Representation of the People Regulations 1969

JurisdictionUK Non-devolved
CitationSI 1969/904

1969 No. 904

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE

The Representation of the People Regulations 1969

2ndJune 1969

12thJune 1969

16thFebruary 1970Regulation 70(2) and SchedulesRegulation 70(2) and SchedulesIn accordance with Regulation 2Remainder16thJuly 1969

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

PART I

GENERAL

1. Citation and extent.

2. Commencement.

3. Revocation and savings.

4. Interpretation.

PART II

REGISTRATION

The Register

5. Separate part of register for each registration unit.

6. Separate letter for each parliamentary polling district.

7. Order of names.

8. Marking of names to indicate at which elections person entitled to vote.

9. Marking of names to indicate manner of voting.

The Electors Lists

10. Form of electors lists.

11. Publication of the electors lists.

Claims and Objections

12. Notice of claims and objections.

13. Time for making claims and objections.

14. Form of claims and objections.

15. Entry and preliminary disposal of claims and objections.

16. Hearing of claims and objections.

17. Corrections to the electors lists.

18. Other corrections to the electors lists.

Publication and Sale of the Register

19. Publication of register.

20. Registration officer to furnish copies of register.

21. Free copies of register.

22. Sale of register.

Supplementary

23. Declaration as to age and nationality.

24. Power of registration officer to delegate his duties.

25. Information from householders.

26. Adaptation of electors lists and register in consequence of altered polling districts.

Corrupt and Illegal Practices List

27. Corrupt and illegal practices list.

Correction of Register

28. Correction of register.

PART III

ABSENT VOTERS, PROXIES AND POSTAL PROXIES

29. Application to be treated as an absent voter.

30. Record and list of absent voters.

31. Application to vote by proxy.

32. Appointment of proxy.

33. Proxy paper.

34. Cancellation and disregard of proxy appointment.

35. Record and list of proxies.

36. Application by proxy to vote by post.

37. Record and list of postal proxies.

38. Certificate of employment.

PART IV

ISSUE AND RECEIPT OF POSTAL BALLOT PAPERS

Interpretation

39. Interpretation of Part IV.

Issue of Postal Ballot Papers

40. Form of postal ballot paper.

41. Form of declaration of identity.

42. Persons entitled to be present at issue and receipt of postal ballot papers.

43. Declaration of secrecy.

44. Notice of issue of postal ballot papers.

45. Marking of postal ballot paper.

46. Refusal to issue postal ballot paper.

47. Ballot paper envelope.

48. Delivery of postal ballot papers to post office.

49. Provision of postal voters' ballot box.

50. Sealing up of special lists and counterfoils.

51. Spoilt postal ballot paper.

Receipt of Postal Ballot Papers

52. Receipt of covering envelope.

53. Opening of postal voters' ballot box.

54. Opening of covering envelopes.

55. Sealing up of rejected votes and declarations of identity.

56. Opening of ballot paper envelopes.

57. Abandoned poll.

58. Forwarding of documents.

PART V

SERVICE VOTERS

59. Service declaration by members of the forces and spouses.

60. Qualification for Crown servant.

61. Service declaration by Crown servants, British Council employees and spouses.

62. Transmission of service declaration by Crown servants, British Council employees and spouses.

63. Service declaration by person about to leave the United Kingdom.

64. Proceedings by registration officer on receipt of service declaration.

65. Invalid service declaration.

66. Evidence as to service declaration.

PART VI

SUPPLEMENTARY

67. Appeals.

68. Official poll card.

69. Return and declaration of election expenses.

70. Forms.

71. Sending of notices, etc.

72. Publication of documents.

73. Misnomers.

74. Time.

75. Penalties.

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1: Forms.

Forms for use by registration officers

Form A: Return by occupier as to residents.

Form B: Notice as to publication of a draft register of electors and making of claims and objections.

Form C: Notice as to publication of the electors lists and making of claims and objections.

Form D: Proxy paper.

Forms for use by returning officers

Form E: Elector's official poll card.

Form F: Proxy's official poll card.

Form G: Certificate of employment.

Form H: Declaration of identity.

Forms for use by service voters

Form J: Service declaration and application for appointment of proxy by a member of the forces.

Form K: Service declaration and application for appointment of proxy by the spouse of a member of the forces.

Form L: Service declaration and application for appointment of proxy by a Crown servant or by a person employed by the British Council.

Form M: Service declaration and application for appointment of proxy by the spouse of a Crown servant or of a person employed by the British Council.

Form N: Application by a service voter in the United Kingdom to vote by post.

