The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012

Equipment of polling stations

18.—(1) The relevant returning or counting officer must provide each presiding officer with such number of ballot boxes and ballot papers as in the counting officer’s opinion may be necessary.

(2) The same ballot box may be used for the poll at the referendum and the poll at every relevant election, if the relevant returning or counting officer thinks fit.

(3) Every ballot box must be so constructed that the ballot papers can be put in it, but cannot be withdrawn from it, without the box being unlocked or, where the box has no lock, the seal being broken.

(4) The relevant returning or counting officer must provide each polling station with—

(a) materials to enable voters and proxies to mark the ballot papers;

(b) copies of such part of the register of electors as contains the names of the voters who have the station allotted to them;

(c) the parts of any special lists prepared for the referendum corresponding to the register of electors or the part of it provided under sub-paragraph (b);

(d) a list, in the form set out in Form 5 in the Appendix or a form to like effect, consisting of that part of the list prepared under rule 8 which contains the numbers (but not the other unique identifying marks) corresponding to those on the ballot papers provided to the presiding officer of the polling station.

(5) The reference in paragraph (3)(b) to the copies of the register of electors includes a reference to copies of any notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act(1) in respect of alterations to the register.

(6) The relevant returning or counting officer must also provide each polling station with—

(a) at least one large version of each ballot paper which must be printed on the same colour paper as the corresponding ballot paper and displayed inside the polling station for the assistance of voters and proxies who are partially sighted; and

(b) a device of such description as is set out in paragraph (11) for enabling voters and proxies who are blind or partially sighted to vote without any need for assistance from the presiding officer or any companion (within the meaning of rule 29(1)).

(7) Where, notwithstanding paragraph (2), separate ballot boxes are to be used, each ballot box must be clearly marked—

(a) as to the election or referendum to which it relates, as shown on the ballot papers for the election or referendum; and

(b) with the words “Place the [specify colour of ballot papers in question] ballot papers here”.

(8) A notice in the form set out in Form 12 in the Appendix, giving directions for the guidance of voters and proxies in voting, must be printed in conspicuous characters and exhibited inside and outside every polling station.

(9) The relevant returning or counting officer may also provide copies of the notice mentioned in paragraph (8) in Braille or translated into languages other than English as the counting officer considers appropriate, provided that these notices are accurate reproductions in Braille or that other language of that notice.

(10) In every compartment of every polling station there must be exhibited the following notice—

“*PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

([specify colour] ballot paper)

vote for ONE candidate only

*EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

([specify colour] ballot paper)

vote for ONE party or individual candidate only

*[specify name of council ] COUNCIL ELECTION

([specify colour] ballot paper)

*vote for no more than …. candidates

*vote for ONE candidate only

*ELECTION OF THE MAYOR OF LONDON

([specify colour] ballot paper)

#[On the ballot paper for the election of the Mayor of London, vote ONCE for your first choice and ONCE for your SECOND choice]

*ELECTION OF THE LONDON ASSEMBLY

[On the constituency members ballot paper [specify colour] vote for ONE candidate only]

#[On the London members ballot paper [specify colour] vote for ONE party or individual candidate only]

*ELECTION OF MAYOR for [specify name of council]

([specify colour] ballot paper)

*vote for ONE candidate only

*vote once in column 1 for first choice (X) and vote once in column 2 for your second choice (X)

*ELECTION OF POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR [specify name of force area] POLICE FORCE AREA

([specify colour] ballot paper)

*vote for ONE candidate only

*vote once in column 1 for first choice (X) and vote once in column 2 for your second choice (X)

*REFERENDUM on [specify name of authority in respect of which referendum is held]’s council tax increase for the financial year [specify financial year]

([specify colour] ballot paper)

Mark a cross (X) in the box next to the answer of your choice

Vote ONCE only

*[specify name of council] REFERENDUM

([specify colour] ballot paper)

Mark a cross (X) in the box next to the answer of your choice

Vote ONCE only

*REFERENDUM ON [specify: neighbourhood plan / neighbourhood development order or community right to build order] FOR [specify name of neighbourhood area].

Mark a cross (X) in the box next to the answer of your choice

Vote ONCE only

DO NOT MARK THE BALLOT PAPERS IN ANY OTHER WAY, OR YOUR VOTE MAY NOT BE COUNTED”

*Complete or omit as necessary.

#This wording should be used where the Greater London Returning Officer (within the meaning of the Greater London Authority Act 1999) has not supplied wording pursuant to the Greater London Authority Elections (No. 2) Rules 2000.

(11) The device referred to in paragraph (6)(b) must—

(a) allow a ballot paper to be inserted into and removed from, or attached to and detached from, the device easily and without damage to the paper;

(b) hold the ballot paper firmly in place during use; and

(c) provide suitable means for the voter or proxy to—

(i) identify the spaces on the ballot paper on which they may mark their vote;

(ii) identify the registered party or individual candidate or answer to which each such space refers; and

(iii) mark their vote on the space they have chosen.

(1)

Section 13B of the 1983 Act was inserted by paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (c.2) and section 13(3B) and (3D) were inserted by section 11(4) of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c.22).