Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

House of Commons

Session 2010 - 11
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Other Bills before Parliament

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
251

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

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

unable to vote without assistance.

Paragraph 54
Form 10 - Statement as to postal ballot papers for the referendum

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary

10

elections

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

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

A. Issue of postal ballot papers
Number for voting

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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

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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)

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

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
252

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

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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,

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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

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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

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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

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in 4 above)

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

area

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
253

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

5

(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

10

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

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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

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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

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

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

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

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System and Constituencies Act 2010.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 8 — Combination of polls: Northern Ireland
Part 1 — Provision about combination
254

Schedule 8
Section 4

Combination of polls: Northern Ireland
Part 1
Provision about combination
General provisions
5
Interpretation
1     (1)
An election the poll for which is, under section 4(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
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polls”.
2
In this Schedule—
“Assembly election” means an election to the Northern Ireland
Assembly;
“Assembly Elections Rules” means the parliamentary elections rules as
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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;
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“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;
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“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
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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
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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.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 8 — Combination of polls: Northern Ireland
Part 1 — Provision about combination
255

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;
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(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
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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);
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(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);
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(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—
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(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
30
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).
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      (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
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(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.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 8 — Combination of polls: Northern Ireland
Part 1 — Provision about combination
256

Forms
6
Forms 2, 3, 5 and 6 in Part 2 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 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
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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;
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(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
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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 17(1) of the referendum rules;
(b)
rule 29(1) of the Assembly Elections Rules.
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      (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;
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(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.
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Notice of polling stations
9     (1)
The notice given under rule 11(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
40
election is to be held.
      (2)
The notice given under rule 23(2) of the Assembly Elections Rules must—

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 8 — Combination of polls: Northern Ireland
Part 1 — Provision about combination
257

(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.
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      (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.
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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
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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.
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      (4)
The provisions are—
(a)
rule 12(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
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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.
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      (3)
This paragraph applies instead of the requirement in rule 12(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.
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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.
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