Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014

13 Removal of requirement that canvass form must be prescribed form U.K.

(1) In section 10 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (“RPA 1983”) (duty to conduct canvass)—

(a) in subsection (4) (as substituted by paragraph 9(5) of Schedule 4 to the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013), for “ be a form prescribed for those purposes ” substitute “comply with such requirements as to its form or content as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of State after having consulted the Electoral Commission”;

(b) in subsection (4A), for “prescribe a form” substitute “ prescribe requirements ”;

(c) after subsection (4B), insert—

“(4BA) If requested to do so by the Secretary State for the purposes of making regulations under subsection (4), the Electoral Commission must design a form for the purposes of a canvass under this section.”

(2) In section 201 of RPA 1983 (regulations), in subsections (2) and (2A), before “110(7)” insert “ 10(4) or ”.

(3) If sub-paragraph (5) of paragraph 9 of Schedule 4 to the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 has not come into force on or before the day on which this section comes into force, then until that sub-paragraph comes into force—

(a) the amendment made by subsection (1)(a) of this section is of no effect;

(b) section 10(4) of RPA 1983 has effect as if, for “a form prescribed for those purposes shall be used”, there were substituted “ that does not apply and the form to be used for the purposes of the canvass must comply with such requirements as to its form or content as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of State after having consulted the Electoral Commission ”;

(c) the following provisions of RPA 1983 have effect as if the references in them to regulations under section 10(4) of that Act were references to such regulations in respect of a canvass in Northern Ireland only—

(i) section 10(4BA) (as inserted by subsection (1)(c));

(ii) section 201(2) and (2A) (as amended by subsection (2)).