The European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004

Rule 21

Directions as to printing the ballot paper

1.  Nothing is to be printed on the ballot paper except in accordance with these directions.

2.  So far as is practicable, the arrangements set out in paragraphs 3 to 16 below shall be observed in the printing of the ballot paper.

3.  No word shall be printed on the face of the ballot paper except the words “Election for the European Parliament”, the name of the electoral region, the statement “You have one vote”, the names of registered political parties, the names and descriptions of individual candidates, the names of candidates on a party list, the number of each registered party or individual candidate and a number for each candidate on a party list and words forming parts of emblems.

4.  The words “Election for the European Parliament”, the name of the region and the statement referred to in paragraph 3 above shall appear above the higher horizontal rule.

5.  No horizontal rule shall be printed on the face except—

(a) the higher horizontal rule immediately below the statement mentioned in paragraph 3 above,

(b) a horizontal rule between the entry for each registered party or individual candidate, and

(c) the lower horizontal rule at the foot of the ballot paper.

6.  No vertical rule shall be printed on the face except—

(a) the vertical rule separating the number of the registered parties or individual candidates from their names, and

(b) the vertical rule separating the names of the parties or individual candidates from the space where a vote may be marked.

7.  The space on the ballot paper between the horizontal rule referred to in paragraph 5(a) and each horizontal rule below it shall be 3.5 centimetres.

8.  Where a registered emblem of a registered political party is to be included with that party’s name—

(a) it shall be printed adjacent and to the right of the registered party’s name, and

(b) its size as printed shall not exceed two centimetres square.

9.  Subject to paragraphs 10 to 15 below, all of the words on the ballot paper shall appear in the same large type.

10.  The words “Election for the European Parliament” shall appear in very large type.

11.  The name of the electoral region shall appear in bold capitals.

12.  The word “one” in the statement referred to in paragraph 3 shall be in bold type.

13.  No other capitals shall be used except initial capitals for names of parties and candidates and the first word in the statement and in the direction referred to in paragraph 3 above.

14.  The names of the candidates on a party’s list of candidates shall appear in the same order as on the party’s list of candidates and they shall be numbered in that order.

15.  The description of individual candidates shall appear in ordinary type.

16.  The number on the back of the ballot paper shall be printed in small characters.