The Representation of the People (Postal and Proxy Voting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Amendment of the Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017

20.—(1) The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017(1) is amended as follows.

(2) Schedule 1 (combined authority mayoral elections rules) is amended in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4).

(3) In rule 35 (questions to be put to voters)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(b), after “put if” insert “(where applicable) the person has answered the previous question in the manner indicated, and”;

(b) in the table following paragraph (1)—

(i) in entries 2 and 3, in the column headed “Question”, for question (c) substitute—

“(c) Disregarding any parliamentary election or police and crime commissioner election, have you already voted as proxy at this election or any other election or referendum for which the day of poll is today, whether here or elsewhere in this electoral area or anywhere else in England, on behalf of four or more electors? [R]

(d) If the person answers question (c) in the negative: “Disregarding any parliamentary election or police and crime commissioner election, have you already voted as proxy at this election or any other election or referendum for which the day of poll is today, whether here or elsewhere in this electoral area or anywhere else in England, on behalf of two or more electors?” [R]

(e) If the person answers question (d) in the affirmative: “Were two or more of the electors on whose behalf you have voted in this election, or any other election or referendum for which the day of poll is today, registered in a register of electors otherwise than in pursuance of a service declaration?” [R]

(f) If the person answers question (e) in the affirmative: “Is the elector (or are the electors) for whom you are voting today registered in a register of electors otherwise than in pursuance of a service declaration?” [R]”;

(ii) omit entry 4;

(c) in paragraph (2), for “3(a), (b) and (c)” substitute “3(a) and (b)”.

(4) In Part 9 (appendix of forms), for Form 8 (elector’s official poll card) and Form 10 (official proxy poll card) substitute the corresponding forms in Part 1 of Schedule 11.

(5) In Schedule 2 (modifications of Acts and statutory instrument), in paragraph 1 (the Representation of the People Act 1983), in sub-paragraph (15)—

(a) in paragraph (b), the inserted subsection (3B) is renumbered as subsection (3AA);

(b) in paragraph (ba), for “(3B)” substitute “(3AA)”.

(6) Schedule 3 (combined authority mayoral elections (combination of polls) rules) is amended in accordance with paragraphs (7) and (8).

(7) In rule 35 (questions to be put to voters)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(b), after “put if” insert “the person has answered the previous question in the manner indicated (where applicable), and”;

(b) in the table following paragraph (1)—

(i) in entries 2 and 3, in the column headed “Question”, for question (c) substitute—

“(c) Disregarding any parliamentary election or police and crime commissioner election, have you already voted as proxy at this election or any other election or referendum for which the day of poll is today, whether here or elsewhere in this electoral area or anywhere else in England, on behalf of four or more electors? [R]

(d) If the person answers question (c) in the negative: “Disregarding any parliamentary election or police and crime commissioner election, have you already voted as proxy at this election or any other election or referendum for which the day of poll is today, whether here or elsewhere in this electoral area or anywhere else in England, on behalf of two or more electors?” [R]

(e) If the person answers question (d) in the affirmative: “Were two or more of the electors on whose behalf you have voted in this election, or any other election or referendum for which the day of poll is today, registered in a register of electors otherwise than in pursuance of a service declaration?” [R]

(f) If the person answers question (e) in the affirmative: “Is the elector (or are the electors) for whom you are voting today registered in a register of electors otherwise than in pursuance of a service declaration?” [R]”;

(ii) omit entry 4;

(c) in paragraph (2), for “3(a), (b) and (c)” substitute “3(a) and (b)”.

(8) In Part 9 (appendix of forms), for Form 8 (elector’s official poll card) and Form 10 (official proxy poll card) substitute the corresponding forms in Part 2 of Schedule 11.

(1)

S.I. 2017/67, amended by S.I. 2022/1382; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.