The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2001

Made: 12th February 2001

Coming into force: 16th February 2001

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PART I — GENERAL, INTERPRETATION AND MISCELLANEOUS

Citation, commencement and extent

1

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Revocations

2

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Interpretation

3

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Forms

4

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Communication of applications, notices etc.

5

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Electronic signatures and related certificates

6

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Copies of documents

7

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Time

8

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Official poll card at parliamentary elections

9

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Return and declaration of election expenses

10

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Interference with notices etc.

11

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Device referred to in rule 29(3A) (b) of parliamentary elections rules

12

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Registration of European Parliamentary overseas electors

13

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Amendment of rule 37(1E) of the parliamentary elections rules

14

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PART II — SERVICE AND OVERSEAS ELECTORS' DECLARATIONS

Service declarations

Qualification for Crown servant

15

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Contents of service declaration

16

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Transmission of service declaration

17

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Notification by registration officer in respect of service declarations

18

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Overseas electors' declarations

Contents of overseas elector’s declaration

19

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Certain declarants to supply copy of birth certificates

20

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Attestation of certain overseas electors' declarations

21

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Notification about registration as overseas elector

22

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PART III — REGISTRATION

Information about electors

Power to require information

23

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Evidence as to age and nationality

24

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Reminders to electors registered pursuant to a declaration

25

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Applications for registration

26

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Objections to registration

27

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Inspection of applications and objections

28

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Determination of applications and objections

Procedure for determining applications for registration and objections without a hearing

29

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Notice of hearing

30

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Hearing of applications and objections

31

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Registration appeals

32

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Circumstances when the power in section 10A(5)(b) of the 1983 Act applies

33

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Retaining entries in register

34

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Registration officer’s right to inspect certain records

35

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Notices in connection with registration

36

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Notice by registration officer of a change of address

37

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The register

Separate part of register for each parliamentary polling district

38

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Different letter for each parliamentary polling district

39

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Qualifying addresses which are not included in the register

40

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Order of names

41

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Marking of names

42

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Publication of register

43

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Information about register

44

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Preparation and publication of list of overseas electors

45

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Supply of free copies of register and list of overseas electors otherwise than on request

46

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Supply of free copies of register and list of overseas electors on request

47

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Sale of register and list of overseas electors

48

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Supply of register and list of overseas electors in data form

49

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PART IV — ABSENT VOTERS

Interpretation of Part IV

50

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General requirements for applications for an absent vote

51

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Additional requirements for applications for the appointment of a proxy

52

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Additional requirements for applications on grounds of physical incapacity or blindness

53

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Additional requirements for applications based on occupation, service, employment or attendance on a course

54

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Additional requirements for applications in respect of a particular election

55

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Additional requirements for applications by proxies to vote by post at a particular election

56

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Closing date for applications

57

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Grant or refusal of applications

58

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Notice of appeal

59

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Cancellation of proxy appointment

60

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Inquiries by registration officer

61

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Records and lists kept under sections 6, 7 and 9 of the 1985 Act

62

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Marked register for polling stations

63

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Certificate of employment at a parliamentary election

64

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PART V — ISSUE AND RECEIPT OF POSTAL BALLOT PAPERS

Interpretation of Part V

65

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Issue of Postal Ballot Papers

Form of declaration of identity

66

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Persons entitled to be present at proceedings on issue and receipt of postal ballot papers

67

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Agents of candidates who may attend proceedings on issue or receipt of postal ballot papers

68

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Notification of requirement of secrecy

69

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Notice of issue of postal ballot papers

70

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Procedure on issue of postal ballot paper

71

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Refusal to issue postal ballot paper

72

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Envelopes

73

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Sealing up of counterfoils and security of special lists

74

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Delivery of postal ballot papers

75

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Spoilt postal ballot papers

76

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Receipt of Postal Ballot Papers

Notice of opening of postal ballot paper envelopes

77

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Postal ballot boxes and receptacles

78

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Receipt of covering envelope

79

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Opening of postal voters' ballot box

80

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Opening of covering envelopes

81

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Procedure in relation to declarations of identity

82

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Opening of ballot paper envelopes

83

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Sealing of receptacles

84

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Abandoned poll

85

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Forwarding of documents

86

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SCHEDULE 1 — ENABLING POWERS

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In the case of sections 4 to 56 of the 1983 Act, the provisions cited include those provisions as applied with modifications by section 2(1) of, and Schedule 1 to, the Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989[^f00065].

