Elections Act 2022

Power to make provision about unique reference numbers: elections in Northern Ireland

13 (1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about the issuing or use of unique reference numbers in connection with—

(a) applications for registration in a register of parliamentary electors, or a register of local electors, in Northern Ireland;

(b) applications to vote by post or proxy at parliamentary or local elections in Northern Ireland;

(c) a canvass under section 10 of RPA 1983 (maintenance of registers: duty to conduct canvass in Northern Ireland).

(2) Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) may in particular make provision—

(a) amending or repealing section 10B of RPA 1983 or any other provision made by the Representation of the People Acts about unique reference numbers allocated under that section;

(b) amending or repealing any provision made by the Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 about such unique reference numbers;

(c) changing how unique reference numbers are referred to in any provision made by the Representation of the People Acts or the Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989.

(3) Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) may make—

(a) different provision for different purposes;

(b) consequential, supplementary, incidental, transitional, transitory or saving provision.

(4) The consequential provision that may be made by virtue of sub-paragraph (3)(b) includes provision amending any provision made by the Representation of the People Acts or the Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989.

(5) Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) are to be made by statutory instrument.

(6) A statutory instrument containing regulations under sub-paragraph (1) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.