Procedure in relation to declarations of identity: Northern IrelandN.I.
105.—(1) A declaration of identity is a valid declaration of identity for the purposes of these Regulations if—
(a)it is duly signed by the postal signer; and
(b)in the case of an elector, regulation 39(5) is satisfied (the count).
(2) The petition officer must be satisfied that the declaration of identity is a valid declaration of identity.
(3) Where the petition officer is not so satisfied, the petition officer must mark the declaration “rejected”, attach to it the signing sheet envelope, or if there is no such envelope, the signing sheet and place it in the receptacle for rejected signing sheets.
(4) The petition officer must then compare the number on the declaration of identity against the number on the signing sheet envelope and, where they are the same, the petition officer must place the declaration and the signing sheet envelope respectively in the receptacle for declarations of identity and the receptacle for signing sheet envelopes.
(5) Where—
(a)the number on a valid declaration of identity is not the same as the number on the signing sheet envelope, or
(b)that envelope has no number on it and the number is not displayed through a window in it,
the petition officer must open the envelope.
(6) Paragraph (7) applies where—
(a)there is a valid declaration of identity but no postal signing sheet envelope; or
(b)the postal signing sheet envelope has been opened under paragraph (5) or regulation 104(3)(b) (opening of covering envelopes).
(7) In the circumstances described in paragraph (6), the petition officer must place—
(a)in the postal ballot box, any postal signing sheet the number on which is the same as the number on the valid declaration of identity;
(b)in the receptacle for rejected signing sheets, any other petition signing sheet, with the valid declaration of identity attached and marked “rejected”;
(c)in the receptacle for rejected signing sheets, any valid declaration of identity marked “rejected” where there is no postal signing sheet;
(d)in the receptacle for declarations of identity, any valid declaration not disposed of under subparagraph (b) or (c).