The Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) (Amendment) Order 2003

Statutory Instruments

2003 No. 2989

NORTHERN IRELAND

The Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) (Amendment) Order 2003

Made

12th November 2003

Coming into force

13th November 2003

Whereas the Secretary of State has consulted the Electoral Commission in accordance with section 7(1) and (2)(h) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000(1) about this Order;

And whereas a draft of this Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament:

Now, therefore, the Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 34(4) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998(2), hereby makes the following Order:

1.  This Order may be cited as the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) (Amendment) Order 2003 and shall come into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

2.—(1) Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001(3) (application with modifications of statutory provisions relating to elections) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In relation to the entry in the left-hand column in respect of rule 32 (admission to polling station) of Schedule 1 (parliamentary elections rules) to the Representation of the People Act 1983(4), there shall be inserted in the right-hand column “In paragraph (1) after sub-paragraph (c) insert “(ca) Electoral Commissioners, members of staff of the Electoral Commission and persons appointed by the Electoral Commission for the purpose of attending at polling stations on behalf of the Commission;””.

Paul Murphy

One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State

Northern Ireland Office

12th November 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends rule 32 of the parliamentary elections rules set out in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2) as it is applied by Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001 for the purposes of an election to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The effect of the amendment is that Electoral Commissioners, members of staff of the Electoral Commission and persons appointed to attend at polling stations on behalf of the Commission are added to the list of those who may be admitted to polling stations at Assembly elections.

(1)

2000 c. 41.

(2)

1998 c. 47.

(3)

S.I. 2001/2599.

(4)

1983 c. 2.