This Order brings into force on 4th September 2009 the provisions of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 (c.12) set out in article 2. The principal provisions of that Act which are brought into force by that article are sections 23 and 24, together with further related minor and consequential changes.

Section 23 provides for the up-to-date details of a person who has returned their annual canvass form to be included in an electoral register before 1st December (the date by which the register is ordinarily updated and republished following completion of the canvass) in order to enable them to vote in an election called before that date. Section 24 enables a candidate in a parliamentary election to opt not to publish their full home address when submitting the nomination papers required by the Representation of the People Act 1983.

The transitional provision at article 3(1) of the Order ensures that the provisions brought into force by article 2(a), (c), (d) and (e) will apply to any annual canvass form returned for the annual canvass in 2009, including those forms returned to the registration officer before the coming into force of section 23.

The transitional provision at article 3(2) of the Order provides that the provisions commenced by article 2 of this Order do not apply to any election for which notice has been issued before the date on which the provisions come into force.