The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2003

Made8th May 2003

Coming into force9th May 2003

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 8th day of May 2003

Present

The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council

Whereas the Electoral Commission has been consulted in accordance with section 7(3) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 20001 about this Order;

And whereas a draft of this Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 84(1) and (3) of the Northern Ireland Act 19982, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows:

Citation, commencement and interpretation1.

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Co.) (Amendment) Order 2003 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

(2)

In this Order “the local elections rules” means the rules in Schedule 5 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 19623.

Amendment of rule 34(6) of the local elections rules2.

(1)

Paragraph 6 of rule 34 (voting procedure) of the local elections rules is amended as follows.

(2)

For sub-paragraph (a) 4 there is substituted:

“(a)
a current licence to drive a motor vehicle if the licence bears the photograph of the person to whom it is issued;”.

(3)

Sub-paragraphs (c) to (g) 5 are omitted.

(4)

For the words “In sub-paragraph (e) above” to the end there is substituted:

“In sub-paragraph (a) a licence to drive a motor vehicle is a licence granted under Part 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 (excluding a provisional licence), or under Article 8 and 12 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 or any corresponding enactment for the time being in force.”.

A. K. Galloway

Clerk of the Privy Council

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends paragraph 6 of rule 34 (voting procedure) of the local elections rules in Schedule 5 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962, as substituted by Schedule 1 to the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. The effect of the amendments is to remove all non-photographic forms of identity document from the list of specified documents set out in paragraph 6. Rule 34(2) provides that a ballot paper shall not be delivered to a voter unless he has produced one of the specified documents to the presiding officer or a clerk.