SCHEDULE 1
Article 4
Amendments to the 1962 Act
Part 1
Amendments to Part 4 (officers) and Part 6 (the election campaign)
1. The 1962 Act is amended as follows.
2. After section 14A(2)12(appointment of persons to assist Chief Electoral Officer) insert—
“2A The Chief Electoral Officer may give persons specified in Article 9(2) of the Electoral Law (Northern Ireland) Order 197213directions about the discharge of functions under the Local Elections Rules which have been delegated to them pursuant to subsection (2).”.
3. In section 22(2) (remuneration and expenses of returning officer at parliamentary election) for “Act” substitute “Part”.
4. After section 34(4)14(appointment of election agent) insert—
“4A The declaration as a candidate’s election agent at a local election of a person (“P”) other than the candidate is of no effect under this section unless it is made and signed by P or is accompanied by a written declaration of acceptance signed by P.”.
5. After section 3715(default in appointing election agent) insert—
“Control of donations to candidates at local elections
37A.—(1) In the case of any candidate (“C”) at a local election, any money or other property provided (whether as a gift or loan)—
(a)
(a) by any person other than C or C’s election agent, and
(b)
(b) for the purpose of meeting election expenses incurred by or on behalf of C,
must be provided to C or C’s election agent.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any money or other property so provided for the purpose of meeting any such expenses which may be lawfully paid by a person other than C or C’s election agent.
(3) Schedule 3A has effect for the purpose of controlling donations to candidates.
(4) In this section and that Schedule “property” includes any description of property, and references to the provision of property accordingly include the supply of goods.”.
6. Omit section 38 (making of contracts through election agent).
7. For section 3916(payment of expenses at an election through election agent) substitute—
“Payment of expenses through an election agent
39.—(1) Subject to subsection (3), no payment (of whatever nature) may be made by—
(a)
(a) a candidate at an election, or
(b)
(b) any other person,
in respect of election expenses incurred by or on behalf of the candidate unless it is made by or through the candidate’s election agent.
(2) Every payment made by an election agent in respect of any election expenses must, except where less than £20, be vouched by a bill stating the particulars or by a receipt.
(3) This section does not apply to—
(a)
(a) any expenses which are, in accordance with section 40(1) or (1A), 43(3) or 44(2), paid by the candidate;
(b)
(b) any expenses which are paid in accordance with section 40(2) by a person authorised as mentioned in that provision;
(c)
(c) any expenses included in a declaration made by the election agent under section 40A;
(d)
(d) any expenses which are to be regarded as incurred by or on behalf of the candidate by virtue of section 52A(5).”.
8.—(1) Section 4017(personal expenses of candidate and petty expenses at an election) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (1) insert—
“1A The candidate at a local election may also pay any election expenses (other than expenses falling within subsection (1)) which were incurred by the candidate or on the candidate’s behalf and in respect of which payment falls to be made before the date on which an election agent is appointed (or deemed to have been appointed).”.
(3) In subsection (2), after “telegrams” insert “(or any similar means of communication)”.
(4) In subsection (3)(a), for “personal expenses paid by him under subsection (1)” substitute “expenses paid as mentioned in subsections (1) and (1A)”.
9. After section 40 insert—
“Expenses incurred at a local election otherwise than for election purposes
40A.—(1) Sections 39, 43 and 4418do not apply to election expenses—
(a)
(a) which are incurred by or on behalf of a candidate otherwise than for the purposes of the candidate’s election, but
(b)
(b) which by virtue of section 52A(1)19fall to be regarded as election expenses by reason of the property, services or facilities in respect of which they were incurred being used for the purposes of the candidate’s election.
(2) The candidate’s election agent must make a declaration of the amount of any election expenses falling within subsection (1).
(3) In this section “for the purposes of the candidate’s election” has the same meaning as in sections 52A and 52B.”.
10.—(1) Section 4120(prohibition of unauthorised expenses) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a)
(a) for the words from “sub-sections (2)” to “Ninth Schedule” substitute “subsections (2) to (3)”; and
(b)
(b) after “be incurred” insert “after a person becomes a candidate”.
(3) After subsection (1) insert—
“1A For the purposes of subsection (1) expenditure incurred before or on the date when a candidate becomes a candidate at a local election is to be treated as having been incurred after that date if it is incurred in connection with anything which is used or takes place after that date.”.
(4) For subsection (2)(i) substitute—
“(i)
“(i) restrict the publication of any matter relating to the election in—
(a) a newspaper or other periodical;
(b) a broadcast made by the British Broadcasting Corporation; or
(c) a programme included in any service licensed under Part 1 or 3 of the Broadcasting Act 199021or Part 1 or 2 of the Broadcasting Act 199622; or”.
11.—(1) Section 42 (limitation of expenses at an election) is amended as follows.
(2) For the heading substitute “Limitation of election expenses”.
(3) In subsection (1) for “, and for a candidate” to the end of that subsection substitute “. This subsection does not apply at a local election.”.
(4) After subsection (1) insert—
“1ZA The election expenses incurred by or on behalf of a candidate at a local election must not in the aggregate exceed the maximum amount specified in subsection (1ZB).
1ZB The maximum amount is £600 together with 5p for every entry in the register of electors.”.
(5) In subsection (1A) for “(1)” substitute “(1ZA)”.
(6) After...
