Building Societies Act 1986

Postal ballots U.K.

33 (1) The rules of a building society may provide for the voting in an election of directors or on any resolution of the society [F1 (other than a shareholding members’ resolution or a borrowing members’ resolution)] to be conducted in all, or in any particular, circumstances by postal ballot; F2 ... U.K.

[F3 (1A) Rules made pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) may also make provision in relation to the use of electronic communications in the conduct of a postal ballot.]

(2) Where, under the rules of a society, a postal ballot is to take place, the following provisions of this paragraph have effect.

(3) Notice of a postal ballot shall be given not less than 21 nor more than 56 days before the date which the society specifies as the final date for the receipt of completed ballot papers (referred to in this paragraph as “the voting day”).

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Schedule, notice of a postal ballot shall be given to every member of the society who would be entitled to vote in the election or on the resolution if the voting date for the election or the resolution fell on the date of the notice.

[F4 (5) Notice of the postal ballot shall, subject to those provisions, be given also to every person—

(a) who becomes a shareholding or borrowing member of the society after the date of the notice under sub-paragraph (4) above and before the voting day; or

(b) who, being such a member at the date of that notice, attains the age of 18 after that date and on or before the voting day,

and who would (in either case) be eligible to vote in the election or on the resolution if he remained such a member until that day.

[F5 (5A) Where a notice of a postal ballot is required to be given to a person by sub-paragraph (4) or (5), the notice may be sent to him electronically only if it is sent to an electronic address notified by the person to the society for the purpose.

(5B) In a case in which notice of a postal ballot is sent electronically to an electronic address in accordance with sub-paragraph (5A), the notice is to be treated as given to a person on the day on which it is transmitted.

(5C) A requirement of sub-paragraph (4) or (5) to send a notice of a postal ballot shall also be treated as satisfied if—

(a) the society and the person have agreed that notices which are required to be sent to him may instead be accessed by him on a web site;

(b) the agreement applies to the notice in question

(c) that person is notified F6 ... of—

(i) the publication of the notice on a web site,

(ii) the address of that web site, and

(iii) the place on that web site where the notice may be accessed, and how it may be accessed; and

(d) the notice is published continuously on that web site throughout the period beginning with the giving of that notification and ending with the voting date (within the meaning of section 60(17)).

(5D) In a case in which sub-paragraph (5B) is relied on for compliance with a requirement of sub-paragraph (4) or (5), a notice of a postal ballot is to be treated as sent to a person on the day when notification is given in accordance with sub-paragraph (5C)(d).

(5E) Where, in a case in which sub-paragraph (5C) is relied on for compliance with a requirement of sub-paragraph (4) or (5)—

(a) a notice of a postal ballot is published for a part, but not all, of the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (5C)(d), but

(b) the failure to publish it throughout that period is wholly attributable to circumstances which it would not be reasonable to have expected the society to prevent or avoid,

the failure shall not invalidate the postal ballot.]

(6) Notice of a postal ballot—

(a) shall contain such other notices relating to the election or resolution [F7 (“related notices”)], and

(b) shall be accompanied by such other documents [F8 (“accompanying documents”)],

as would be required to be given or sent to a member in connection with notice of a meeting, had it been intended to hold the election or vote on the resolution at a meeting instead of by postal ballot with the exception, however, of any notice relating to voting by proxy at a meeting.

[F9 (6A) Where the notice of a postal ballot is required by sub-paragraph (6) to contain a related notice or to be accompanied by an accompanying document—

(a) in a case where the notice of that ballot is given to a person electronically in accordance with sub-paragraph (5A), the related notice or accompanying document may be sent to him electronically only if it is sent to the same electronic address, and at the same time as the notice of the postal ballot;

(b) in a case where notice of that ballot is given on a web site in accordance with subparagraph (5C), the requirement to send the related notice or accompanying document to that person shall also be treated as satisfied if the conditions set out in sub-paragraph (6B) are satisfied.

