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Committee of the whole House: 19 October 2010            

560

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

A. Issue of postal ballot papers

Number for voting area

 
 

1. Total number of postal ballot papers issued under paragraph

  
 

7 of Schedule 4

  
 

2. Total number of postal ballot papers issued under paragraph

  
 

13 of Schedule 4 (spoilt and returned for cancellation) and

  
 

paragraph 14 of Schedule 4 (lost or not received)

  
 

3. Total number of postal ballot papers cancelled under

  
 

paragraph 22 of Schedule 4 (where the first ballot paper was

  
 

cancelled and retrieved)

  
 

4. Total number of postal ballot papers issued (1 to 3)

  
 

B.(1) Receipt of and replacement ballot papers

Number for voting area

 
 

5. Number of covering envelopes received by the constituency

  
 

returning officer or at a polling station before the close of poll

  
 

(excluding any undelivered or returned under paragraph 13(1)

  
 

(spoilt), paragraph 14(1) (lost) and paragraph 22 (cancelled

  
 

ballot papers) of Schedule 4)

  
 

6. Number of covering envelopes received by the constituency

  
 

returning officer after the close of poll, excluding any returned

  
 

as undelivered

  
 

7. Number of postal ballot papers returned spoilt for

  
 

cancellation in time for another ballot paper to be issued

  
 

8. Number of postal ballot papers replaced as lost or not

  
 

received, but not returned for cancellation

  
 

9. Number of postal ballot papers cancelled and retrieved in

  
 

time for another ballot paper to be issued

  
 

10. Number of postal ballot papers returned as spoilt too late

  
 

for another ballot paper to be issued

  
 

11. Number of covering envelopes returned as undelivered (up

  
 

to the 10th day after the date of poll)

  
 

12. Number of covering envelopes not received by the

  
 

constituency returning officer (by the 10th day after the date

  
 

of poll)

  
 

13. Total numbers 5 to 12 (this should be the same as that in 4

  
 

above)

  

 
 

Committee of the whole House: 19 October 2010            

561

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

B.(2) Receipt of postal ballot papers - Personal Identifiers

Number for voting area

 
 

14. Number of covering envelopes set aside for the

  
 

verification of personal identifiers on postal voting statements

  
 

15. Number of postal voting statements not subject to

  
 

verification procedure rejected as not completed (excluding

  
 

prior cancellations)

  
 

16. Number of postal voting statements subject to verification

  
 

procedure rejected as not completed (excluding prior

  
 

cancellations)

  
 

17. Number of postal voting statements rejected following

  
 

verification procedures due to the personal identifiers on the

  
 

postal voting statement not matching those in the personal

  
 

identifiers record (excluding prior cancellations)

  
 

C. Count of postal ballot papers

Number for voting area

 
 

18. Number of ballot papers returned by postal voters which

  
 

were included in the count of ballot papers

  
 

19. Number of cases in which a covering envelope or its

  
 

contents were marked “Rejected” (cancellations under

  
 

paragraphs 13, 14 and 22 of Schedule 4 are not rejections and

  
 

should be included in items 2, 3, 7 and 9 above)

  
 

Date ...........................................................

Signed.......................................

 
  

Counting Officer

 
 

Address ................................................................................................................................

 
 

..............................................................................................................................................

 
 

NOTE

 
 

The references to Schedule 4 are references to Schedule 4 to the Scottish Parliament

 
 

(Elections etc.) Order 2007 as applied by the Parliamentary Voting System and

 
 

Constituencies Act 2010.’.

 
 



 
 

Committee of the whole House: 19 October 2010            

562

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

NS5

 

Parliamentary Star    

To move the following Schedule:—

 

‘Combination of polls: Northern Ireland

 

Part 1

 

Provision about combination

 

General provisions

 

Interpretation

 

1    (1)  

An election the poll for which is, under section [Combination of polls](4), to

 

be taken together with the poll for the referendum is referred to in this Schedule

 

as a “relevant election”.

 

      (2)  

The polls to be taken together are referred to in this Schedule as “combined

 

polls”.

