Part I Parliamentary and Local Government Franchise and its Exercise

Registration of parliamentary and local government electors

F19BAnonymous registration

F2(1)

An application under this section (an application for an anonymous entry) may be made—

(a)

by any person, in conjunction with an application for registration under section 10ZC F3or 10A(1)(a), or

(b)

by a person who already has an anonymous entry, for the purposes of remaining registered with such an entry (see section 9C(3)).

(1A)

An application for an anonymous entry must be made in accordance with prescribed requirements and must be accompanied by—

(a)

a declaration made in accordance with prescribed requirements, and

(b)

such evidence in support as may be prescribed.

(2)

A registration officer who receives an application for an anonymous entry must determine whether the safety test is satisfied (unless, in the case of an application under subsection (1)(a), the person's application for registration has been rejected otherwise than by virtue of this section).

(3)

If the registration officer determines that the safety test is satisfied—

(a)

section 9(2) above does not apply in relation to the person; and

(b)

the person's entry in the register shall instead contain letters in the prescribed form and his electoral number.

(4)

An entry containing the matters mentioned in subsection (3)(b) above is referred to in this Act as an anonymous entry.

(5)

If an anonymous entry is made in respect of a person F4as the result of an application under subsection (1)(a), the registration officer shall remove any other entry in the register for that person.

F5(6)

If a person makes an application under subsection (1)(a) and the registration officer determines that the safety test is not satisfied, no entry is to be made in the register as a result of the person's application under section 10ZC F6or 10A(1)(a) (whether an anonymous entry or otherwise).

(7)

Subsection (6) above does not affect—

(a)

any other entry in the register for the person;

(b)

the determination of any further application for registration which is made by the person F7(including an application which is treated as having been made by him by virtue of section 10A(2) below) F8...

(8)

Any communication sent by a registration officer or the returning officer for any election to a person who has an anonymous entry (A) must be sent in an envelope or other form of covering so as not to disclose to any other person that A has an anonymous entry.

(9)

F9Subsection (8) does not apply to a communication relating only to a local government election in Scotland.

(10)

The safety test is satisfied if the safety of the applicant for an anonymous entry or that of any other person of the same household would be at risk if the register contains the name of the applicant or his qualifying address.

(11)

In this section, “determines” means determines in accordance with regulations.