Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

House of Lords

Session 2010 - 11
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 2 — Rules for conduct of the referendum
Part 2 — Forms referred to in referendum rules
62

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

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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

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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.

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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)

Rule 12(1)(c)
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Form 4 - Declaration of identity (Northern Ireland)
Front of form

Declaration of identity

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary

elections

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Ballot Paper no.............................................

I am the person to whom the ballot paper numbered above was sent.

My date of birth is .............. (you are not required to give your date of birth if you

are to vote as a proxy for someone else).

Voter’s signature .........................................

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The voter, who is personally known to me, has signed this declaration in my

presence.

Witness’s signature ......................................................................................

Name of witness (WRITE CLEARLY) ............................................................

Address of witness (WRITE CLEARLY) .......................................................

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

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 2 — Rules for conduct of the referendum
Part 2 — Forms referred to in referendum rules
63

SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE BACK OF THIS FORM

Back of form

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE VOTER

1. You must sign this declaration of identity in the presence of a person known to

you. That person should then sign this declaration as a witness, adding his or her

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name and address. Without this the declaration will be invalid.

2. Vote in one box only. Put no other mark on the ballot paper 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. Do this secretly. If you cannot vote without

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assistance, the person assisting you must not disclose how you have voted.

4. Put the ballot paper in the small envelope marked “A” and seal it. Then put the

envelope marked “A”, together with the declaration of identity, in the larger

envelope marked “B”. Return it without delay. The ballot paper must be received

by the counting officer not later than the close of the poll.

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5. If you receive more than one ballot paper, remember that it is illegal to vote

more than once (otherwise than as proxy) in this referendum.

6. In this referendum you cannot vote in person at a polling station.

7. If you inadvertently spoil your ballot paper, you can apply to the counting

officer for another one. With your application you must return, in your own

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envelope, the spoilt ballot paper, the declaration of identity and the envelopes

marked “A” and “B”. We can only issue replacement postal ballot papers before 5

p.m. on [-1 day/date deadline].

Rule 15(5)(a)
Form 5 - Official poll card (to be sent to an elector not voting by post)
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Front of card

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary

elections

OFFICIAL POLL CARD

Voting area .......................................
Number on register .......................

30

Polling Day .......................................
*Name .................................................

Polling hours: 7 am to 10 pm
*Address ...........................................

Your polling station will be:
.............................................................

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

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 2 — Rules for conduct of the referendum
Part 2 — Forms referred to in referendum rules
64

*Counting officer to omit where poll card

sent to an anonymous elector. Poll card to

anonymous elector must be delivered in a

sealed envelope.

*This card is for information only. You can vote without it, but it will save you

5

time if you take it to the polling station and show it to the clerk there.

SEE FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE BACK OF THIS CARD

Back of card

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary elections

*When you go to the polling station, tell the clerk your name and address, as

10

shown on the front of the card.

*The clerk will confirm your details on the register.

When you are given your ballot paper, go to one of the polling booths. Mark a

cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of the ballot paper opposite the answer

you are voting for.

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Vote in ONE box only. Do not put any other mark on the ballot paper, or your

vote may not be counted.

If you spoil your ballot paper by mistake, show it to the presiding officer and ask

for a replacement.

Fold the 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 the ballot paper in the ballot box and leave the polling station.

If you will be away on the date of the poll—

•
You can apply to vote by post. Your application must be received by the

electoral registration officer before 5 pm on [-11 day/date deadline]. If you

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are given a postal vote, you will not be entitled to vote in person in this

referendum.

•
You can apply to vote by proxy (this means someone else can vote on your

behalf). Your application must be received before 5 pm on [-6 day/date

deadline]. If you appoint a proxy, you can still vote in this referendum

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yourself provided you do so before your proxy votes for you and provided

your proxy is not entitled to vote on your behalf by post.

In certain circumstances it may be possible to apply to vote by proxy after [-6 day/

deadline].

To change any of your voting arrangements please contact [helpline number] as

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soon as possible.

ISSUED BY THE COUNTING OFFICER

[Where poll card sent to an anonymous elector substitute for the paragraphs marked with *

above—

You must have this card with you when you vote. You cannot vote without it.

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 2 — Rules for conduct of the referendum
Part 2 — Forms referred to in referendum rules
65

When you go to the polling station, ask to speak to the presiding officer and

show them this card.

The presiding officer will confirm your entry on the register.]

Rule 15(5)(b)
Form 6 - Official postal poll card (to be sent to an elector voting by post)
5
Front of card

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary

elections

OFFICIAL POSTAL POLL CARD

Voting area .......................................
This poll card is to tell you that you

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For the referendum on: [day/date]
will receive a postal vote for this

Number on Register: ..........................
referendum because you have asked to

*Name and Address:
We will send your postal voting

papers around [day/date].

