Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002

4 Electoral identity card

(1) The 1983 Act is amended as follows.

(2) After section 13B there is inserted—

“13C Electoral identity card: Northern Ireland

(1) This section applies where a person makes an application in accordance with any prescribed requirements to the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland for an electoral identity card.

(2) Regulations may provide for—

(a) the descriptions of person who may make such an application; and

(b) the form in which such an application is to be made.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer shall determine such an application and, if he is satisfied that the information given by the applicant is correct, he shall issue an electoral identity card to the applicant free of charge.

(4) The electoral identity card issued to an applicant shall—

(a) state his full name and date of birth,

(b) bear his photograph,

(c) indicate when the card ceases to be current, and

(d) include such other information and be in such form as the Chief Electoral Officer shall determine.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4) above and rule 37(1E) in Schedule 1 to this Act (specified documents), an electoral identity card becomes current on the date of its issue and ceases to be so on the expiry of the period of 10 years beginning with that date.

(6) Any expenses properly incurred by the Chief Electoral Officer in the performance of his functions under this section shall be treated as registration expenses of his for the purposes of this Act.

(7) In this section “determine” means determine in accordance with regulations (if any).”

(3) In Schedule 1 (parliamentary elections rules), in rule 37(1E) (specified documents), after sub-paragraph (g) there is inserted—

“(h) a current electoral identity card issued under section 13C of this Act”.