Part 3Anti-fraud measures
I115Offences as to false registration information
1
Section 13D of the 1983 Act (provision of false information) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (8).
2
For subsection (1) substitute—
1
A person who for any purpose connected with the registration of electors provides to a registration officer any false information is guilty of an offence.
3
After subsection (1) (as substituted by subsection (2) above) insert—
1A
A person who provides false information in connection with an application (other than an application relating only to a local government election in Scotland) to which any of the following provisions of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (applications relating to absent voting) applies is guilty of an offence—
a
paragraph 3(1) or (2);
b
paragraph 4(1) or (2);
c
paragraph 7(4).
4
In subsection (3) after “subsection (1)” insert “
or (1A)
”
.
5
In subsection (4) after “subsection (1)” insert “
or (1A)
”
.
6
In subsection (6)(a) for “six months” substitute “
51 weeks
”
.
7
After subsection (6) insert—
7
In the application of subsection (6)(a) to Scotland and Northern Ireland, the reference to 51 weeks must be taken to be a reference to six months.
8
In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the reference in subsection (6)(a) to 51 weeks must be taken to be a reference to six months.
8
With effect from the commencement of this section, section 13D of the 1983 Act extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.
9
In section 8 of the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 13)
(short title, interpretation, commencement and extent), in subsection (5) after “Act” insert “
(except section 7)
”
.