The Electoral Registration Pilot Scheme (England) (Amendment) Order 2017

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Statutory Instruments

2017 No. 606

Representation Of The People, England

The Electoral Registration Pilot Scheme (England) (Amendment) Order 2017

Made

26th April 2017

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)

The Minister for the Cabinet Office makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 7(1) and (2)(a), 9(1) and (7)(b), and 11(5)(a) of the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013(1) (“the Act”).

In accordance with section 9(3) of the Act, the registration officer for each area to which this Order relates proposed the making of a pilot scheme in relation to that area and has agreed to the modifications made by the Minister to the proposal.

In accordance with section 11(2) of the Act, a draft of this Order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Electoral Registration Pilot Scheme (England) (Amendment) Order 2017.

(2) It comes into force 21 days after the day on which it is made.

Amendment of the Electoral Registration Pilot Scheme (England) Order 2016

2.—(1) The Electoral Registration Pilot Scheme (England) Order 2016(2) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 1(3) (duration), for “7th July 2017” substitute “6th July 2018”.

(3) In article 3 (period of pilot scheme) for “30th June 2017” substitute “29th June 2018”.

(4) In article 5 (annual canvass)—

(a) after paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A) The registration officer must also attempt to make contact with a person at each residential address in the specified area at least once during the period beginning with 1st July 2017 and ending with 2nd February 2018.”;

(b) in paragraph (3), after “paragraph (2)” insert “or (2A)”.

(5) In article 6 (specified date for Electoral Commission report on the pilot scheme), for “30th June 2017” substitute “29th June 2018”.

Chris Skidmore

Minister for the Constitution

Cabinet Office

26th April 2017

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Electoral Registration Pilot Scheme (England) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/739) (“the 2016 Order”) to extend the period of the pilot for a further year. The 2016 Order gives greater discretion to Electoral Registration Officers in the specified areas as to how they conduct their annual canvass under section 9D of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2). By extending the period of the pilot, this Order will enable them to test these methods for a second year running.

The Electoral Commission will now be required to give a copy of their report on the pilot scheme (see section 9(7) of the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6)) to the Minister by 29th June 2018 rather than, as before, 30th June 2017.

An impact assessment has been prepared and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the Order on legislation.gov.uk or from the Modern Registration Division, Constitution Group, Cabinet Office, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ.

(1)

2013 c. 6. Powers under section 7 and 9 of the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 are vested in “the Minister”, which is defined in section 25 of that Act. By virtue of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1376), article 3 and Schedule 1, paragraph (q) and the Transfer of Functions (Elections, Referendums, Third Sector and Information) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/997), article 3 and Schedule 1, paragraph (s), powers under that Act exercisable by the Secretary of State concurrently with the Lord President of the Council are instead exercisable concurrently with the Minister for the Cabinet Office. A consequential amendment to section 25(1) was accordingly made by article 13 of, and paragraph 26 of Schedule 2 to, the Transfer of Functions (Elections, Referendums, Third Sector and Information) Order 2016.

(2)

S.I. 2016/739.