Part 1 General

Citation, commencement, transitional provision and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Representation of the People (Postal Vote Handling etc.) (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2024.

(2) Parts 1 to 3 come into force on the 22nd day after the day on which these Regulations are made.

(3) But Parts 2 and 3 do not have effect in relation to any election in respect of which the date of poll specified in the notice of election is on or before 1st May 2024.

(4) Part 4 comes into force on 7th May 2024.

(5) These Regulations extend to Northern Ireland.

Part 2 Amendment of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008

Amendment of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008

2.  The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008( 8) are amended in accordance with this Part.

Amendment of regulation 70 (interpretation of Part 5)

3.  In regulation 70—

(a) the existing text becomes paragraph (1);

(b) in paragraph (1) insert the following definitions at the appropriate places—

““ left behind postal voting document ” has the same meaning as in regulation 84F(1);”; ”

““ postal voting document ” means a postal ballot paper( 9) or declaration of identity;”; ”

““ return of postal voting documents form ” has the same meaning as in regulation 84A(2); ”;

(c) after paragraph (1), insert—

“(2)  In this Part, a reference to a person seeking to hand in a postal voting document is a reference to a person seeking to hand in a covering envelope purporting to contain a postal voting document to the returning officer. ”.

Insertion of regulation 81B (alternative means of returning postal ballot paper)

4.  After the heading “Receipt of Postal Ballot Papers” and before regulation 82 (notice of opening of postal ballot paper envelopes) insert—

“Alternative means of returning postal ballot paper

81B.   For the purposes of rule 45(2)(a) of the election rules( 10) , a postal ballot paper—

(a) may be returned to the returning officer by post or by hand, and

(b) must be returned to the returning officer in a covering envelope. ”.

Amendment of regulation 84 (receipt of covering envelope)

5.  In regulation 84( 11)—

(a) in the heading, at the end insert “by post”;

(b) in paragraph (1), for “(whether by hand or post)” substitute “by post”.

Insertion of regulations 84A to 84I (postal voting documents returned by hand and left behind postal voting documents)

6.  After regulation 84 insert—

“Return of postal voting documents by hand

84A.— (1)  This regulation applies where a person (“ P ”) seeks to hand in a postal voting document before the close of the poll.

(2)  P must complete a form containing the information prescribed in regulation 84B(1) (a “return of postal voting documents form”) in relation to—

(a) that postal voting document, and

(b) any other postal voting documents which P is seeking to hand in at that time.

(3)  The returning officer must then decide whether to reject any of the postal voting documents handed in by P.

(4)  Where the returning officer does not reject any of the postal voting documents handed in by P, the returning officer must proceed under regulation 84D.

(5)  Where the returning officer rejects one or more of the postal voting documents handed in by P, the returning officer must proceed under regulation 84E.

(6)  For the purposes of this regulation and regulations 84B to 84E (so far as relevant), each covering envelope handed in by P is to remain unopened; and references to postal voting documents handed in by P in those regulations are to postal voting documents as contained in such envelopes.

(7)  In this regulation, “ reject ” means reject under regulation 84C.

Return of postal voting documents form: prescribed information

84B.— (1)  For the purposes of regulation 84A(2), the prescribed information is—

(a) P’s name and address;

(b) the total number of covering envelopes that P is handing in;

(c) whether P is handing in postal voting documents issued to P as an elector;

(d) whether P is handing in postal voting documents issued to P as a proxy, and if so for how many electors;

(e) whether P is handing in postal voting documents which were not issued to P, and if so for how many electors and why;

(f) a declaration by P that—

(i) the number of electors for whom P has handed in postal voting documents for the election concerned, including those postal voting documents being handed in at that time, but excluding those issued to P and those rejected in accordance with regulation 84C on a previous occasion, does not exceed the permitted number (see further, regulation 84C), and

(ii) either—

(aa) to the best of P’s knowledge, P is not a political campaigner for whom it is an offence under section 112A of the 1983 Act (offences relating to handling of postal voting documents)( 12) to handle the postal voting documents concerned, or

(bb) P is a political campaigner and is only handing in postal voting documents for one or more persons mentioned in paragraph (2).

(2)  The persons are—

(a) P,

(b) P’s spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child and grandchild, and

(c) someone for whom P provides regular care or for whom regular care is provided by an organisation which employs or engages P.

