Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2)

Part I U.K. Parliamentary and Local Government Franchise and its Exercise

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. I (ss. 1–66) modified by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 2(6)

Offences U.K.

[F1 65A False statements in nomination papers etc. U.K.

(1) A person is guilty of a corrupt practice if, in the case of any relevant election, he causes or permits to be included in a document delivered or otherwise furnished to a returning officer for use in connection with the election—

(a) a statement of the name or home address of a candidate at the election which he knows to be false in any particular; or

(b) anything which purports to be the signature of an elector who proposes, seconds or assents to, the nomination of such a candidate but which he knows—

(i) was not written by the elector by whom it purports to have been written, or

(ii) if written by that elector, was not written by him for the purpose of signifying that he was proposing, seconding, or (as the case may be) assenting to, that candidate’s nomination.

[F2 (1A) A person is guilty of a corrupt practice if, in the case of any relevant election, he makes in any document in which he gives his consent to his nomination as a candidate—

(a) a statement of his date of birth,

(b) a statement as to his qualification for being elected at that election, or

(c) a statement that he is not a candidate at an election for any other constituency the poll for which is to be held on the same day as the poll at the election to which the consent relates,

which he knows to be false in any particular.

(1B) For the purposes of subsection (1A), a statement as to a candidate's qualification is a statement—

(a) that he is qualified for being elected,

(b) that he will be qualified for being elected, or

(c) that to the best of his knowledge and belief he is not disqualified for being elected.]

(2) In this section “relevant election” means—

(a) any parliamentary election, or

(b) any local government election in England or Wales.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 65A inserted (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, s. 15(1), Sch. 6 para. 5; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))

F2 S. 65A(1A)(1B) inserted (11.9.2006 for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 23(3), 77; S.I. 2006/1972, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 3 (subject to art. 4, Sch. 2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 65A applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/2599, art. 3, Sch. 1