In Schedule 2, after paragraph 31B (absent voting: fresh signatures following rejection of postal voting statement) insert—

“Further notification of a rejected postal voting statement31C.

(1)

Where a registration officer notifies an absent voter of a rejected postal statement under paragraph 31A, in relation to the European Parliamentary election on 22nd May 2014, that officer must–

(a)

send that voter a further notification that the ballot paper concerned was rejected because the returning officer was not satisfied that the postal voting statement was duly completed; and

(b)

do so within a period of 10 days beginning on 19th March 2015.

(2)

The further notification must include—

(a)

details of the poll where the rejection occurred,

(b)

an indication that a notification was previously sent under paragraph 31A, and

(c)

general information on the requirements for a duly completed postal voting statement.

(3)

A registration officer need not send a further notification–

(a)

to any person who is no longer shown as voting by post in the relevant record; or

(b)

if the officer suspects that an offence has been committed in relation to the registration as an elector of the person who would otherwise receive it, or that person’s postal ballot paper or postal voting statement.

(4)

Sub-paragraph (1) applies in relation to a notification of a rejected postal statement made under paragraph 31A before the coming into force of this paragraph as it applies to one made after the coming into force of this paragraph.”