(3)  For the purposes of paragraph (2)—

(a) two people living together as if they were a married couple or civil partners are treated as if they were spouses or civil partners of each other;

(b) a reference to a person who “engages” another person, or to a person who provides care for another person, includes a reference to a person who engages or provides care otherwise than for payment or promise of payment.

Rejection of postal voting documents handed in to the returning officer

84C.— (1)  The returning officer must reject—

(a) all postal voting documents handed in together by P, where P fails to provide all the information prescribed in regulation 84B(1) on the return of postal voting documents form;

(b) all postal voting documents handed in together by P, where the returning officer has reasonable cause to suspect that the documents are handed in on behalf of more than five electors;

(c) all postal voting documents handed in together by P, where the returning officer has reasonable cause to suspect that, taking those documents together with any postal voting documents handed in by P on any previous occasion, disregarding any that were rejected in accordance with this regulation, P has handed in postal voting documents on behalf of more than five electors.

(2)  In paragraph (1)(b) and (c)—

(a) references to postal voting documents handed in by P are to postal voting documents relating to the same election, but do not include references to a postal voting document issued to P;

(b) “ electors ” means persons who are electors in relation to the election to which the postal voting documents handed in by P relate.

(3)  Where P hands in postal voting documents completed by P as proxy for one or more electors, for “five” in paragraph (1)(b) and (c), substitute the number that is five minus the number of electors for whom P is handing in, or has handed in on a previous occasion, postal voting documents as proxy.

(4)  The returning officer may reject a postal voting document handed in by P where the returning officer knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that, in handing in the document, P commits an offence under section 112A of the 1983 Act.

Procedure where no postal voting document handed in by P is rejected in accordance with regulation 84C

84D.— (1)  Where the returning officer is required by regulation 84A(4) to proceed under this regulation, the returning officer must take the following steps.

(2)  The returning officer must immediately endorse the return of postal voting documents form completed by P to confirm—

(a) that the returning officer—

(i) is satisfied that all the information prescribed in regulation 84B(1) has been provided on the form,

(ii) does not have reasonable cause to suspect that the number of electors for whom P has handed in postal voting documents for the election concerned, including those postal voting documents handed in at that time, but excluding those issued to P and those rejected on a previous occasion, exceeds the permitted number (see further, regulation 84C), and

(iii) does not know or have reasonable cause to suspect that P is a political campaigner who is committing an offence under section 112A of the 1983 Act, and

(b) that none of the postal voting documents to which the return of postal voting documents form relates have been rejected.

(3)  The returning officer must then immediately place each postal voting document handed in by P in a postal voters’ ballot box( 13) .

(4)  The returning officer must include the return of postal voting documents form completed by P in a packet made up in accordance with regulation 84G(1)(a) before the end of the day on which the postal voting documents are handed in by P.

(5)  Until such time as the form is included in such a packet, the returning officer must take proper precautions for its safe custody.

(6)  In this regulation, “ rejected ” means rejected in accordance with regulation 84C.

Procedure where at least one postal voting document handed in by P is rejected under regulation 84C

84E.— (1)  Where the returning officer is required by regulation 84A(5) to proceed under this regulation, the returning officer must take the following steps.

(2)  The returning officer must immediately indicate on the return of postal voting documents form—

(a) in relation to each rejected postal voting document handed in by P, the fact of the rejection and the reason or reasons for the rejection;

(b) in relation to each postal voting document handed in by P which has not been rejected, the fact that it has not been rejected.

(3)  The returning officer must then immediately—

(a) place in a postal voters’ ballot box each postal voting document handed in by P which has not been rejected, and

(b) attach the return of postal voting documents form to all the rejected postal voting documents handed in by P.

(4)  The returning officer must, before the end of the day on which the postal voting documents are handed in by P, include in a packet made up in accordance with regulation 84G(1)(b)—

(a) each rejected postal voting document handed in by P, and

(b) the attached return of postal voting documents form.

(5)  Until such time as each rejected postal voting document handed in by P and the attached form are included in such a packet, the returning officer must take proper precautions for their safe custody.

(6)  In this regulation, “ rejected ” means rejected in accordance with regulation 84C.

Postal voting documents left behind with the returning officer

84F.— (1)  This regulation applies in relation to a postal voting document (whether or not in a covering envelope) which is brought into the offices of the returning officer so that it may be handed in to a person but is left behind there without being handed in (a “left behind postal voting document”).

