Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

House of Commons

Session 2010 - 11
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 5 — Combination of polls: England
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
167

!
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.

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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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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:

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

15

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

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

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

Ballot Paper Number (identify the
Elector Number

number issued for the referendum/

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election)

25

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 5 — Combination of polls: England
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
168

Paragraph 21(1)
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 5 — Combination of polls: England
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
169

Paragraph 22(1)
Form 6 - Guidance for voters to be exhibited in every polling station
compartment

REFERENDUM ON THE VOTING SYSTEM FOR

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UNITED KINGDOM PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

*[specify colour] ballot paper

Mark one box only.

*[specify name of council] COUNCIL ELECTION

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*[specify colour] ballot paper

*vote for no more than [specify number] candidates

*vote for ONE candidate only

*[specify name of parish] COUNCIL ELECTION

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*[specify colour] ballot paper

*vote for no more than [specify number] candidates

*vote for ONE candidate only

[SPECIFY OTHER] REFERENDUM

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*[specify colour] ballot paper

Mark one box only.

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

*[specify colour] ballot paper

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*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.

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* Complete or omit as necessary.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 5 — Combination of polls: England
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
170

Paragraph 25(2)
Form 7 - Form of certificate of employment

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary

elections

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[insert name of voting area]

I certify that (name) ..................... who is numbered ................... in the register of

electors cannot reasonably be expected to go in person to the polling station

allotted to him or her in the referendum on (date of poll) ..................... by reason of

the particular circumstances of his or her employment on that date for a purpose

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connected with the referendum *as a constable / *by me.

*Delete whichever is inappropriate.

Signature .................................................

*Counting officer / police officer (inspector or above)

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

Note: The person named above is entitled to vote at any polling station in the

voting area specified above on production and surrender of this certificate to the

presiding officer.

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Paragraph 31(1)
Form 8 - Form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter with
disabilities

I, ................................................................................................... (name of companion)

of .................................................................................................. (address of companion)

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having been requested to assist ..................................................... (name of voter)

[in the case of a person with disabilities voting as proxy, add

voting as proxy for ........................................................................ (name of [elector]*

[or]* [voter]*)]

whose name on the register is .................................................. to record their vote at

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the [referendum(s)]* [and]* [election(s)*]* being held in this [voting area]* [/local

government area]* [/parish]*

hereby declare that

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 6 — Combination of polls: Wales
Part 1 — Provision about combination
171

(a)
[I am entitled to vote as an [elector]* [or]* [voter]* at the said

[referendum(s)]* [and]* [election(s)]*,]*

(b)
[I am the #.................................. of the said voter and have attained the age

of 18 years,]* and

(c)
I have not previously assisted any voter with disabilities [except

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.......................... (name of other [elector]* [or]* [ voter]*), of ..........................

(address of other [elector]* [or]* [voter]*)] to vote at the said

[referendum(s)]* [or]* [election(s)]*]*.

#State the relationship of the companion to the voter.

*Delete as appropriate.

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(Signed) .......................................... (companion)

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

I, the undersigned, being the presiding officer for the .............. polling station for

.............. the [insert name of voting area] hereby certify that the above declaration,

having been first read to the above-named declarant, was signed by the declarant

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in my presence.

(Signed)..........................................

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

Time ........................................ (am/pm)

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NOTE: (1) If the person making the above declaration knowingly and wilfully

makes therein a statement false in a material particular, he or she will be guilty of

an offence.

(2) A voter with disabilities is a voter who has made a declaration that he or she is

so incapacitated by blindness or other disability, or by an inability to read, as to be

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unable to vote without assistance.

