The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008

[F1 Overseas electors: power to require additional evidence as to change of name N.I.

27ZG.— (1) This regulation applies where—

(a) a person has made an application to be registered in pursuance of an overseas elector’s declaration, and

(b) any of conditions A to D are met.

(2) Condition A is that the applicant has indicated in their declaration that their name has changed since they were last included in the register or since the last day on which they were resident in the United Kingdom.

(3) Condition B is that—

(a) the applicant has provided a document in accordance with regulation 27ZA(3) or (4), 27ZB(2), 27ZD(2)(a) or 27ZE(3)(a), and

(b) the applicant’s name in that document is different from both the applicant’s name in the applicant’s declaration and any name provided in accordance with regulation 20(2)(a)(ii)(aa) or (3)(a)(ii)(aa).

(4) Condition C is that—

(a) the applicant has provided the name of a parent or guardian in accordance with regulation 27ZA(2)(a), and

(b) the name provided is different from the name of the parent or guardian as it appears on—

(i) the register, or

(ii) a document provided in accordance with regulation 27ZA(3) or (4).

(5) Condition D is that—

(a) the applicant has provided a document in accordance with regulation 27ZD(5)(a) and a document in accordance with regulation 27ZD(5)(b), and

(b) the name of the applicant’s spouse or civil partner in each of those documents is different.

(6) The registration officer may require the applicant to provide—

(a) if Condition A is met, such evidence confirming the change of the applicant’s name as the registration officer considers appropriate, except that the registration officer must require more than an explanation as to the difference in name;

(b) if Condition B is met—

(i) an explanation as to the difference in name, or

(ii) such other evidence confirming the change of the applicant’s name as the registration officer considers appropriate, and

(c) if Condition C or D is met—

(i) an explanation as to the difference in name, or

(ii) where the applicant does not know the reason for the difference, a statement to that effect.

(7) Where the applicant provides a copy of a document in accordance with paragraph (6)(a) or (b)(ii), the registration officer may, if the registration officer considers it appropriate, require the applicant to provide the original document.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Regs. 27ZA-27ZI inserted (16.1.2024) by The Representation of the People (Overseas Electors etc.) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/43), regs. 1(1), 14 (with reg. 27(1))