 

2          

In this Schedule—

 

“Assembly election” means an election to the Northern Ireland Assembly;

 

“Assembly Elections Rules” means the parliamentary elections rules as

 

applied for the purposes of Assembly elections by Article 3(1) of, and

 

Schedule 1 to, the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001

 

(S.I. 2001/2599);

 

“Chief Electoral Officer” means the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern

 

Ireland;

 

“counting agent” means a counting agent for the referendum or a counting

 

agent for a relevant election (except where one or other is specified);

 

“local election” has the meaning given in section 130(1) of the Electoral

 

Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962;

 

“Local Elections Rules” means the rules set out in Schedule 5 to the

 

Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962.

 

Cost of combined polls

 

3          

The cost of taking the combined polls (excluding any cost solely attributable

 

to the referendum or to a particular relevant election), and any cost attributable

 

to their combination, is to be apportioned equally among them.

 

Publication of statement of persons nominated

 

4    (1)  

The statement of persons nominated at the relevant elections must be published

 

by not later than the 15th day before the date of the poll.

 

      (2)  

The timetables set out in the following provisions are to be read with whatever

 

modifications are necessary to give effect to sub-paragraph (1)—

 

(a)    

rule 1 of the Assembly Elections Rules;

 

(b)    

rule 1 of the Local Elections Rules.

 

Directions by Chief Counting Officer to Chief Electoral Officer

 

5    (1)  

The reference in paragraph 3(5)(a) of Schedule 1 to a counting officer’s

 

functions includes (subject to sub-paragraph (5)) the functions of the Chief

 

Electoral Officer that are conferred by—

 

(a)    

the relevant provisions of the Assembly Elections Rules;


 
 

Committee of the whole House: 19 October 2010            

563

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

(b)    

the relevant provisions of the Local Elections Rules;

 

(c)    

paragraph 32(1), (2)(b) and (6) below.

 

      (2)  

The reference in paragraph 3(5)(b) of that Schedule to information that a

 

counting officer has or is entitled to have includes information that the Chief

 

Electoral Officer has, or is entitled to have, by virtue of exercising those

 

functions.

 

      (3)  

The relevant provisions of the Assembly Elections Rules are—

 

(a)    

rule 19A (corresponding number list);

 

(b)    

rule 23(2) (notice of situation of polling stations etc);

 

(c)    

rule 24 (postal ballot papers);

 

(d)    

rule 25 (provision of polling stations);

 

(e)    

in rule 26 (appointment of presiding officers and clerks), paragraph (1)

 

to the extent that it concerns the appointment of presiding officers and

 

clerks to assist them, and paragraph (2);

 

(f)    

rule 29 (equipment of polling stations);

 

(g)    

rule 31(a) (notification of requirement of secrecy at polling stations);

 

(h)    

rule 31A (return of postal ballot papers);

 

(i)    

rule 32(3) (certificate as to employment);

 

(j)    

rule 33(2)(b) (authorisation to remove person from polling station).

 

      (4)  

The relevant provisions of the Local Elections Rules are—

 

(a)    

rule 20(2) (notice of situation of polling stations etc);

 

(b)    

rule 21 (postal ballot papers);

 

(c)    

rule 22 (provision of polling stations);

 

(d)    

in rule 23 (appointment of presiding officers and clerks), paragraph (1)

 

to the extent that it concerns the appointment of presiding officers and

 

clerks to assist them, and paragraph (2);

 

(e)    

rule 26 (equipment of polling stations);

 

(f)    

rule 28(a) (notification of requirement of secrecy at polling stations);

 

(g)    

rule 29(3) (certificate as to employment);

 

(h)    

rule 30(2)(b) (authorisation to remove person from polling station).

 

      (5)  

Functions of the Chief Electoral Officer conferred by—

 

(a)    

rule 19A of the Assembly Elections Rules to the extent that it relates

 

to ballot papers issued in pursuance of rule 24(1) of those rules,

 

(b)    

rule 24 or 31A of the Assembly Elections Rules,

 

(c)    

rule 21 of the Local Elections Rules, or

 

(d)    

paragraph 32(2)(b) below,

 

            

fall within sub-paragraph (1) only where the Chief Electoral Officer decides

 

that the proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers in respect

 

of the referendum and the relevant elections are to be taken together.