.............................................................
*Addressed to:

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(Name and Address)

If your postal voting papers have not

arrived by [day/date] call [helpline

number] and ask for help.

*Counting officer to omit where postal poll card sent to an anonymous elector. Postal

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poll card to anonymous elector must be delivered in a sealed envelope.

If you lose or accidentally spoil your postal ballot paper, please call [helpline

number] as soon as possible. Replacement ballot papers can only be issued before

5 pm on [day/date of poll].

This card is to provide you with information about voting by post.

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SEE FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE BACK OF THIS CARD

Back of card

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary elections

When you receive your postal voting pack, please read the instructions with it

carefully before completing your postal ballot paper.

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 2 — Rules for conduct of the referendum
Part 2 — Forms referred to in referendum rules
66

Do not let anyone see your vote. If you need help voting, the person helping you

must not tell anyone how you have voted. You can get independent help from the

counting officer: please call our helpline on [helpline number].

You must sign the postal voting statement (unless you have been granted a waiver

by prior arrangement with the electoral registration officer) and provide your date

5

of birth. This is a security measure. It will not affect your vote or mean it can be

identified. Without your signature and date of birth the statement will not be valid

and your vote will not be counted. The counting officer can cross check your

signature against other records that they hold.

If you lose or accidentally spoil your ballot paper, please call the helpline number

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below as soon as possible. We can only issue replacement postal ballot papers

before 5 pm on [day/date of poll].

Complete and return your postal vote as soon as possible. The counting officer

must receive your postal vote by 10 pm on [day/date of poll]. You can deliver your

completed voting papers to any polling station in the voting area.

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If you want to vote in person in this referendum, you must cancel your postal vote

before 5 pm on [-11 day/date deadline].

If you need any assistance, please call our helpline on: [helpline number].

It is an offence to vote using a ballot paper that was not addressed to you.

Issued by the Counting Officer

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Rule 15(5)(c)
Form 7 - Official proxy poll card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in
person)
Front of card

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary

25

elections

OFFICIAL PROXY POLL CARD

Voting area .......................................
*This poll card is to tell you that you

Polling Day .......................................
may vote in this referendum on behalf

Polling hours: 7 am to 10 pm
of the person named on the back of

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The polling station at which you may
*Proxy’s name....................................

vote on behalf of the person named on

the back of this card will be:

*Proxy’s address.................................

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

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 2 — Rules for conduct of the referendum
Part 2 — Forms referred to in referendum rules
67

*(Counting officer to omit where poll

card sent to the proxy of an

anonymous elector. Poll card to proxy

of anonymous elector must be

delivered in a sealed envelope.)

5

*This card is for information only. You can vote without it, but it will save

time if you take it to the polling station and show it to the clerk there.

SEE FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE BACK OF THIS CARD

Back of card

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary elections

10

*This poll card is to tell you that for this referendum you are appointed as proxy

for:

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

*(Person’s name)

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

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*(Person’s address)

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

*(Person’s number on electoral register)

*When you go to the polling station, tell the clerk that you wish to vote as proxy

on behalf of the person shown above.

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The clerk will confirm your details on the register.

When you are given the ballot paper, go to one of the polling booths. 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 put any other mark on the ballot paper, or the

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vote may not be counted.

If you spoil the ballot paper by mistake, show it to the presiding officer and ask for

a replacement.

Fold the 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

30

the vote. Put the ballot paper in the ballot box and leave the polling station.

If you will be away on the date of the poll, you can apply to vote by post before 5

pm on [-11 day/date deadline]. If you are given a postal vote, you or the person for

whom you are appointed as proxy will not be entitled to vote in person in this

referendum.

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The person for whom you are appointed as proxy may vote in this referendum. If

they wish to do so they must vote in person before you vote on their behalf.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 2 — Rules for conduct of the referendum
Part 2 — Forms referred to in referendum rules
68

It is illegal to do any of the following:

•
Vote more than once (unless you are appointed as a proxy for another

person) in this referendum.

•
Vote as a proxy in this referendum for more than two persons unless you

are their spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or

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grandchild.

•
Vote as a proxy for a person if you know that the person is subject to a legal

incapacity to vote.

Issued by the counting officer

[Where poll card sent to the proxy of an anonymous elector substitute for the text marked

10

with * above:—

You must have this card with you when you vote, you cannot vote as proxy

without it.

You are appointed to vote as proxy for the person whose electoral number is

shown below:

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

(Person’s number on register)

To vote as proxy you must go the polling station shown on the front of this card.

Ask to speak to the presiding officer and show them this card.]

Rule 15(5)(d)
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Form 8 - Official proxy postal poll card (to be sent to an appointed proxy
voting by post)
Front of card

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary

elections

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OFFICIAL PROXY POSTAL POLL CARD