The Representation of the People (Overseas Electors etc.) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024

Part 3 Consequential amendment of other electoral legislation

Amendment of the Northern Ireland (Elections) Assembly Order 2001

21.—(1) The Northern Ireland (Elections) Assembly Order 2001(1) is amended as follows.

(2) In Schedule 2 (application and modification of the 2008 Regulations etc.), in the table, in the right hand column of the entry for regulation 3 (interpretation)—

(a) the text after “In paragraph (1)” becomes sub-paragraph (a);

(b) after sub-paragraph (a) (as renumbered by sub-paragraph (a)) insert—

“(b) omit the definitions of “address claimed as the qualifying address”, “declaration of local connection”, “mental hospital”, “previous registration condition” and “previous residence condition”.”.

Amendment of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001

22.—(1) The Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001(2) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 26B (power to request additional evidence where certain information is unavailable or where the registration officer considers it necessary), in paragraph (6ZC) (meaning of “relevant identity attestation”), after paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca) regulation 25A(3) of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008;”.

(3) In regulation 26I (overseas electors: supplemental provision as to attestations and the meaning of “qualified attestor”), in paragraph (4)—

(a) omit the “and” at the end of paragraph (a);

(b) at the end of paragraph (b) insert—

“, and

(c) regulations 25C and 27ZC to 27ZF of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008.”.

(4) In regulation 56C (power to request additional evidence in relation to relevant absent voting applications where registration officer considers it necessary), in paragraph (8), after paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca) regulation 25A(3) of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008;”.

Amendment of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001

23.—(1) The Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 26B (power to request additional evidence where certain information is unavailable or where the registration officer considers it necessary), in paragraph (6ZC) (meaning of “relevant identity attestation”), after paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca) regulation 25A(3) of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008;”.

(3) In regulation 26I (overseas electors: supplemental provision as to attestations and the meaning of “qualified attestor”), in paragraph (4)—

(a) omit the “and” at the end of paragraph (a);

(b) at the end of paragraph (b) insert—

“, and

(c) regulations 25C and 27ZC to 27ZF of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008.”.

(4) In regulation 56C (power to request additional evidence in relation to relevant absent voting applications where registration officer considers it necessary), in paragraph (8), after paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca) regulation 25A(3) of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008;”.

Amendment of the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012

24.—(1) The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012(4) is amended as follows.

(2) In Schedule 2 (absent voting in PCC elections), in paragraph 16C (power to request additional evidence in relation to absent vote applications where registration officer considers it necessary), in sub-paragraph (7), after paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca) regulation 25A(3) of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008;”.

Amendment of the Recall of MPs Act 2015 (Recall Petition) Regulations 2016

25.—(1) The Recall of MPs Act 2015 (Recall Petition) Regulations 2016(5) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 72B (power to request additional evidence in relation to absent signing applications where registration officer considers it necessary), in paragraph (8), after sub-paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca) regulation 25A(3) of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008;”.

Amendment of the Voter Identification Regulations 2022

26.—(1) The Voter Identification Regulations 2022(6) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 7 (power to request additional evidence where certain information is unavailable or where the registration officer considers it necessary), in paragraph (7A), after sub-paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca) regulation 25A(3) of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008;”.

(1)

S.I. 2001/2599. Schedule 2 was substituted by S.I. 2009/256. There are other amending instruments, but none is relevant.

(2)

S.I. 2001/341. Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2013/3198 and 2023/1147 and 1406.

(3)

S.I. 2001/497. Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2013/3206 and S.I. 2023/1147 and 1406.

(4)

S.I. 2012/1917. Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2023/1147 and 1406.

(5)

S.I. 2016/295. Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2023/1147 and 1406.

(6)

S.I. 2022/1382 as amended by S.I. 2023/1147 and 1406.