The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2024

Amendment of Schedule 5 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962

9.—(1) Schedule 5 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (local election rules) is amended as follows.

(2) In rule 45 (preliminary proceedings and conduct of the count)(1), in paragraph (2)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a), after “it is returned” insert “by post or by hand”;

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

(c) after sub-paragraph (b) insert—

“and

(c) the postal ballot paper is not one that falls to be rejected in accordance with paragraph 15C of Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.”.

(3) In the Appendix of Forms(2)—

(a) replace form 5 (declaration of identity) with the form in Schedule 2;

(b) replace form 6A (elector’s official postal poll card) with the form in Schedule 3;

(c) replace form 7A (proxy’s official postal poll card) with the form in Schedule 4.

(1)

Rule 45 was substituted by S.I. 1985/454, and paragraph (2) was amended by S.I. 2002/2835.

(2)

Relevant amendments were made by paragraph 61(4) of Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 to the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22) and S.I. 2010/2977, 2014/1116, 2015/566 and 2020/635.