Representation of the People Act 1985

Prospective

Part I N.I. Right to Vote at Special Polling Stations

1 (1) Where, in the case of a person entitled to vote as an elector at a parliamentary election in Northern Ireland, the absent voters list shows that a special polling station is allotted to him he may, notwithstanding anything in section 5 of this Act, vote only in person at that polling station. N.I.

(2) Where a person applies to the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland (in this Schedule referred to as “the electoral officer”) to vote at a particular parliamentary election in Northern Ireland at a special polling station, the electoral officer shall grant the application if—

(a) he is satisfied that the applicant’s circumstances on the date of the poll will be or are likely to be such that he cannot reasonably be expected to vote in person at the polling station allotted or likely to be allotted to him under the parliamentary elections rules,

(b) he is satisfied that the applicant is or will be registered in the register of parliamentary electors, and

(c) the application meets the prescribed requirements.

(3) The electoral officer shall allot a special polling station to any person whose application under this paragraph is granted and shall send him a notice setting out the situation of the special polling station allotted to him and giving such other information as may be prescribed.

(4) There shall be included in the absent voters list in respect of each parliamentary election in Northern Ireland a list of persons whose applications under this paragraph have been granted, setting out, in the case of each person, the situation of the special polling station allotted to him and giving such other information as may be prescribed.

(5) For the purposes of this paragraph, the electoral officer—

(a) shall designate special polling places and may by further designations from time to time alter any designation under this paragraph,

(b) shall publish such notice as he thinks is required of the situation of any place or places currently designated under this paragraph, and

(c) shall in respect of each parliamentary election, provide a special polling station in each special polling place, unless he is satisfied that the number of persons likely to vote there at that election does not justify it.

(6) Sub-paragraph (5) above has effect notwithstanding anything in [F1 section 18A] of the principal Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 1 para. 1(6) substituted (1.7.2008) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 10, 11, 18, 20, 47, 61, 74, Sch. 1 para. 135(2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2(3), 5(f)(iv)