9.—(1) Schedule 5 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (local election rules) is amended as follows.
(2) In rule 45 (preliminary proceedings and conduct of the count)(1), in paragraph (2)—
(a)in sub-paragraph (a), after “it is returned” insert “by post or by hand”;
(b)at the end of sub-paragraph (a) omit “and”;
(c)after sub-paragraph (b) insert—
“and
(c)the postal ballot paper is not one that falls to be rejected in accordance with paragraph 15C of Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.”.
(3) In the Appendix of Forms(2)—
(a)replace form 5 (declaration of identity) with the form in Schedule 2;
(b)replace form 6A (elector’s official postal poll card) with the form in Schedule 3;
(c)replace form 7A (proxy’s official postal poll card) with the form in Schedule 4.
Rule 45 was substituted by S.I. 1985/454, and paragraph (2) was amended by S.I. 2002/2835.
Relevant amendments were made by paragraph 61(4) of Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 to the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22) and S.I. 2010/2977, 2014/1116, 2015/566 and 2020/635.