(6B) The conditions of this sub-paragraph are satisfied in the case of a related notice or accompanying document if—

(a) the society and that member have agreed that information which is required to be sent to him may instead be accessed by him on a web site;

(b) the agreement applies to the related notice or accompanying document in question;

(c) at the same time and in the same manner as the society notifies that person of the publication of the notice of the postal ballot, it notifies him of—

(i) the publication of the related notice or accompanying document on a web site,

(ii) the address of that web site,

(iii) the place on that web site where that statement or notification may be accessed, and how it may be accessed; and

(d) the related notice or accompanying document is published continuously on that web site throughout the period beginning with the giving of that notification in accordance with paragraph (c) and ending with the voting date (within the meaning of section 60(17)).

(6C) Where notice of a postal ballot and any related notice or accompanying document is sent to a person electronically, that person may return the completed voting paper to the society either—

(a) by post; or

(b) electronically by sending it to an electronic address notified by the society to that person for the purpose,

unless the rules of the society make provision to the contrary.]

(7) Accidental omission—

(a) to give notice of a postal ballot, or

(b) to send any document required by sub-paragraph (6) above to accompany such a notice,

to any person entitled to receive it, or non-receipt of such a notice or document by such a person, does not invalidate the postal ballot.

[F10 (7A) Where, in a case in which sub-paragraph (6A)(b) is relied on for compliance with a requirement of sub-paragraph (6)—

(a) a related notice or accompanying document is published for a part, but not all, of the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (6B)(d), but

(b) the failure to publish it throughout that period is wholly attributable to circumstances which it would not be reasonable to have expected the society to prevent or avoid,

the failure shall not invalidate the postal ballot.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 33(1) inserted (1.12.1997 in specified cases and for specified purposes and otherwise in accordance with art. 2(2)(3)(5) of S.I. 1997/2668) by 1997 c. 32, ss. 43, 47(3), Sch. 7 para. 57(14); S.I. 1997/2668, art. 2, Sch. Pt. II(w)(z)(xxxiv)

F2 Words in Sch. 2 para. 33(1) omitted (20.3.2003) by virtue of The Building Societies Act 1986 (Electronic Communications) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/404), arts. 1(1), 17(2), 30(10)

F3 Sch. 2 para. 33(1A) inserted (20.3.2003) by The Building Societies Act 1986 (Electronic Communications) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/404), arts. 1(1), 17(3)

F4 Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 33(5) substituted (1.12.1997 in specified cases and for specified purposes and otherwise in accordance with art. 2(2)(3)(5) of S.I. 1997/2668) by 1997 c. 32, ss. 43, 47(3), Sch. 7 para. 57(15); S.I. 1997/2668, art. 2, Sch. Pt. II(w)(z)(xxxiv)

F5 Sch. 2 para. 33(5A)-(5E) inserted (20.3.2003) by The Building Societies Act 1986 (Electronic Communications) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/404), arts. 1(1), 17(4)

F6 Words in Sch. 2 para. 33(5C)(c) omitted (18.2.2014) by virtue of Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), s. 148(2), Sch. 9 para. 12(3)

F7 Words in Sch. 2 para. 33(6)(a) inserted (20.3.2003) by The Building Societies Act 1986 (Electronic Communications) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/404), arts. 1(1), 17(5)(a)

F8 Words in Sch. 2 para. 33(6)(b) inserted (20.3.2003) by The Building Societies Act 1986 (Electronic Communications) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/404), arts. 1(1), 17(5)(b)

F9 Sch. 2 para. 33(6A)-(6C) inserted (20.3.2003) by The Building Societies Act 1986 (Electronic Communications) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/404), arts. 1(1), 17(6)

F10 Sch. 2 para. 33(7A) inserted (20.3.2003) by The Building Societies Act 1986 (Electronic Communications) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/404), arts. 1(1), 17(7)