Schedule 6
Section 4

Combination of polls: Wales
Part 1
Provision about combination
30
General provisions
Interpretation
1
The polls to be taken together under section 4(2) are referred to in this
Schedule as “combined polls”.
2
In this Schedule—
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“Assembly election” means—

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 6 — Combination of polls: Wales
Part 1 — Provision about combination
172

(a)
an Assembly constituency election, or
(b)
an Assembly regional election;
“Assembly constituency election” means an election for the return of an
Assembly constituency member (within the meaning of section 1 of
the Government of Wales Act 2006);
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“Assembly Elections Rules” means the rules set out in Schedule 5 to the
Welsh Assembly Order;
“Assembly regional election” means an election for the return of an
Assembly regional member (within the meaning of section 1 of the
Government of Wales Act 2006);
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“constituency returning officer” is to be construed in accordance with
Article 18 of the Welsh Assembly Order;
“counting agent” means a counting agent for the referendum or a
counting agent for an Assembly election (except where one or other
is specified);
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“regional returning officer” is to be construed in accordance with
Article 18 of the Welsh Assembly Order;
“returning officer” means a person who is a constituency returning
officer or a regional returning officer (unless one or the other is
specified);
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“the Welsh Assembly Order” means the National Assembly for Wales
(Representation of the People) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/236).
Cost of combined polls
3
The cost of taking the combined polls (excluding any cost solely attributable
to the referendum or an Assembly election), and any cost attributable to
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their combination, is to be apportioned equally between—
(a)
the referendum, and
(b)
the Assembly elections.
4     (1)
Articles 23 and 24 of the Welsh Assembly Order (payments by and to
returning officer etc) apply—
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(a)
as if a reference to a returning officer included a reference to a
counting officer carrying out functions that, but for this Schedule,
would be exercisable by a returning officer (“transferred functions”),
and
(b)
as if, in relation to that counting officer, a reference to services or
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expenses were to services rendered or expenses incurred in respect
of transferred functions.
      (2)
An order under article 23(1) of that Order (as it has effect as mentioned
above) may include special provision for services rendered or expenses
incurred by a counting officer in respect of transferred functions.
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Publication of statement of persons nominated
5     (1)
The statement of persons nominated at an Assembly election must be
published not later than noon on the 15th day before the date of the poll.
      (2)
The timetable set out in rule 1(1) of the Assembly Elections Rules is to be
read with whatever modifications are necessary to give effect to this
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paragraph.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 6 — Combination of polls: Wales
Part 1 — Provision about combination
173

Forms
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Forms 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9 in Part 3 of this Schedule are “relevant forms” for the
purposes of rule 10 of the referendum rules.
Action to be taken before poll
Corresponding number lists
5
7     (1)
This paragraph applies where proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal
ballot papers are taken together by virtue of paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to the
Welsh Assembly Order.
      (2)
The function of the constituency returning officer under rule 27 of the
Assembly Elections Rules is to be carried out by the counting officer.
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      (3)
If the counting officer thinks fit, the lists 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 27 of the Assembly Elections Rules.
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      (4)
In that case, sub-paragraph (3) applies instead of—
(a)
rule 6(2) of the referendum rules;
(b)
rule 27(2) of the Assembly Elections Rules.
8     (1)
This paragraph applies where proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal
ballot papers are not taken together by virtue of paragraph 2 of Schedule 3
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to the Welsh Assembly Order.
      (2)
The counting officer must prepare a list under sub-paragraph (3) or (4) as the
officer thinks fit.
      (3)
A list under this sub-paragraph is a list containing the numbers and other
unique identifying marks of all of the ballot papers to be provided to
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presiding officers in pursuance of rule 37(1) of the Assembly Elections Rules.

The list must be in form CM set out in Schedule 10 to the Welsh Assembly
Order.
      (4)
A list under this sub-paragraph is a list containing the numbers and other
unique identifying marks of all of the ballot papers to be provided to
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presiding officers in pursuance of the following provisions—
(a)
rule 17(1) of the referendum rules;
(b)
rule 37(1) of the Assembly Elections Rules.

The list must be in the form set out in Form 1 in Part 3 of this Schedule.
      (5)
A list prepared under rule 27 of the Assembly Elections Rules must not
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include details relating to ballot papers in relation to which a list is prepared
under sub-paragraph (3) or (4).
      (6)
A reference in an enactment to a list prepared under rule 27 of the Assembly
Elections Rules has effect, in so far as it relates to ballot papers to be provided
in pursuance of rule 37(1) of those rules, as a reference to the list prepared
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under sub-paragraph (3) or (4).
      (7)
Where the counting officer prepares a list under sub-paragraph (4) in
relation to ballot papers —