The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010

Public inspection of other documents

4.—(1) Any person is entitled to request that the proper officer make available for inspection a copy of any of the documents (referred to in this paragraph and paragraph 5 as the “documents open to public inspection”) which the proper officer is required to retain under rule 60 of the Local Elections Rules except—

(a) ballot papers,

(b) completed corresponding number lists, and

(c) certificates of employment on the day of the election.

(2) A request under sub-paragraph (1) must be made in writing and must specify—

(a) which documents are requested,

(b) the purpose for which the information in any document will be used,

(c) who will inspect the documents,

(d) the date on which they wish to inspect the documents, and

(e) whether they would prefer to inspect the documents in printed or data form.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4) the proper officer must make the documents open to public inspection available for inspection under supervision not later than 15 days after the date of receipt of a request that has been duly made under sub-paragraph (2).

(4) If the date on which the requestor wishes to inspect the documents is a day more than 15 days after the date of the receipt of the request, the proper officer must make the documents open to inspection on that date or, if that is a day disregarded by virtue of paragraph 1(4), the next day that is not so disregarded.

(5) A person who obtains a copy of or information in any document open to public inspection under this rule may use it only for the permitted purposes specified in paragraph 5, and any restrictions on the supply, disclosure and use of information—

(a) referred to in paragraph (5)(2),

(b) referred to in sub-paragraph (7) below, or

(c) which would apply to the use of the full register under regulation 107 of the 2008 Regulations where such a person has obtained a copy of that document under sub-paragraph (8) below,

apply to such use.

(6) Where inspection takes place by providing the records on a computer screen or otherwise in data form, the proper officer must ensure the manner in which, and the equipment on which, that copy is provided do not permit any person consulting that copy to—

(a) search it by electronic means by reference to the name of any person; or

(b) copy or transmit any part of that copy by electronic or any other means.

(7) Subject to sub-paragraph (8), a person who inspects a copy of a document open to public inspection, whether in printed copy or in data form, may not—

(a) make copies of any part of it, or

(b) record any particulars in it.

(8) The proper officer must, on request, supply free of charge copies of any documents open to public inspection to a person who has inspected those documents and who is entitled to be supplied with a copy of the marked register or lists by virtue of being a person to whom regulation 107 of the 2008 Regulations applies.