 

Forms

 

6          

Forms 2, 3, 5 and 6 in Part 2 of this Schedule are “relevant forms” for the

 

purposes of rule 9A of the referendum rules.


 
 

Committee of the whole House: 19 October 2010            

564

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

Action to be taken before poll

 

Corresponding number lists

 

7    (1)  

This paragraph applies where the Chief Electoral Officer decides that the

 

proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers in respect of the

 

referendum and the relevant elections are to be taken together.

 

      (2)  

If the Chief Electoral Officer thinks fit, the lists to be prepared under the

 

following provisions may be combined in the form set out in Form 1 in Part 2

 

of this Schedule—

 

(a)    

rule 6 of the referendum rules;

 

(b)    

rule 19A of the Assembly Elections Rules;

 

      (3)  

In that case, this paragraph applies instead of—

 

(a)    

rule 6(2) of the referendum rules;

 

(b)    

rule 19A(2) of the Assembly Elections Rules.

 

8    (1)  

This paragraph applies where the Chief Electoral Officer decides that the

 

proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers in respect of the

 

referendum and the relevant elections are not to be taken together.

 

      (2)  

If the Chief Electoral Officer thinks fit, the officer may prepare a single list

 

containing the numbers and other unique identifying marks of all of the ballot

 

papers to be provided to presiding officers in pursuance of the following

 

provisions—

 

(a)    

rule 16(1) of the referendum rules;

 

(b)    

rule 29(1) of the Assembly Elections Rules.

 

      (3)  

The list must be in the form set out in Form 1 in Part 2 of this Schedule.

 

      (4)  

If a list is prepared in relation to ballot papers under this paragraph, the list

 

prepared under the following provisions must not include details relating to

 

those ballot papers—

 

(a)    

rule 6 of the referendum rules;

 

(b)    

rule 19A of the Assembly Elections Rules.

 

      (5)  

A reference in an enactment to a list prepared under a provision mentioned in

 

sub-paragraph (4) has effect, in so far as it relates to ballot papers to be

 

provided in pursuance of the provisions mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), as a

 

reference to the list prepared under this paragraph.

 

Notice of polling stations

 

9    (1)  

The notice given under rule 10(3) of the referendum rules must—

 

(a)    

state that the poll for the referendum is to be taken together with the

 

poll for the relevant elections, and

 

(b)    

specify the constituency or district council for which each relevant

 

election is to be held.

 

      (2)  

The notice given under rule 23(2) of the Assembly Elections Rules must—

 

(a)    

state that the poll for the Assembly election is to be taken together with

 

the poll for the referendum, and

 

(b)    

state that the poll for the Assembly election is to be taken together with

 

the poll for a local election, specifying the relevant district council.

 

      (3)  

The notice given under rule 20(2) of the Local Elections Rules must—

 

(a)    

state that the poll for the local election is to be taken together with the

 

poll for the referendum, and

 

(b)    

state that the poll for the local election is to be taken together with the

 

poll for an Assembly election, specifying the relevant constituency.


 
 

Committee of the whole House: 19 October 2010            

565

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

Declarations of identity

 

10  (1)  

This paragraph applies where the Chief Electoral Officer decides that the

 

proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers in respect of the

 

referendum and the relevant elections are to be taken together.

 

      (2)  

The declaration of identity to be issued to those entitled to vote by post in the

 

referendum and in the relevant elections must be in the form set out in Form 2

 

in Part 2 of this Schedule.

 

      (3)  

Where that form is used, this paragraph applies instead of any requirement in

 

the following provisions for a declaration of identity to be in a particular form.

 

      (4)  

The provisions are—

 

(a)    

rule 11(1)(c) of the referendum rules;

 

(b)    

rule 24(1)(c) of the Assembly Elections Rules;

 

(c)    

rule 21(1) of the Local Elections Rules.

 

11  (1)  

This paragraph applies where the Chief Electoral Officer decides that the

 

proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers in respect of the

 

referendum and the relevant elections are not to be taken together.

 

      (2)  

The declaration of identity to be issued to those entitled to vote by post in the

 

referendum must be in the form set out in Form 3 in Part 2 of this Schedule.

