(3)(c))

F21 Words in s. 10(5) substituted (10.6.2014 for E.W., 15.9.2014 for N.I., 19.9.2014 for S.) by Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6), s. 27(1), Sch. 4 para. 9(7) (with Sch. 5); S.I. 2014/414, art. 5(m); S.I. 2014/2439, art. 2(l)

F22 Words in s. 10(6) substituted (10.6.2014 for E.W., 15.9.2014 for N.I., 19.9.2014 for S.) by Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6), s. 27(1), Sch. 4 para. 9(8) (with Sch. 5); S.I. 2014/414, art. 5(m); S.I. 2014/2439, art. 2(l)

F23 S. 10(7) substituted (6.7.2020) by The Representation of the People (Electronic Communications and Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/581), regs. 1(2), 4(4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 10-11 extended (N.I.) (with modifications) by Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 (c. 3, SIF 42), ss. 2, 13(6), Sch. 1 Pt. I (as amended (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 2, s. 8, Sch. 3 para. 3(5); S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1) (with art. 2(3)-(5))

C2 S. 10 applied (with modifications) (S.) (8.8.2013) by Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Act 2013 (asp 13), ss. 6, 13(1), sch. 1 Pts. 1, 2 (with s. 13(2))

C3 S. 10(2) excluded (E.W.S.) (27.3.2013) by The Electoral Registration (Postponement of 2013 Annual Canvass) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/794), arts. 1(1), 4(1)(a)