Elections Act 2022

Definitions

39 Definitions relating to electronic material and publication

(1) The following definitions have effect for the purposes of this Part.

(2) “Electronic material” means material in electronic form which consists of or includes—

(a) text or moving or still images, or

(b) speech or music.

(3) In this Part “electronic material” does not include material to the extent that it is received by a person in the form of—

(a) a telephone call made to the person at a telephone number allocated to them in accordance with a national or international numbering plan, or

(b) a Short Message Service text message sent to such a telephone number.

(4) “The promoter”, in relation to electronic material, means the person causing the material to be published.

(5) “Publish” means make available to the public at large or any section of the public.

(6) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend this section so as to modify the definition of “electronic material”, “the promoter” or “publish” that for the time being has effect for the purposes of this Part.

40 Definitions relating to parties etc

(1) The following definitions have effect for the purposes of this Part.

(2) “Registered party” has the same meaning as in PPERA (see section 160 of that Act).

(3) “Recognised third party” has the meaning given in section 85(5) of PPERA.

(4) “Candidate” means a candidate at an election for a relevant elective office or a relevant Scottish elective office within the meaning of Part 5, including a person who is included in a list of candidates submitted in connection with such an election.

(5) “Future candidate” means a person who is a future candidate at an election for a relevant elective office or a relevant Scottish elective office as defined by section 32(3).

(6) “Elected office-holder” means a person within section 33.

(7) “Referendum campaigner” means a person who is a permitted participant within the meaning of Part 7 of PPERA (see section 105 of that Act) in relation to a referendum to which that Part applies.

(8) “Recall petition campaigner” means a person who is an accredited campaigner within the meaning of the Recall of MPs Act 2015 (see Part 5 of Schedule 3 to that Act) in relation to a recall petition.

(9) “Recall petition” has the same meaning as in the Recall of MPs Act 2015 (see section 1 of that Act).

(10) Part 5 has effect for the purposes of subsections (4) to (6) as if the definition of “relevant elective office” in section 37(1) included an office to which a person may be elected by a municipal election in the City, as defined by section 191(1) of RPA 1983 (municipal elections in the City of London).