The Representation of the People (Franchise Amendment and Eligibility Review) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023

Duty to determine whether relevant citizens of the Union satisfy the revised registration criteria

5.—(1) The Chief Electoral Officer must, in accordance with regulations 6 to 14, determine in the case of each relevant person whether the person satisfies the revised registration criteria.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the Chief Electoral Officer must make the determination by the end of 31st January 2025.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply where at the end of 31st January 2025—

(a) the Chief Electoral Officer has requested information from a relevant person under regulation 10, and the date for response specified in that request has not yet passed,

(b) the 14-day period within which the relevant person may require a review hearing following notification from the Chief Electoral Officer pursuant to regulation 12 has not yet expired, or

(c) the relevant person has required a hearing pursuant to regulation 12(4), and—

(i) the review has not yet been heard, or

(ii) the review has been heard but the subject of the review has not been notified of the outcome of the review,

and in consequence the Chief Electoral Officer has not made a determination.

(4) Where paragraph (3) applies, the Chief Electoral Officer must make the determination specified in paragraph (1) as soon as reasonably practicable after 31st January 2025.

(5) Nothing in this Chapter prevents the Chief Electoral Officer from reviewing the eligibility of a relevant person to be or to remain registered in accordance with section 10A of the 1983 Act for reasons other than that they are a relevant person.