(2)  The returning officer must, before the end of the day on which the postal voting document is found—

(a) write on a return of postal voting documents form to confirm that the postal voting document is a left behind postal voting document,

(b) attach the form to the left behind postal voting document, and

(c) include the left behind postal voting document and the attached form in a packet made up in accordance with regulation 84G(1)(b).

(3)  Until such time as the left behind postal voting document and the attached return of postal voting documents form are included in a packet made up in accordance with regulation 84G(1)(b), the returning officer must take proper precautions for their safe custody.

(4)  For the purposes of paragraph (2), the returning officer must use a different return of postal voting documents form for each left behind postal voting document, except where the left behind postal voting documents—

(a) are contained in the same covering envelope, or

(b) otherwise, were issued to the same person.

(5)  For the purposes of this regulation, each covering envelope which is brought into the offices of the returning officer so that it may be handed in to a person but is left behind there without being handed in is to remain unopened; and references to left behind postal voting documents in paragraphs (2) to (3) are, in appropriate cases, to left behind postal voting documents as contained in such envelopes.

Packets of postal voting documents and return of postal voting documents forms

84G.— (1)  The returning officer must make up separate packets for each of the following—

(a) return of postal voting documents forms endorsed by the returning officer under regulation 84D(2);

(b) postal voting documents which have been rejected in accordance with regulation 84C or are left behind postal voting documents, together with the return of postal voting documents forms which are attached to those documents.

(2)  Each packet must be sealed with a description of its contents written on the packet.

(3)  The returning office must take proper precautions for the safe custody of each packet referred to in this regulation.

List of electors whose postal voting documents have been rejected in accordance with regulation 84C or left behind

84H.— (1)  In respect of each election, subject to paragraph (5), the returning officer must compile a list of electors whose postal voting documents—

(a) have been rejected in accordance with regulation 84C or were left behind postal voting documents, and

(b) included a declaration of identity.

(2)  The returning officer must record in the list the information specified in paragraph (3) in relation to each such elector.

(3)  The information is—

(a) the name and address of—

(i) the elector, and

(ii) if a proxy was entitled to vote on the elector’s behalf, the proxy,

(b) the number on the register of electors of—

(i) the elector, and

(ii) if a proxy was entitled to vote on the elector’s behalf, the proxy,

(c) where—

(i) the elector’s postal voting documents were rejected in accordance with regulation 84C, the reason or reasons specified in paragraph (4) for the rejection of the postal voting documents;

(ii) the elector’s postal voting documents were left behind postal voting documents, that fact,

(d) an indication as to whether the elector’s postal voting documents included a postal ballot paper the number of which matched the postal ballot paper number marked on the elector’s declaration of identity, and

(e) any other information that the returning officer considers appropriate, but not the number of the postal ballot paper.

(4)  The specified reasons are—

(a) the postal voting documents were handed in to the returning officer but the return of postal voting documents form was not fully completed with the required information;

(b) the postal voting documents were handed in to the returning officer but the number of electors for whom P handed in postal voting documents exceeded or was suspected to exceed the permitted number;

(c) the postal voting documents were handed in or were suspected to be handed in by a political campaigner (within the meaning of section 112A(7) of the 1983 Act) who was not permitted to hand in those postal voting documents.

(5)  For the purposes of compiling the list, the returning officer must—

(a) open each packet made up in accordance with regulation 84G(1)(b),

(b) open separately each covering envelope in that packet and any ballot paper envelope( 14) in that covering envelope, and

(c) having recorded all the relevant entries relating to that packet in the list, reseal the packet with its original contents.

(6)  In compiling the list, the returning officer—

(a) must keep the postal ballot papers face downwards and take proper precautions for preventing any person from seeing the votes made on the postal ballot papers, and

(b) is not permitted to view the corresponding number list used at the issue of postal ballot papers.

Notification of a postal ballot paper rejected in accordance with regulation 84C or left behind

84I.— (1)  This regulation applies where—

(a) an elector appears on the list compiled in accordance with regulation 84H(1),

(b) the information recorded on the list indicates that the elector’s postal voting documents included a postal ballot paper the number of which matched the postal ballot paper number marked on the elector’s declaration of identity, and

(c) the elector also appears on the record kept under section 6(3) of the 1985 Act (absent vote at elections for indefinite period)( 15) .

(2)  The registration officer( 16) must notify the following persons that the elector’s postal ballot paper was rejected in accordance with regulation 84C or (as the case may be) was a left behind postal voting document—

(a) the elector, and

(b) if a proxy was entitled to vote on the elector’s behalf, the proxy.