Forms for use by other persons

Form O: Form of claim to be registered as an elector.

Form P: Form of objection to an entry in the electors lists.

Form Q: Application to be treated as an absent voter for an indefinite period owing to occupation or physical incapacity.

Form R: Application to vote by post owing to change of residence.

Form S: Application to be treated as an absent voter for a particular election.

Form T: Application to be treated as an absent voter for an indefinite period owing to air or sea journey.

Form U: Application for appointment of proxy.

Form V: Application by a proxy to vote by post.

Form W: Application by service voter's spouse for appointment of proxy.

Form X: Return of expenses required by section 63 of the Representation of the People Act 1949 to be authorised by an election agent.

Form Y: Declaration as to expenses required by section 63 of the Representation of the People Act 1949 to be authorised by an election agent.

SCHEDULE 2: Table of comparison of election rules.

In exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 42 and 171(5) of the Representation of the People Act 1949(a), I hereby make the following Regulations:—

PART I

GENERAL

Citation and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Representation of the People Regulations 1969.

(2) These Regulations shall not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Commencement

2.—(1) The following provisions of these Regulations, namely, Regulations 21, 22, 28, 29 to 58 (inclusive), 68, 69, Regulation 70(2) except in so far as Regulation 70(2) relates to form O or P, and Regulation 74 and so much of the Schedules as relates to those provisions, shall come into operation on 16th February 1970:

Provided that Regulations 29 to 58 (inclusive), 68, 69, 70(2) and 74 shall not have effect in relation to an election notice of which has been published before 16th February 1970.

(2) Except as otherwise provided by paragraph (1) of this Regulation, these Regulations shall come into operation fourteen days after they have been approved by both Houses of Parliament.

Revocation and savings

3.—(1) The following provisions of the Representation of the People Regulations 1950(b), as amended (c), namely, Regulations 18, 19, 25 to 52 (inclusive), 64, 65(2) except so far as Regulation 65(2) relates to form O or P, Regulations 65(3) and 69, and so much of the Schedules to those Regulations and of the Greater London (Elections) Order 1964(d) as relates to those provisions, shall be revoked as from 16th February 1970:

Provided that Regulations 25 to 52 (inclusive), 64, 65(2), 65(3) and 69, and so much of the Schedules to the Regulations of 1950 as relates to the said Regulations, shall continue to have effect in relation to an election notice of which has been published before 16th February 1970.

(2) Except as otherwise provided by paragraph (1) of this Regulation, the Representation of the People Regulations 1950, the Representation of the People Regulations 1953(e), the Representation of the People Regulations 1954(f) and so much of the Greater London (Elections) Order 1964 as relates to those Regulations are hereby revoked.

(a) 1949 c.68.

(b) S.I. 1950/1254 (Rev. XX, p.7: 1950 II, p. 513).

(c) The amending instruments are S.I. 1953/1107, 1954/498, 1964/346 (1953 II, p.1757; 1954 II, p.1921; 1964 I, p.540).

(d) S.I. 1964/346 (1964 I, p.540).

(e) S.I. 1953/1107 (1953 II, p.1757).

(f) S.I. 1954/498 (1954 II, p.1921).

(3) Section 38 of the Interpretation Act 1889(a) shall apply as if these Regulations were an Act of Parliament and as if any Regulations revoked by these Regulations were Acts of Parliament repealed by an Act of Parliament.

(4) Without prejudice to the said section 38 any register, list or record prepared, any application, appointment or declaration made, any proceedings initiated or other thing done under any Regulations revoked by these Regulations shall not be invalidated by the revocation effected by paragraph (1) or (2) of this Regulation and shall, in so far as it could have been prepared, made, initiated or done under any provision of these Regulations, have effect as if it had been prepared, made, initiated or done under that provision.

(5) Any reference in any statutory instrument to a Regulation revoked by these Regulations shall be taken as a reference to the corresponding Regulation contained in these Regulations.

Interpretation

4.—(1) For the purpose of these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

the expression "the Act of 1949" means the Representation of the People Act 1949;

the expression "the Act of 1969" means the Representation of the People Act 1969(b);

the expression "postal proxy" means a person entitled to vote by post as proxy at an election;

the expression "registration officer" means an electoral registration officer.

(2) Any act or thing which is required by these Regulations to be done by, to or before the mayor of a borough may, in any case in which the office of mayor is vacant or the mayor is for any reason unable to act, be done by, to or before the deputy mayor of the borough or, if there is no deputy mayor, or the deputy mayor is for any reason unable...

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