114.This section makes amendments to Schedule 1 of the 1983 Act (parliamentary election rules).
115.Subsection (2) amends rule 1 to require returning officers to publish the statement of persons nominated, where no objections are made, once the time for making objections has passed. Where objections have been made the statement must be published once all objections have been disposed of, and in any event within 24 hours of the last time for the delivery of nomination papers. Subsections (6) and (7) amend rule 12 so that returning officers must make any decision on the validity of nomination papers within 24 hours of the close of the period for the delivery of nomination papers.
116.Subsection (5) amends rule 9 so as to clarify that the returning officer may at his discretion accept the use of debit and credit cards or electronic transfer of funds by candidates in lodging their deposits. Subsection (3) amends rule 5 to require that the notice of election must contain details of the arrangements for such electronic transfer of funds.
117.Subsection (8) confers on returning officers the power to correct minor errors made in nomination papers, such as obvious spelling errors.