(3)  The notification must include—

(a) where the elector’s postal ballot paper was rejected in accordance with regulation 84C, the reason or reasons for its rejection recorded on the list in accordance with regulation 84H(3)(c)(i), or

(b) where the elector’s postal ballot paper was a left behind postal voting document, that fact.

(4)  The registration officer must send the notification within the period of three months beginning with the date of poll for which the elector’s postal ballot paper was issued.

(5)  The registration officer is not obliged to send a notification to any person—

(a) who no longer appears on the record kept under section 6(3) of the 1985 Act at the time the registration officer proposes to send the notification, or

(b) whom the returning officer suspects may have committed an offence, other than an offence under section 112A of the 1983 Act (offences relating to handling of postal voting documents), in relation to—

(i) the elector’s postal voting documents, or

(ii) the elector’s registration on the register( 17) .

(6)  A notification issued under paragraph (2) may include any additional information that the registration officer considers appropriate, subject to paragraph (7).

(7)  The notification must not include the following information in relation to either the elector or, if a proxy was entitled to vote on the elector’s behalf, the proxy—

(a) date of birth;

(b) signature, or a record of the waiver by the registration officer of the requirement for a signature;

(c) national insurance number;

(d) (if applicable) digital registration number.

(8)  In this regulation, “ digital registration number ” has the same meaning as in section 10B(1) of the 1983 Act( 18) . ”.

Amendment of regulation 86 (opening of covering envelopes)

7.  In regulation 86, after paragraph (4) insert—

“(5)  In carrying out the procedures in this regulation and regulations 87 and 88, the returning officer—

(a) must keep the ballot papers face downwards and must take proper precautions for preventing any person from seeing the votes made on the ballot papers, and

(b) is not permitted to view the corresponding number list used at the issue of postal ballot papers.

(6)  Where a covering envelope opened in accordance with paragraph (1) contains a declaration of identity, the returning officer must place a mark in the marked copy of the absent voters list( 19) or list of postal proxies( 20) in a place corresponding to the number of the elector to denote that a postal vote has been returned.

(7)  A mark made under paragraph (6) must be distinguishable from and must not obscure the mark made under regulation 76(2) (procedure on issue of postal ballot paper).

(8)  As soon as practicable after the last covering envelope has been opened, the returning officer must—

(a) make up into a packet the copy of the marked absent voters list and list of postal proxies that has been marked in accordance with paragraph (6), and

(b) seal such a packet. ”.

Amendment of regulation 91 (forwarding of documents)

8.  In regulation 91 (forwarding of documents)—

(a) in paragraph (1), after “81A(11)( 21)” insert “, 84G(1)(a)”;

(b) after paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A)  The returning officer must also forward to the Clerk of the Crown for Northern Ireland the list compiled in accordance with regulation 84H(1), together with the packets made up in accordance with regulation 84G(1)(b) and resealed in accordance with regulation 84H(6)(c), as soon as reasonably practicable after the registration officer has met the duty in regulation 84I(2) in relation to each elector on the list. ”;

(c) at the end of paragraph (3) insert “, subject to paragraph (3A)”;

(d) after paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A)  For the purposes of the application of rules 56 and 57 of the election rules to the packets and documents forwarded under this regulation, the following are to be treated in the same manner as a counted ballot paper—

(a) the list compiled in accordance with regulation 84H(1) and any extracts from it;

(b) return of postal voting documents forms. ”.

Amendment of regulation 117 (inspection of documents open to public inspection)

9.  In regulation 117—

(a) in paragraph (1)(b), at the end insert “, except the documents specified in paragraph (1A).”;

(b) after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A)  The specified documents are—

(a) ballot papers,

(b) completed corresponding number lists,

(c) certificates of employment on the day of the election, and

(d) the list compiled in accordance with regulation 84H(1) and any extracts produced from that list. ”.

Amendment of Schedule 3 (forms)

10.  In Schedule 3—

(a) replace form A1 (elector’s official postal poll card)( 22) with the form in Schedule 1;

(b) replace form B1 (proxy’s official postal poll card)( 23) with the form in Schedule 2;

(c) replace form L (declaration of identity)( 24) with the form in Schedule 3;

(d) replace form M (declaration of identity (combined polls))( 25) with the form in Schedule 4;

(e) replace form N (statement as to postal ballot papers)( 26) with the form in Schedule 5.

