Representation of the People Act 1983

[F1 65A False statements in nomination papers etc. U.K.

(1) A person is guilty of a corrupt practice if, in the case of any relevant election, he causes or permits to be included in a document delivered or otherwise furnished to a returning officer for use in connection with the election—

(a) a statement of the name or home address of a candidate at the election which he knows to be false in any particular; or

[F2 (aa) (where the election is a parliamentary election) a statement under rule 6(5)(b) of Schedule 1 to this Act which he knows to be false in any particular; or]

(b) anything which purports to be the signature of an elector who proposes, seconds or assents to, the nomination of such a candidate but which he knows—

(i) was not written by the elector by whom it purports to have been written, or

(ii) if written by that elector, was not written by him for the purpose of signifying that he was proposing, seconding, or (as the case may be) assenting to, that candidate’s nomination[F3 or

(c) a certificate authorising for the purposes of rule 6A of the parliamentary elections rules the use by a candidate of a description if he knows that the candidate is standing at an election in another constituency in which the poll is to be held on the same day as the poll at the election to which the certificate relates.]

[F4 (1A) A person is guilty of a corrupt practice if, in the case of any relevant election, he makes in any document in which he gives his consent to his nomination as a candidate—

(a) a statement of his date of birth,

(b) a statement as to his qualification for being elected at that election, or

(c) a statement that he is not a candidate at an election for any other constituency the poll for which is to be held on the same day as the poll at the election to which the consent relates,

which he knows to be false in any particular.

(1B) For the purposes of subsection (1A), a statement as to a candidate's qualification is a statement—

(a) that he is qualified for being elected,

(b) that he will be qualified for being elected, or

(c) that to the best of his knowledge and belief he is not disqualified for being elected.]

(2) In this section “relevant election” means—

(a) any parliamentary election, or

(b) [F5 except for the purposes of subsections (1)(c) and (1A)(c),] any local government election in England or Wales.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 65A inserted (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, s. 15(1), Sch. 6 para. 5; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F2 S. 65A(1)(aa) inserted (4.9.2009) by Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 (c. 12), ss. 39, 43(1), Sch. 6 para. 4; S.I. 2009/2395, art. 2 (with art. 3)

F3 S. 65A(1)(c) and word inserted (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 23(2), 77; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(j) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2, 4

F4 S. 65A(1A)(1B) inserted (11.9.2006 for certain purposes, 1.1.2007 for remaining purposes for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 23(3), 77; S.I. 2006/1972, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 3 (subject to art. 4, Sch. 2); S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(j) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2, 4

F5 Words in s. 65A(2)(b) inserted (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 23(4), 77; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(j) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2, 4

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 65A applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/2599, art. 3, Sch. 1 (as substituted (10.2.2009) by S.I. 2009/256, arts. 1(2), 3, Sch. 1)