Draft Regulations laid before Parliament under section 201(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, for approval by resolution of each House of Parliament.

2006 No. xxxx

Representation of the people

The Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006

Made

Coming into force

These Regulations are made in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 10(4), 53 and 201(1) and (3) of, and paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 2 to, the Representation of the People Act 19831, having regard to the definition of “prescribed” in section 202(1) of that Act.

The Secretary of State has consulted the Electoral Commission about these Regulations in accordance with section 7(1) and (2)(e) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 20002.

A draft of this instrument has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Accordingly, the Secretary of State makes the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and extent1

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006 and shall come into force on the fourteenth day after the day on which they are made.

2

These Regulations do not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Revocation2

The Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (England and Wales) Regulations 20043 are revoked.

Prescribed form3

The form set out in Part 1 of the Schedule to these Regulations is prescribed for use for the purposes of the canvass which is required to be conducted by section 10 of the Representation of the People Act 1983.

Amendment of provision about applications4

1

In regulation 26(6) of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations (applications for registration)4 for “Part II of the Schedule to the Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (England and Wales) Regulations 2004” substitute “Part 2 of the Schedule to the Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006”.

2

Part 2 of the Schedule has effect.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State

NameParliamentary Under Secretary of StateDepartment for Constitutional Affairs

SCHEDULEForm of Canvass and Form of Words about the Two Versions of the Register

Regulations 3 and 4

PART 1Form prescribed for the purposes of section 10(4) of the Representation of the People Act 1983

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PART 2Form of words about the two versions of the register

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Under section 10 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as substituted by Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 2000) each registration officer is required to conduct an annual canvass (by reference to residence on 15th October in that year) in his registration area to ascertain the persons who are entitled to be or remain registered as parliamentary or local government electors in that area. These Regulations specify a revised form for the purposes of that canvass, in order to make it easier for electors to use.

In addition, regulation 4 and Part 2 of the Schedule prescribe a new form of words for use on the registration form provided by registration officers for those who register at times other than during the annual canvass period.

The Regulations revoke the provisions of the Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (England and Wales) Regulations 2004, which had previously prescribed the form of canvass and the form of words to be included with the canvass form about the two versions of the register.