Part 3 Amendment of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001

Amendment of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001

11.  The Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001( 27) is amended in accordance with this Part.

Amendment of Schedule 1 (application with modifications of provisions of primary legislation relating to elections)

12.—(1) The table in Schedule 1( 28) is amended as follows.

(2) In the right hand column, in the inserted rule 44B of the election rules( 29) (preliminary proceedings and conduct of the count)( 30), in paragraph (3)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a)—

(i) after “it is returned” insert “by post or by hand”;

(ii) omit “and” at the end;

(b) after sub-paragraph (b) insert—

“and

(c) the postal ballot paper is not one that falls to be rejected in accordance with regulation 84C of the 2008 Regulations( 31) . ”.

Amendment of Schedule 2 (application with modifications of provisions of subordinate legislation relating to elections)

13.—(1) The table in Schedule 2( 32) is amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (7).

(2) For the entry for regulation 84 of the 2008 Regulations (receipt of covering envelopes) substitute—

(3) After the entry for regulation 84 of the 2008 Regulations (receipt of covering envelopes by post) insert—

(4) For the entry for regulation 86 of the 2008 Regulations (opening of covering envelopes) substitute—

(5) In the entry for regulation 91 of the 2008 Regulations (forwarding of documents), in the right hand column of the table—

(a) in the substituted paragraph (1)—

(i) after “84A(11)” insert “, 84G(1)(a), 84H(6)(c)”;

(ii) before “the list of tendered postal ballot papers” for “and” substitute “,”;

(iii) after “the list of tendered postal ballot papers” insert “and the list compiled in accordance with regulation 84H(1)”;

(b) after the paragraph relating to paragraph (2) insert—

“Omit paragraph (2A). ”.

(6) In the entry for Form A1 of Schedule 3 to the 2008 Regulations (elector's official postal poll card)( 33), in the right hand column of the table, for the existing text substitute—

“For the words “Election of Member of Parliament” substitute “Northern Ireland Assembly Election” . ”.

(7) In the entry for Form B1 of Schedule 3 to the 2008 Regulations (proxy's official postal poll card)( 34), in the right hand column of the table, for the existing text substitute—

“For the words “Election of Member of Parliament” substitute “Northern Ireland Assembly Election” . ”.

(8) In the Annex at the end of Schedule 2( 35)—

(a) replace the form entitled “form of declaration of identity” with the form entitled “form of declaration of identity”in Schedule 6;

(b) replace the form entitled “form of declaration of identity (combined polls)” with the form entitled “form of declaration of identity (combined polls)”in Schedule 7.

(9) In this regulation, “ 2008 Regulations” means the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008.

Part 4 Provisions related to the voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens

Amendment of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008

14.—(1) The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008( 36) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 25B(2)(a)(iv) (regulation 25 supplementary: additional supporting material in relation to nationality)( 37), for “or a relevant citizen of the Union” substitute “, a qualifying EU citizen( 38) or an EU citizen with retained rights( 39)”.

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

15.—(1) The Representation of the People (Franchise Amendment and Eligibility Review) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023( 40) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 12 (procedure for removal following response to communications), after paragraph (5) insert—

“(6)  Regulation 44(2)(c) of the 2008 Regulations( 41) (copy of notice to be sent to affected persons)( 42) does not apply in respect of a notice under section 13A(2) of the 1983 Act( 43) resulting from the determination mentioned in paragraph (3). ”.

(3) In regulation 14 (confirmation of ceased registration following non-response to communications), after paragraph (3) insert—

“(4)  Regulation 44(2)(c) of the 2008 Regulations does not apply in respect of a notice under section 13A(2) of the 1983 Act resulting from the determination mentioned in paragraph (2)(a). ”.

Transitional provision for certain elections re-run on or after 7th May 2024

16.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) the date of poll for a local election or an Assembly election is on or before 6th May 2024,

(b) the proceedings with respect to the election are commenced afresh under—

(i) in the case of a local election, rule 62(3) or 63(3) of Schedule 5 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (proceedings commenced afresh by reason of an independent or party candidate’s death)( 44);

(ii) in the case of an Assembly election, rule 61(4) or 63(3) of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (proceedings commenced afresh by reason of an independent or party candidate’s death) as applied and modified by the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001( 45), and

(c) the date of poll for the re-run election is on or after 7th May 2024.

(2) The amendments made by paragraphs 7, 8 and 10 of Schedule 8 to the Elections Act 2022 (amendments in relation to certain elections in Northern Ireland) are to be disregarded for the purposes of a person’s eligibility to stand as a candidate at the re-run election.

