Committee of the whole House: 25 October 2010

780

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

	Ballot Paper Number	Unique Identifying Mark	Elector Number (to be
	(identify the number		completed only in respect of
	issued for the		ballot papers issued to
	referendum/election)		postal voters)

Paragraph 13(2)

Form 2 - Form of postal voting statement (for use where proceedings on issue and

receipt of postal ballot papers combined)

	Postal Voting Statement
	*Voter’s name: .................................	Ballot paper nos. ............................
	*Counting officer to insert name but omit where ballot papers sent to an anonymous elector
		[other identifying mark]

	You must provide your [# signature and] date of birth. If you do not, the postal voting
	statement will be invalid and your vote will not be counted.
	I AM THE PERSON THE BALLOT PAPERS NUMBERED ABOVE WERE SENT TO
	Date of birth	DDMMYYYY	(voter’s date of birth)

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

	#Signature		(voter’s signature)
			IMPORTANT - Keep
			signature within border
	#(Counting officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)
	It is an offence to vote using a ballot paper that is not addressed to you.

	PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS TO THE VOTER
	Issued by the counting officer
	INSTRUCTIONS TO THE VOTER
	Complete the ballot papers yourself and in private. If you need help, contact the
	counting officer’s staff as shown below.
	[contact details for assistance; include address as appropriate]
	1.	You must provide your [#signature and] date of birth. If you do not, the postal
		voting statement will be invalid and your vote(s) will not be counted.
	2.	When you are voting in the referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom
		parliamentary elections ([insert colour of ballot paper] ballot paper), mark a cross
		(X) in the box on the right hand side of the ballot paper opposite the answer you are
		voting for. Vote in one box only. Do not mark the ballot paper in any other way or
		your vote may not be counted.
	3.	[When you are voting in a local government election ([insert colour of ballot paper]
		ballot paper), mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of the ballot paper
		opposite the name of the candidate[s]* you are voting for. [Vote for ONE candidate
		only.]* [Vote for no more than [specify number] candidates.]* Do not mark the
		ballot paper in any other way or your vote may not be counted.]*
	4.	[When you are voting in a [specify parish council] election ([insert colour of ballot
		paper] ballot paper), mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of the ballot
		paper opposite the name of the candidate[s]* you are voting for. [Vote for ONE
		candidate only.]* [Vote for no more than [specify number] candidates.]* Do not
		mark the ballot paper in any other way or your vote may not be counted.]*
	5.	[When you are voting in a [specify] referendum ([insert colour of ballot paper]
		ballot paper) mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of the ballot paper
		opposite the answer you are voting for. Vote once only. Do not mark the ballot paper
		in any other way or your vote may not be counted.]*
	6.	[When you are voting for an elected Mayor ([insert colour of ballot paper] ballot
		paper), mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of the ballot paper
		opposite the name of the candidate[s]* you are voting for. [Vote for ONE candidate
		only.]* [Vote ONCE (X) in column one for your first choice and vote ONCE (X) in
		column two for your second choice.]* Do not mark the ballot paper in any other way
		or your vote may not be counted.]*
	7.	If you need help voting, the person helping you must not tell anyone how you voted.
	8.	Put all the ballot papers in the small envelope marked A and seal it.
	9.	Complete the postal voting statement by [#signing it, and] providing your date of
		birth.
	10.	Then put the envelope marked A together with the postal voting statement in the
		larger envelope marked B. Return it straightaway.
	11.	After receiving this postal vote, you cannot vote in person at a polling station in
		the referendum[s]* or election[s]*.
	12.	If you accidentally spoil any of your ballot papers, you can apply to the counting
		officer for replacements before 5 pm on [day/date of poll]. You must return all the
		ballot papers, the postal voting statement and the envelopes marked A and B. Make
		sure you contact the counting officer as soon as possible.
	!	Your ballot papers and the postal voting statement must be received by the counting
		officer by 10 pm on [day/date of poll]. You can deliver your completed postal votes
		to any polling station in your voting area on polling day.
	It is an offence to vote using a ballot paper that is not addressed to you.
	It is illegal to vote more than once in the same referendum (unless you are appointed
	as a proxy for another person).
	It is illegal to vote more than once at the same election (unless you are appointed as a
	proxy for another person).
	#(Counting officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)
	*Delete as appropriate

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

Paragraph 14(2)

Form 3 - Form of postal voting statement (for use where proceedings on issue and

receipt of postal ballot papers not combined)

	Postal Voting Statement
	*Voter’s name: .................................	Ballot paper no. .......................
		(insert colour)
	*Counting officer to insert name but omit where ballot papers sent to an anonymous elector
		[other identifying mark]

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

	You must provide your [# signature and] date of birth. If you do not, the postal voting
	statement will be invalid and your vote will not be counted.
	I AM THE PERSON THE BALLOT PAPER NUMBERED ABOVE WAS SENT TO
	Date of birth	DDMMYYYY	(voter’s date of birth)

	#Signature		(voter’s signature)
			IMPORTANT - Keep
			signature within border
	#(Counting officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)
	It is an offence to vote using a ballot paper that is not addressed to you.

	PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS TO THE VOTER
	Issued by the counting officer
	INSTRUCTIONS TO THE VOTER
	Complete the ballot paper yourself and in private. If you need help, contact the
	counting officer’s staff as shown below.
	[contact details for assistance; include address as appropriate]
	1.	You must provide your [#signature and] date of birth. You must do this even if you
		have already signed a postal voting statement in respect of [an
		election]*[or]*[another referendum]* to be held on the same day. If you do not, the
		postal voting statement will be invalid and your vote will not be counted.
	2.	Vote by marking one box only. Do not mark the ballot paper in any other way or
		your vote may not be counted.
	3.	Mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of the ballot paper opposite the
		answer you are voting for.
	4.	If you need help in voting, the person helping you must not tell anyone how you
		voted.
	5.	Put the ballot paper in the small envelope marked A and seal it.
	6.	Complete the postal voting statement by [#signing it, and] providing your date of
		birth.
	7.	Then put the envelope marked A together with the postal voting statement in the
		larger envelope marked B. Return it straightaway.
	8.	After receiving this postal vote, you cannot vote in person at a polling station in
		this referendum.
	9.	If you accidentally spoil your ballot paper, you can apply to the counting officer for
		a replacement before 5 pm on [day/date of poll]. You must return the spoilt ballot
		paper, the postal voting statement and the envelopes marked A and B. Make sure
		you contact the counting officer as soon as possible.
	!	Your ballot paper and the postal voting statement must be received by the counting
		officer by 10 pm on [day/date of poll]. You can deliver your completed postal vote
		to any polling station in your voting area on polling day.
	It is an offence to vote using a ballot paper that is not addressed to you.
	It is illegal to vote more than once (unless you are appointed as a proxy for another
	person) in this referendum.
	#(Counting officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)
	*Delete as appropriate

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

Paragraph 19(1)

Form 4 - Form of corresponding number list (to be used in polling stations for

combined polls)

Voting area/electoral division/electoral area/ward/parish: ........................................

Date of Poll: .........................................

Polling Station: .....................................

Sheet No.: .............................................

	Ballot Paper Number (identify the	Elector Number
	number issued for the referendum/
	election)

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

Paragraph 21(1)

Form 5 - guidance for voters to be exhibited inside and outside every polling

station

	1.	When you are given your ballot papers go to one of the compartments.
	2.	A.	At the referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary
			elections mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of the [specify
			colour] ballot paper opposite the answer you are voting for.
		[B.	At the local government election(s) mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand
			side of [the]* [each]* ballot paper opposite the name of [the]* [each]* candidate
			you are voting for. The ballot paper[s]* for the local government election(s) [is]*
			[are]* coloured [specify colour(s)]. [Vote for ONE candidate only.]*[Vote for no
			more than [specify number] candidates.]*]*
		[C.	At the [specify parish council] election mark a cross (X) in the box on the right
			hand side of the [specify colour] ballot paper opposite the name of the
			candidate[s]* for whom you are voting. [Vote for ONE candidate only.]*[Vote
			for no more than [specify number] candidates.]*]*
		[D.	At the [specify] referendum mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of
			the [specify colour] ballot paper opposite the answer you are voting for.]*
		[E.	At the Mayoral election mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of the
			[specify colour] ballot paper opposite the name[s]* of the candidate[s]* you are
			voting for. [Vote for ONE candidate only.]* [Vote ONCE in column one for your
			first choice and vote ONCE in column two for your second choice.]*]*
	3.	Fold each ballot paper in two. Show the presiding officer the number and other unique
		identifying mark on the back of the ballot paper, but do not let anyone see your vote. Put
		each ballot paper in the [appropriate]* ballot box and leave the polling station.
	4.	Vote once only in [each]*[the]* referendum and vote only for the number of candidates
		specified on each ballot paper for an election. Put no other mark on the ballot paper, or
		your vote may not be counted.
	5.	If by mistake you spoil a ballot paper, show it to the presiding officer and ask for another
		one.
	* Complete or omit as necessary.

Committee of the whole House: 25 October 2010

786

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

Paragraph 22(1)

Form 6 - Guidance for voters to be exhibited in every polling station compartment

REFERENDUM ON THE VOTING SYSTEM FOR

UNITED KINGDOM PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

*[specify colour] ballot paper

Mark one box only.

*[specify name of council] COUNCIL ELECTION

*[specify colour] ballot paper

*vote for no more than [specify number] candidates

*vote for ONE candidate only

*[specify name of parish] COUNCIL ELECTION

*[specify colour] ballot paper

*vote for no more than [specify number] candidates

*vote for ONE candidate only

[SPECIFY OTHER] REFERENDUM

*[specify colour] ballot paper

Mark one box only.

*ELECTION OF THE MAYOR OF [specify name of council]

*[specify colour] ballot paper

*vote for ONE candidate only

*vote ONCE for your first choice and ONCE for your second choice

PUT NO OTHER MARKS ON THE BALLOT PAPERS OR YOUR VOTES MAY NOT

BE COUNTED.

* Complete or omit as necessary.

---

Revised 25 October 2010