SCHEDULE 2 — REVOCATIONS

1	2	3
Regulations revoked	References	Extent of revocation
The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1986	S.I. 1986/1091	The whole Regulations
The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 1989	S.I. 1989/1304	The whole Regulations
The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 1990	S.I. 1990/561	The whole Regulations
The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Variation of Specified Documents and Amendment) Regulations 1991	S.I. 1991/1674	The whole Regulations
The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 1992	S.I. 1992/832	The whole Regulations
The European Parliamentary Elections (Changes to the Franchise and Qualification of Representatives) Regulations 1994	S.I. 1994/342	Part III of the Schedule
The Local Government Elections (Changes to the Franchise and Qualification of Members) Regulations 1995	S.I. 1995/1948	Paragraphs 23 to 26 of Schedule 2
The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 1997	S.I. 1997/967	The whole Regulations
The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 1998	S.I. 1998/2870	The whole Regulations

SCHEDULE 3 — FORMS

Form A:	Elector’s official poll card
Form B:	Proxy’s official poll card
Form C:	Return of expenses required by section 75 of the 1983 Act
Form D:	Declaration as to expenses required by section 75 of the 1983 Act
Form E:	Proxy paper
Form F:	Certificate of employment
Form G:	Declaration of identity
Form H:	Statement as to postal ballot papers
Form J:	Declaration of identity (combined polls)

Form A:

ELECTOR'S OFFICIAL POLL CARD

Regulation 9(2)

Form B:

PROXY'S OFFICIAL POLL CARD

Regulation 9(3)

Form C:

RETURN OF EXPENSES REQUIRED BY SECTION 75 OF THE 1983 ACT

Regulation 10(1)

Form D:

DECLARATION AS TO EXPENSES REQUIRED BY SECTION 75 OF THE 1983 ACT

Regulation 10(1)

Form E:

PROXY PAPER

Regulation 57(3)

Form F:

CERTIFICATE OF EMPLOYMENT

Regulation 64(1)

Form G:

DECLARATION OF IDENTITY

Regulation 66(a)

Form H:

STATEMENT AS TO POSTAL BALLOT PAPERS

Regulation 86(1)(b)

SCHEDULE 4 — APPLICATION WITH MODIFICATIONS OF PROVISIONS OF THE 1983 AND 1985 ACTS FOR REGISTRATION OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY OVERSEAS ELECTORS

1	2
Provision applied	Modification
PART I: THE 1983 ACT	PART I: THE 1983 ACT
Section 4(5) (attainers)[^f00066]
Section 9 (register of electors)[^f00067]	In subsection (1)(a) omit “for each constituency or part of a constituency”. Omit subsection (2)(b). Omit subsections (5) to (8).
Section 13 (publication of registers)[^f00068]	For subsections (1) to (3) substitute: 1 Where a register under section 3 of the 1985 Act is in force, a revised version of it shall be published when a revised version of the registers of parliamentary and local government electors is published under this section as it has effect for the purposes of such registers. .
Section 13A (alteration of registers)
Section 13B (alteration of register: pending elections)	For subsection (4) substitute: 4 This section applies to elections to the European Parliament. .
Section 50 (effect of misdescription)	For paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) substitute “in the register”.
Section 52 (discharge of registration duties)[^f00069]	In subsections (1) and (4) after the word “Act” insert “and regulation 13 of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001”.
Section 54 (payment of expenses of registration[^f00070]	In subsection (1) after the word “Act” in the first place where it occurs, insert “and regulation 13 of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001”. Omit subsection (3).
Section 56 (registration appeals: England and Wales)[^f00071]	Omit subsection (1)(b).
Section 58 (registration appeals: Northern Ireland)[^f00072]
Section 63 (breach of official duty)[^f00073]	In subsection (3)— for paragraphs (a) to (d) substitute: a any registration officer, ; and for the words from “relating to” to the end of the subsection substitute “relating to the registration of European Parliamentary overseas electors”.
PART II: THE 1985 ACT	PART II: THE 1985 ACT
Section 2 (registration of British citizens overseas)[^f00074]	In subsection 1(a) omit “constituency or”. In paragraph (c) of subsection (2) for the words from “parliamentary” to the end of that paragraph, substitute “local electors”. In subsection (4) for “section 1” substitute “section 3”. In subsection (7) for “any constituency or part of a constituency” substitute “the electoral region”. In subsection (8) for “section 1(1)(a)” substitute “section 3(1)(a)”.
In section 12 (offences as to declarations etc), subsections (1), (2) and (4)	In subsection (1)(a) for the word “parliamentary” substitute “European Parliamentary”.

Signed

John Reid — One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State — 12th February 2001

Explanatory note

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Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1962 c. 14 (N.I.).

[^f00002]: 1983 c. 2.