(3) In this regulation—

“ Assembly election” means an election to the Northern Ireland Assembly;

“ local election” means an election in a district electoral area for a local authority;

“ re-run election” means an election in respect of which proceedings have been commenced afresh under a provision referred to in paragraph (1)(b).

Transitional provision for persons elected following a re-run election

17.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) a person (“ P”) is duly elected at an Assembly election which is a re-run election, and

(b) apart from this regulation, P would be disqualified from holding the office as a result of the coming into force of paragraph 10 of Schedule 8 to the Elections Act 2022 (amendment of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972( 46)).

(2) The coming into force of paragraph 10 of Schedule 8 to the Elections Act 2022 does not affect P’s qualification to hold the office until the end of the term in the office for which P was duly elected at the re-run election.

(3) In this regulation, “ Assembly election” and “ re-run election” have the same meaning as in regulation 16.

Schedules

Regulation 10(a)

Schedule 1 Parliamentary elections: Form A1

Regulation 10(b)

Schedule 2 Parliamentary elections: Form B1

Regulation 10(c)

Schedule 3 Parliamentary elections: Form L

Regulation 10(d)

Schedule 4 Parliamentary elections: Form M

Regulation 10(e)

Schedule 5 Parliamentary elections: Form N

Regulation 13(8)(a)

Schedule 6 Assembly elections: form of declaration of identity

Regulation 13(8)(b)

Schedule 7 Assembly elections: form of declaration of identity (combined polls)

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend subordinate legislation in consequence of provisions contained in the Elections Act 2022 (c. 37)(“ the Act”). The amendments made by these Regulations principally concern the handing in of postal voting documents for Parliamentary and Assembly elections (see section 5 of the Act). Similar provision for local elections is made in the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/XXX). The Regulations also make amendments and transitional provisions relating to the voting and candidacy right of EU citizens (see section 15 of, and Schedule 8 to, the Act). These latter provisions are supplementary to the amendments made in the Representation of the People (Franchise Amendment and Eligibility Review) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 ( S.I. 2023/1176).

Part 2 of these Regulations amends the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008 ( S.I. 2008/1741) to set out new procedures which will apply to the handing in of postal voting documents to the returning officer for UK Parliamentary elections. The Representation of the People (Postal Vote Handling and Secrecy) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 ( S.I. 2023/1225) makes similar amendments in respect of parliamentary elections in Great Britain.

Under the amendments being made, persons seeking to hand in postal voting documents to the returning officer will be required to complete a return of postal voting documents form, and their postal voting documents must or may be rejected by the returning officer if certain criteria are met. The effect of rejection is that such documents are not duly returned for the purposes of rule 45(2) of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2). Part 2 also makes provision for postal voting documents which are brought into the offices of the returning officer but are left behind without being handed in.

Additionally, Part 2 of these Regulations updates prescribed forms for use at Parliamentary elections as a consequence of these new procedures (regulation 10 and Schedules 1 to 5).

Part 3 of these Regulations amends the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001 (“ the 2001 Order”) ( S.I. 2001/2599) so that the same procedures will apply to Assembly elections in Northern Ireland. Regulation 12 amends Schedule 1 to the 2001 Order, which lists the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1983 to be applied with modifications by virtue of article 3(1) of the 2001 Order. Regulation 13 amends Schedule 2 to the 2001 Order, which lists the provisions of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008 to be applied with modifications by virtue of article 3(1) of the 2001 Order.

Part 3 also updates the declaration of identity forms for use at Assembly elections (regulation 13(6) and Schedule 6).

Part 4 of these Regulations makes provision related to the changes to the voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens set out in Schedule 8 to the Act. Regulation 14 makes a minor consequential amendment to the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008. Regulation 15 amends the Representations of the People (Franchise Amendment and Eligibility Review) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 to prevent the duplication of notices to relevant persons following the outcome of the review of registration entitlement provided for in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of those Regulations.

Regulation 16 makes transitional provision so that a person who was entitled to stand as a candidate in a local election or Assembly election prior to 7th May 2024 remains qualified to stand as a candidate in such an election where that election is re-run on or after 7th May 2024, despite the changes made by Part 3 of Schedule 8 to the Elections Act 2022. Regulation 17 makes transitional provision to the effect that a person who is elected following a re-run Assembly election remains qualified to hold that office until the end of the term of office following that election. Equivalent provision is not required for local elections.

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.