PART 3ELECTIONS

Electoral registration

20Service declarations

1

The 1983 Act is amended as follows.

2

In section 14 (service qualification), after subsection (1) insert—

1A

In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, a person also has a service qualification for the purposes of this Act if—

a

the person is under the age of 18,

b

a parent or guardian of the person has a service qualification under any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (1), and

c

the person is residing at a particular place in order to be with that parent or guardian.

3

In section 15 (service declaration)—

a

after subsection (3) insert—

3A

In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, a service declaration made by a person by virtue of a service qualification under section 14(1A) ceases to have effect when the person attains the age of 18.

3B

Without prejudice to subsection (2), a person registered in a register of local government electors in Wales in pursuance of a service declaration referred to in subsection (3A) ceases to be entitled to remain so registered when the person attains the age of 18.

3C

Where a person's entitlement to remain registered ceases under subsection (3B), the registration officer must remove the person's entry from the register.

b

after subsection (5) insert—

5A

Despite anything in subsection (5), in relation to Wales, a relevant service declaration made by a person has effect only for the purposes of the person's registration as a local government elector.

5B

In subsection (5A), “relevant service declaration” means—

a

a service declaration made by virtue of a service qualification under section 14(1A);

b

a service declaration made by a qualifying foreign citizen;

c

any other service declaration made by a person who, on the date on which the declaration is made, is—

i

under the age of 17, and

ii

not entitled to be registered in the register of parliamentary electors.

5C

A relevant service declaration referred to in subsection (5A) must be marked to show that it is available only for the purposes of registration as a local government elector, but otherwise is to be the same as other service declarations.

4

In section 16 (contents of service declaration)—

a

the existing text becomes subsection (1);

b

in that subsection, in paragraph (e), after “Union” insert “ or (if the declaration is made for the purposes only of the registration of local government electors in Wales) a qualifying foreign citizen ”;

c

after that subsection insert—

2

In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, a service declaration made by a person claiming to have a service qualification under section 14(1A) does not require to be attested.

5

In section 17 (effect of service declaration)—

a

in subsection (1)(c), after “Union” insert “ or (if the declaration is made for the purposes only of the registration of local government electors in Wales) a qualifying foreign citizen ”;

b

after subsection (2) insert—

3

In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, subsection (2) is subject to section 15(3A).