 

      (3)  

This paragraph applies instead of the requirement in rule 11(1)(c) of the

 

referendum rules for a declaration of identity to be in a particular form.

 

Colour of ballot papers

 

12         

The ballot papers used for the referendum and for each relevant election must

 

be of a different colour.

 

Polling stations

 

13         

The referendum polling stations are to be used for the combined polls.

 

Official poll cards

 

14  (1)  

If the Chief Electoral Officer thinks fit, the official poll cards used for the

 

referendum and the relevant elections may be combined.

 

      (2)  

In that case, the forms required to be used for official poll cards for the

 

referendum and relevant elections must be adapted in whatever manner seems

 

necessary.

 

Ballot boxes

 

15  (1)  

If the Chief Electoral Officer thinks fit, the same ballot box may be used at the

 

polls for the referendum and the relevant elections.

 

      (2)  

Where separate ballot boxes are used, each must be clearly marked to show—

 

(a)    

the poll to which it relates, and

 

(b)    

the colour of ballot papers that should be placed in it.

 

Form of corresponding number lists provided to polling stations

 

16  (1)  

If the Chief Electoral Officer thinks fit, the lists to be provided under the

 

following provisions may be combined in the form set out in Form 4 in Part 2

 

of this Schedule—

 

(a)    

rule 16(3)(d) of the referendum rules;

 

(b)    

rule 29(3)(e) of the Assembly Elections Rules.


 
 

Committee of the whole House: 19 October 2010            

566

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

      (2)  

In that case, this paragraph applies instead of the second sentence in rule 16(3)

 

of the referendum rules.

 

Ballot paper displayed in polling stations

 

17  (1)  

The large version of the ballot paper displayed inside the polling station under

 

rule 16(4)(a) of the referendum rules must be of the same colour as the ballot

 

papers to be used for the referendum.

 

      (2)  

The large version of the ballot paper displayed inside the polling station under

 

rule 29(3A)(a) of the Assembly Elections Rules must be of the same colour as

 

the ballot papers to be used for the Assembly election.

 

      (3)  

The large version of the ballot paper displayed inside the polling station under

 

rule 26(3A)(a) of the Local Elections Rules must be of the same colour as the

 

ballot papers to be used for the local election.

 

Guidance to be exhibited outside and inside polling stations

 

18  (1)  

Rule 16 of the referendum rules has effect as if—

 

(a)    

in paragraph (6), for “inside and outside every polling station” there

 

were substituted “outside every polling station and in every

 

compartment of every polling station”, and

 

(b)    

paragraph (7) were omitted.

 

      (2)  

Rule 29 of the Assembly Elections Rules has effect as if—

 

(a)    

in paragraph (4), for “inside and outside every polling station” there

 

were substituted “outside every polling station and in every

 

compartment of every polling station”, and

 

(b)    

paragraph (5) were omitted.

 

      (3)  

The notice referred to in rule 29(4) of the Assembly Elections Rules or rule

 

26(4) of the Local Elections Rules—

 

(a)    

must clearly indicate the election to which it relates, and

 

(b)    

must be on paper of the same colour as the ballot papers used for the

 

election to which it relates,

 

            

and the notice referred to in rule 16(6) of the referendum rules must be on paper

 

of the same colour as the ballot papers used for the referendum.

 

      (4)  

If the Chief Electoral Officer thinks fit, a notice in the form set out in Form 5

 

in Part 2 of this Schedule, giving directions for the guidance of voters in

 

voting—

 

(a)    

must be printed in conspicuous characters;

 

(b)    

must be exhibited outside every polling station and in every

 

compartment of every polling station.

 

      (5)  

In that case, paragraph (4) applies instead of—

 

(a)    

paragraphs (1) to (3);

 

(b)    

rule 16(6) and (7) of the referendum rules;

 

(c)    

rule 29(4) and (5) of the Assembly Elections Rules;

 

(d)    

rule 26(4) of the Local Elections Rules.

 

The poll

 

Admission to the polling station

 

19  (1)  

Rule 20(1) of the referendum rules has effect as if the persons listed there

 

included persons who would be entitled to be admitted to the polling station

 

for any relevant election if the poll for that election were held on its own.


 
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