The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017

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Order modified by S.I. 2024/402 art. 16

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art. 9 inserted by S.I. 2024/131 reg. 9

Equipment of polling stationsU.K.

This section has no associated Explanatory Memorandum

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

(2) Every ballot box must be so constructed that the ballot papers can be put in it, but cannot be withdrawn from it, without the box being unlocked or, where the box has no lock, the seal being broken.

(3) The returning officer must provide each polling station with—

(a)materials to enable voters to mark the ballot papers,

(b)copies of the register of electors for the electoral area or such part of it as contains the names of the electors allotted to the station,

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

(d)a list consisting of that part of the list prepared under rule 19 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.

[F1(e)a ballot paper refusal list, in the appropriate form in the Appendix or a form to like effect, on which entries are to be made as mentioned in rule 41A (refusal to deliver ballot paper).]

(4) 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) M1 of the 1983 Act in respect of alterations to the register.

(5) The returning officer must also provide each polling station with—

(a)at least one large version of the ballot paper which must be displayed inside the polling station for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted,

(b)an enlarged hand-held sample copy of the ballot paper for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted which must be clearly marked as a specimen provided only for the guidance of voters, and

[F2(c)such equipment as it is reasonable to provide for the purposes of enabling, or making it easier for, relevant persons to vote independently in the manner directed by rule 37 (voting procedure), including in relation to voting secretly; and for this purpose “relevant persons” means persons who find it difficult or impossible to vote in that manner because of—

(i)blindness or partial sight, or

(ii)another disability.]

[F3(5A) Paragraph (10) of rule 29 of Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act (Parliamentary elections rules: guidance to returning officers) applies for the purposes of paragraph (5)(c) of this rule as it applies for the purposes of that rule, but as if the reference in that paragraph to paragraph (3A)(b) were a reference to paragraph (5)(c) of this rule.]

(6) The [F4CA/CCA] returning officer must prepare and provide each returning officer with—

(a)a notice in the appropriate form in the Appendix giving directions for the guidance of voters in voting, which must be printed in conspicuous characters and exhibited inside and outside every polling station; and

[F5(b)[F6where the election is a combined authority mayoral election] the following notice which must be exhibited in every compartment of every polling station—

*[Specify name of combined authority] COMBINED AUTHORITY MAYORAL ELECTION

Vote for ONLY ONE CANDIDATE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.

PUT NO OTHER MARK ON THE BALLOT PAPER OR YOUR VOTE MAY NOT COUNT.

*Complete as necessary];

[F7(ba)where the election is a combined county authority mayoral election, the following notice which must be exhibited in every compartment of every polling station—

*[Specify name of combined county authority] COMBINED COUNTY AUTHORITY MAYORAL ELECTION

Vote for ONLY ONE CANDIDATE by putting a cross [x] in the box next to your choice.

PUT NO OTHER MARK ON THE BALLOT PAPER OR YOUR VOTE MAY NOT COUNT.

*Complete as necessary.]

[F8(6A) A large notice must be displayed inside each polling station containing—

(a)details of the documents the elector or proxy needs to produce when applying for a ballot paper, namely—

(i)in the case of an elector (other than an elector with an anonymous entry) or a proxy, any of the forms of identification for the time being referred to in rule 37(1H) of Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act (parliamentary elections rules);

(ii)in the case of an elector with an anonymous entry, the elector’s official poll card and an anonymous elector’s document showing the same electoral number as the electoral number shown on the official poll card; and

(b)a statement that further proof of identity may be required to resolve any discrepancy between the name of the holder of a form of identification and the name of the elector or proxy that the voter claims to be.]

(7) The [F9CA/CCA] returning officer may also provide copies of the notices mentioned in paragraph (6) in such other form described in section 199B(2) or (3) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 M2 as the [F9CA/CCA] returning officer thinks appropriate and, if the returning officer agrees, these may also be exhibited inside and outside the polling station.

F10(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F11(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1Sch. 1 rule 28(3)(e) inserted (16.1.2023) by The Voter Identification Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1382), regs. 1(3), 94(6)(a) (with reg. 1(6)(7))

F2Sch. 1 rule 28(5)(c) substituted (29.12.2022) by The Assistance with Voting for Persons with Disabilities (Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1309), regs. 1(3), 13(2)(a)(i)(aa) (with reg. 1(4))

F3Sch. 1 rule 28(5A) inserted (29.12.2022) by The Assistance with Voting for Persons with Disabilities (Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1309), regs. 1(3), 13(2)(a)(i)(bb) (with reg. 1(4))

F4Word in Sch. 1 rule 28(6) substituted (7.2.2024) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/131), regs. 1(3), 11(14)(a)(i)

F5Sch. 1 rule 28(6)(b) substituted (13.12.2022) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (Amendment) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1353), arts. 1(1)(c), 3(3)(a) (with art. 1(2))

F6Words in Sch. 1 rule 28(6)(b) inserted (7.2.2024) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/131), regs. 1(3), 11(14)(a)(ii)

F7Sch. 1 rule 28(6)(ba) inserted (7.2.2024) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/131), regs. 1(3), 11(14)(a)(iii)

F8Sch. 1 rule 28(6A) inserted (16.1.2023) by The Voter Identification Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1382), regs. 1(3), 94(6)(b) (with reg. 1(6)(7))

F9Word in Sch. 1 rule 28(7) substituted (7.2.2024) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/131), regs. 1(3), 11(14)(b)