Political Parties and Elections Act 2009

Part 3 U.K. Elections

23 Election falling within canvass period U.K.

F1 (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) In section 13 of that Act (publication of registers), after subsection (1) there is inserted—

“(1A) Subsection (1)(a) above has effect, in the case of a registration officer acting for an area in which (or in part of which) an election to which section 13B below applies is held during the period—

(a) starting with 1st July in the year in question, and

(b) ending with 1st December in that year,

as if for “1st December in that year” there were substituted “ 1st February in the following year ”.”

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 23(1) repealed (10.6.2014 for E.W., 15.9.2014 for N.I., 19.9.2014 for S.) by Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6), s. 27(1), Sch. 4 para. 24(a) (with Sch. 5); S.I. 2014/414, art. 5(m); S.I. 2014/2439, art. 2(l)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 23 wholly in force at 4.9.2009; s. 23 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 43(1); s. 23 in force at 4.9.2009 by S.I. 2009/2395, art. 2(a) (with art. 3)

24 Candidate at parliamentary election may withhold home address from publication U.K.

(1) Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act (parliamentary elections rules) is amended as follows.

(2) In rule 6 (nomination of candidates)—

(a) sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (2) is omitted;

(b) after paragraph (3) there is inserted—

“(4) The nomination paper must be accompanied by a form (in this Schedule referred to as the “home address form”) which states the candidate's—

(a) full names, and

(b) home address in full.

Provision in paragraph (1) above about delivery of the nomination paper applies also to the home address form.

(5) The home address form—

(a) may contain a statement made and signed by the candidate that he requires the home address not to be made public; and

(b) if it does so, must state the constituency within which that address is situated (or, if that address is outside the United Kingdom, the country within which it is situated).”

(3) In rule 11 (right to attend nomination)—

(a) in paragraph (3), after “nomination paper” there is inserted “ and associated home address form ”;

(b) after paragraph (4) there is inserted—

“(5) The returning officer shall not permit a home address form to be inspected otherwise than in accordance with this rule, or for some other purpose authorised by law.”

(4) In rule 12 (validity of nomination papers), in paragraph (1)—

(a) after “consent to it” there is inserted “ and the home address form ”;

(b) after sub-paragraph (a) there is inserted—

“(aa) the returning officer decides that the home address form does not comply with rule 6(4); or”.

(5) In rule 14 (publication of statement of persons nominated), after paragraph (3) there is inserted—

“(3A) In relation to a nominated person in whose case the home address form (or, if the person is nominated by more than one nomination paper, any of the home address forms) contains—

(a) the statement mentioned in rule 6(5)(a), and

(b) the information mentioned in rule 6(5)(b),

the reference in paragraph (2) to the person's address shall be read as a reference to the information mentioned in rule 6(5)(b).”

(6) After paragraph (4) of that rule there is inserted—

“(4A) Where—

(a) two or more of the names shown on the statement are the same or so similar as to be likely to cause confusion,

(b) paragraph (3A) applies in relation to each of the persons in question, and

(c) the information mentioned in rule 6(5)(b) is the same for each of them,

the returning officer may cause any of their particulars to be shown on the statement with such amendments or additions as the officer thinks appropriate in order to reduce the likelihood of confusion.

(4B) Where it is practicable to do so before the publication of the statement, the returning officer shall consult any person whose particulars are to be amended or added to under paragraph (4A).

(4C) The returning officer must give notice in writing to any person whose particulars are amended or added to under paragraph (4A).

(4D) Anything done by a returning officer in pursuance of paragraph (4A) must not be questioned in any proceedings other than proceedings on an election petition.

(4E) A returning officer must have regard to any guidance issued by the Electoral Commission for the purposes of paragraph (4A).”

(7) Before rule 54 there is inserted—

“53A “Destruction of home address forms

“53A The returning officer shall destroy each candidate's home address form—

(a) on the next working day following the 21st day after the officer has returned the name of the member elected; or

(b) if an election petition questioning the election or return is presented before that day, on the next working day following the conclusion of proceedings on the petition or on appeal from such proceedings.”

Commencement Information

I2 S. 24 wholly in force at 4.9.2009; s. 24 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 43(1); s. 24 in force at 4.9.2009 by S.I. 2009/2395, art. 2(b) (with art. 3)

25 Disposal of election documents in Scotland U.K.

In the 1983 Act—

(a) in section 63 (breach of official duty), in subsection (3)(b), the words “sheriff clerk,” are omitted;

(b) in Schedule 1 (parliamentary elections rules), for rule 58 there is substituted—

“58 (1) This rule modifies rules 55 to 57 in relation to elections in Scotland.

(2) In relation to such elections—

(a) the documents mentioned in rule 55(1)—

(i) are not to be forwarded by the returning officer as required by that rule,

(ii) instead, are to remain in the returning officer's custody (and be endorsed by the officer as required by that rule);

(b) the references in rules 56 and 57 to the relevant registration officer are to be read as references to the returning officer (and rule 55(1A) is to be disregarded);

(c) the reference in rule 57(1) to the documents to be retained is to be read as a reference to the documents remaining in the returning officer's custody under sub-paragraph (a)(ii).”

Commencement Information

I3 S. 25 in force at 26.3.2010 by S.I. 2010/969, art. 2(a) (with art. 3)

F2 26 Filling vacant European Parliament seats in Northern Ireland U.K.

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Textual Amendments

F2 S. 26 repealed (31.12.2020) by The European Parliamentary Elections Etc. (Repeal, Revocation, Amendment and Saving Provisions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1310), reg. 1, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (as amended by S.I. 2019/1389, regs. 1, 2(2))

F3 27 Returning officers for elections to the European Parliament U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 27 repealed (31.12.2020) by The European Parliamentary Elections Etc. (Repeal, Revocation, Amendment and Saving Provisions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1310), reg. 1, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (as amended by S.I. 2019/1389, regs. 1, 2(2))