Committee of the whole House: 25 October 2010

864

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

Paragraph 54

Form 10 - Statement as to postal ballot papers for the referendum

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary elections

Voting area .....................

Date of poll ...................

	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: 25 October 2010

865

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: 25 October 2010

866

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

As Amendments to New Schedule 4 (Combination of Polls: Scotland):—

Edward Miliband

Sadiq Khan

Chris Bryant

Mr Peter Hain

(a)

Paragraph 15, leave out sub-paragraph (1) and insert—

‘(1)	The official poll cards used for the referendum and for the Scottish

parliamentary election must be combined for all electors qualified to vote in all

the polls.’.

Edward Miliband

Sadiq Khan

Chris Bryant

Mr Peter Hain

(b)

Paragraph 17, leave out sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) and insert—

‘(1)	Separate ballot boxes must be used for the referendum to that used for the

Scottish parliamentary elections.

(2)	Each ballot box must be marked to show—

(a)	the referendum or parliamentary election to which it relates, and

(b)	the colour of ballot papers that should be placed in it.’.

Edward Miliband

Sadiq Khan

Chris Bryant

Mr Peter Hain

(c)

Leave out paragraph 18 and insert—

‘18(1)

The Chief Counting Officer shall select the colour of the ballot paper used for

the referendum.

(2)	The ballot papers used for constituency or regional ballots shall be of a

different colour from that selected by the Chief Counting Officer.’.

Edward Miliband

Sadiq Khan

Chris Bryant

Mr Peter Hain

(d)

After paragraph 21 insert—

Committee of the whole House: 25 October 2010

867

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

‘Electoral Commission guidance

21A	The Electoral Commission are to supply posters to be displayed in every

polling station used for the referendum, which give neutral information on first

past the post and alternative vote systems that are the subject of the

referendum, subject to agreement by the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral

Commission.’.

Edward Miliband

Sadiq Khan

Chris Bryant

Mr Peter Hain

(e)

Paragraph 42, at the end of sub-paragraph (3) insert ‘or

(c)	the person is a Member of Parliament.’.

Edward Miliband

Sadiq Khan

Chris Bryant

Mr Peter Hain

(f)

Paragraph 46, in sub-paragraph (1)(d), leave out ‘separate’ and insert ‘keep separate

throughout.’.

Edward Miliband

Sadiq Khan

Chris Bryant

Mr Peter Hain

(g)

In paragraph 48, at the end of sub-paragraph (1) (a) insert ‘containing ballot papers

for the referendum vote.’.

Edward Miliband

Sadiq Khan

Chris Bryant

Mr Peter Hain

(h)

In paragraph 48, at the end of sub-paragraph (1), at end of sub-sub-paragraph (1)(b)

insert ‘containing ballot papers for the referendum vote.’.

Edward Miliband

Sadiq Khan

Chris Bryant

Mr Peter Hain

(i)

In paragraph 48, at the end of sub-paragraph (3), at end of sub-sub-paragraph (a)

insert ‘containing ballot papers for the referendum vote.’.

Edward Miliband

Sadiq Khan

Chris Bryant

Mr Peter Hain

(j)

In paragraph 48, at the end of sub-paragraph (3), at end of sub-sub-paragraph (b)

Committee of the whole House: 25 October 2010

868

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

insert ‘containing ballot papers for the referendum vote.’.

The Deputy Prime Minister

NS5

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.

Committee of the whole House: 25 October 2010

869

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

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;

(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: 25 October 2010

870

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.

---

Revised 25 October 2010