The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2014

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules make changes to the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/3305) (the “2006 Rules”).

Rule 2 updates the interpretation rule in the 2006 Rules. Rules 3 and 4 amend Schedules 2 (rules for the conduct of an election of councillors) and 3 (rules for the conduct of an election of councillors where the poll is combined with another election or referendum) to the 2006 Rules.

Rules 3(2) and 4(2) amend Schedules 2 and 3 to the 2006 Rules to change the deadline for candidates to withdraw at parish and community elections. Rules 3(4) and 4(4) modify rules 26(8) and 26(10) in Schedules 2 and 3 to the 2006 Rules which set out guidance for voters.

Rules 3(5) and (6) and 4(5) and (6) make changes to rules 28 and 30 of Schedules 2 and 3 to the 2006 Rules to provide that certain references to police constables in those rules include references to community support officers. This ensures that the changes made by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c.6) to the equivalent parliamentary elections rules in the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2) are reflected for parish and community elections.

Rules 3(7) and (8) and 4(7) and (8)(b) make changes to Schedules 2 and 3 to the 2006 Rules to reflect the changes made to parliamentary elections rules by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 and the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (Commencement No.4 and Consequential Provision) Order 2014 to allow voters queuing at a polling station at the close of the poll (10pm on polling day) to be issued with ballot papers and vote, or to return postal ballot papers and postal voting statements. Rule 4(8)(a) makes a consequential change to the 2006 Rules, updating statutory references to reflect modifications made to the Local Government Act 2000 by the Localism Act 2011.

Rules 3(3) and (9) and 4(3) and (9) make amendments to rules 7 (consent to nomination) and the corresponding forms (Form of Candidate’s Consent to Nomination) in Schedules 2 and 3 to the 2006 Rules, to update references to legislation governing disqualification.

Rules 3(10) and 4(10) and Schedules 1 and 2 replace certain forms in the Appendices to Schedules 2 and 3 to the 2006 Rules.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument because no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen other than that set out in the impact assessments which relate to Part 2 of the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013.