8.—(1) The Recall of MPs Act 2015 (Recall Petition) Regulations 2016(1) are amended as follows.
(2) In regulation 39 (the count), in paragraph (6)—
(a)after “Act”, in the first place where it appears, insert “or regulation 52(1A) or 54(1A)”,
(b)for “section 10(4A)(a)” to the end substitute “regulation 52(1)(d) or (da)(i) or 54(1)(d) or (da)(i)”.
(3) In regulation 52 (absent signing at any petition for an indefinite period: Northern Ireland)—
(a)in paragraph (1)—
(i)in sub-paragraph (a), after “applicant is” insert “or will be”,
(ii)in sub-paragraph (d), at the beginning insert “in the case of an applicant other than one who is or will be digitally registered,”,
(iii)after sub-paragraph (d) insert—
“(da)in the case of an applicant who is or will be digitally registered, the registration officer is satisfied that the application—
(i)is signed; and
(ii)includes the digital registration number allocated to the applicant by that officer;”,
(b)after paragraph (1) insert—
“(1A) In the case of an applicant who is or will be digitally registered, if the registration officer is satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable for the applicant to sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of blindness or any other disability of that person or because that person is unable to read, the officer may make a determination to that effect.”,
(c)after paragraph (8) insert—
“(9) In this regulation, a reference to a person who is or will be digitally registered is a reference to a person whose registration in the register of parliamentary electors is or will be pursuant to an application submitted through the UK digital service.
(10) In this regulation—
“digital registration number” has the same meaning as in section 10B(1) of the 1983 Act;
“the UK digital service” has the same meaning as in section 10ZF of the 1983 Act, and the reference to an application submitted through the UK digital service is to be construed in accordance with subsection (4) of that section.”
(4) In regulation 54 (absent signing at a particular petition: Northern Ireland)—
(a)in paragraph (1)—
(i)in sub-paragraph (d), at the beginning insert “in the case of an applicant other than one who is or will be digitally registered,”,
(ii)after sub-paragraph (d) insert—
“(da)in the case of an applicant who is or will be digitally registered, the registration officer is satisfied that the application—
(i)is signed; and
(ii)includes the digital registration number allocated to the applicant by that officer;”,
(b)after paragraph (1) insert—
“(1A) In the case of an applicant who is or will be digitally registered, if the registration officer is satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable for the applicant to sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of blindness or any other disability of that person or because that person is unable to read, the officer may make a determination to that effect.”,
(c)after paragraph (5) insert—
“(6) In this regulation, a reference to a person who is or will be digitally registered is a reference to a person whose registration in the register of parliamentary electors is or will be pursuant to an application submitted through the UK digital service.
(7) In this regulation—
“digital registration number” has the same meaning as in section 10B(1) of the 1983 Act;
“the UK digital service” has the same meaning as in section 10ZF of the 1983 Act, and the reference to an application submitted through the UK digital service is to be construed in accordance with subsection (4) of that section.”