18.—(1) This regulation applies where, at any time during the relevant period for a relevant election, petition or referendum, a registration officer issues an applicant with an electoral identity document in accordance with regulation 16.
(2) The registration officer may also issue the applicant with a temporary electoral identity document where the registration officer is satisfied that the issued electoral identity document may not be delivered in time to the applicant for the applicant to be able to use that document at the relevant election, petition or referendum.
(3) In paragraph (1), “the relevant period” in relation to a relevant election, petition or referendum means the period—
(a)beginning at 5pm on the sixth working day before the relevant date, and
(b)ending at—
(i)where the relevant election, petition or referendum is a recall petition—
(aa)5pm on the relevant date, or
(bb)if earlier, the beginning of the final hour during which the petition will be available for signing at the allotted petition signing place on the relevant date;
(ii)otherwise, 5pm on the relevant date.
(4) In paragraph (3)—
(a)“allotted petition signing place” means the petition signing place allotted to the applicant in accordance with regulation 16 of the 2016 Regulations;
(b)the “relevant date” is—
(i)where the relevant election, petition or referendum is a recall petition, the last day of the signing period for that petition;
(ii)otherwise, the date of the poll at that election or referendum;
(c)“working day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or a bank holiday.