The Voter Identification (Principal Area, Parish and Greater London Authority Elections) (Amendment) Rules 2024

Made: 3rd December 2024

Laid before Parliament: 4th December 2024

Coming into force: 26th December 2024

The Secretary of State has consulted the Electoral Commission in accordance with section 7(1) and (2)(d) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000[^f00002].

Citation, commencement, extent and saving

1

• (1) These Rules may be cited as the Voter Identification (Principal Area, Parish and Greater London Authority Elections) (Amendment) Rules 2024, and these Rules come into force on 26th December 2024.

• (2) These rules extend to England and Wales.

• (3) The amendments made by these Rules do not apply in relation to an election in respect of which the date of the poll as stated in the notice of the election published in accordance with the relevant rule, is before 1st May 2025.

• (4) In paragraph (3), the “relevant rule” means—

• (a) rule 3 of Schedule 2 or rule 3 of Schedule 3 to the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006[^f00003];

• (b) rule 3 of Schedule 2 or rule 3 of Schedule 3 to the Local Elections (Parish and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006[^f00004];

• (c) rule 5 of Schedule 1, rule 5 of Schedule 2, rule 5 of Schedule 3, rule 5 of Schedule 5, rule 5 of Schedule 6 or rule 5 of Schedule 7 to the Greater London Authority Elections Rules 2007[^f00005].

Amendment of the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006

2

In the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006—

• (a) in Schedule 2 (rules for conduct of an election of councillors of a principal area where the poll is not taken together with the poll at another election), in Part 7 (appendix of forms), for the form of the Official Poll Card (to be sent to an elector voting in person) and the form of the Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person) substitute the corresponding forms in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to these Rules;

• (b) in Schedule 3 (rules for conduct of an election of councillors of a principal area where the poll is taken together with the poll at a relevant election or referendum), in Part 7 (appendix of forms), for the form of the Official Poll Card (to be sent to an elector voting in person) and the form of the Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person) substitute the corresponding forms in Part 2 of Schedule 1 to these Rules.

Amendment of the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006

3

In the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006—

• (a) in Schedule 2 (rules for conduct of an election of councillors of a parish where the poll is not taken together with the poll at another election), in Part 7 (appendix of forms), for the form of the Official Poll Card (to be sent to an elector voting in person) and the form of the Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person) substitute the corresponding forms in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to these Rules;

• (b) in Schedule 3 (rules for conduct of an election of councillors of a parish where the poll is taken together with the poll at a relevant election or referendum), in Part 7 (appendix of forms), for the form of the Official Poll Card (to be sent to an elector voting in person) and the form of the Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person) substitute the corresponding forms in Part 2 of Schedule 2 to these Rules.

Amendment of the Greater London Authority Elections Rules 2007

4

In Schedule 10 to the Greater London Authority Elections Rules 2007 (schedule of forms), for Form 12 (official poll card) and Form 14 (official proxy poll card) substitute the corresponding forms in Schedule 3 to these Rules.

SCHEDULE 1 — Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006: New forms

PART 1 — Forms for use at an election of councillors of a principal area where the poll is not taken together with the poll at another election

Official Poll Card (to be sent to an elector voting in person)

Front of form

Rear of form

Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person)

Front of form

Rear of form

PART 2 — Forms for use at an election of councillors of a principal area where the poll is taken together with the poll at another election or referendum

Official Poll Card (to be sent to an elector voting in person)

Front of form

Rear of form

Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person)

Front of form

Rear of form

SCHEDULE 2 — Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006: New forms

PART 1 — Forms for use at an election of councillors of a parish where the poll is not taken together with the poll at another election

Official Poll Card (to be sent to an elector voting in person)

Front of form

Rear of form

Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person)

Front of form

Rear of form

PART 2 — Forms for use at an election of councillors of a parish where the poll is taken together with the poll at another election or referendum

Official Poll Card (to be sent to an elector voting in person)

Front of form

Rear of form

Official Proxy Poll Card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person)

Front of form

Rear of form

SCHEDULE 3 — Greater London Authority Elections Rules 2007: New forms

Form 12 (official poll card)

Front of form

Rear of form

Form 14 (official proxy poll card)

Front of form

Rear of form

Signed

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

Rushanara Ali — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State — Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government — 3rd December 2024

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Rules make provision related to the requirement for voters to present photographic identification when voting at polling stations. The rules amend the rules governing the election of principal area councillors and parish councillors in England, and the election of the Mayor of London and members of the London Assembly by updating the prescribed form of poll card and proxy poll card to reflect changes to the list of acceptable identification in rule 37(1H) to (1J) of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2), which is shown on each card.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1983 c. 2. Subsection (1) was amended by section 13(2) of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1). Subsection (2A) was inserted by paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29).

[^f00002]: 2000 c. 41. Subsection (2)(d) was amended by paragraph 2(11) of Schedule 2 to the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

[^f00003]: S.I. 2006/3304; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2022/1397, 2023/1066.

[^f00004]: S.I. 2006/3305; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2022/1397, 2023/1066.

[^f00005]: S.I. 2007/3541; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2022/1397, 2023/1066.