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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill


Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 4 — Application to the referendum of existing provisions
Part 1 — Representation of the People Act 1983

97

 
 

Provision

Modification

 
 

Section 61 (other voting

For subsections (1) to (4) substitute—

 
 

offences)

“(1)   

A person shall be guilty of an offence if—

 
  

(a)   

he votes in person or by post,

 
  

whether on his own behalf or as

 

5

  

proxy, or applies to vote by proxy

 
  

or by post on his own behalf, in the

 
  

referendum, knowing that he is

 
  

subject to a legal incapacity to vote

 
  

in the referendum; or

 

10

  

(b)   

he applies for the appointment of a

 
  

proxy to vote for him in the

 
  

referendum knowing that he is or

 
  

the person to be appointed is

 
  

subject to a legal incapacity to vote

 

15

  

in the referendum; or

 
  

(c)   

he votes, whether in person or by

 
  

post, as proxy for some other

 
  

person in the referendum knowing

 
  

that that person is subject to a legal

 

20

  

incapacity to vote.

 
  

   

For the purposes of this subsection

 
  

references to a person being subject to a

 
  

legal incapacity to vote do not, in relation

 
  

to things done before polling day, include

 

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his being below voting age if he will be of

 
  

voting age on that day.

 
  

(2)   

A person shall be guilty of an offence if—

 
  

(a)   

he votes on his own behalf

 
  

otherwise than by proxy more than

 

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once in the referendum; or

 
  

(b)   

he votes on his own behalf in

 
  

person in the referendum when he

 
  

is entitled to vote by post; or

 
  

(c)   

he votes on his own behalf in

 

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person in the referendum, knowing

 
  

that a person appointed to vote as

 
  

his proxy either has already voted

 
  

in person or is entitled to vote by

 
  

post; or

 

40

  

(d)   

he applies under Schedule 3 to the

 
  

Parliamentary Voting System and

 
  

Constituencies Act 2010 for a

 
  

person to be appointed as his proxy

 
  

to vote for him without applying

 

45

  

for the cancellation of a previous

 
  

appointment of a third person then

 
  

in force under that Schedule or

 
  

without withdrawing a pending

 
  

application for such an

 

50

  

appointment.

 
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 4 — Application to the referendum of existing provisions
Part 1 — Representation of the People Act 1983

98

 
 

Provision

Modification

 
  

(3)   

A person shall be guilty of an offence if—

 
  

(a)   

he votes as proxy for the same

 
  

person more than once in the

 
  

referendum; or

 

5

  

(b)   

he votes in person as proxy for

 
  

another person in the referendum

 
  

and he is entitled to vote by post as

 
  

proxy for that person; or

 
  

(c)   

he votes in person as proxy for

 

10

  

another person in the referendum

 
  

and he knows that other person has

 
  

already voted in person.

 
  

(4)   

A person shall also be guilty of an offence

 
  

if he votes as proxy for more than two

 

15

  

persons of whom he is not the spouse, civil

 
  

partner, parent, grandparent, brother,

 
  

sister, child or grandchild.”

 
  

In subsection (6A), for the words from “ballot

 
  

paper” to the end substitute “in reliance on Case 3,

 

20

  

4, 5 or 6 in rule 32 of the referendum rules.”

 
  

Omit subsection (6B).

 
  

In subsection (7)—

 
  

(a)   

after “section 173 below” insert “(read

 
  

with paragraph 1(5) of Schedule 4 to the

 

25

  

Parliamentary Voting System and

 
  

Constituencies Act 2010)”;

 
  

(b)   

omit paragraph (b).

 
 

Section 62A(1) to (5)

In subsection (1)(a), omit “at a parliamentary or

 
 

(applications for absent

local government election”.

 

30

 

voting: offences)

  
  

In subsection (2)(c), for “returning officer”

 
  

substitute “counting officer”.

 
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 4 — Application to the referendum of existing provisions
Part 1 — Representation of the People Act 1983

99

 
 

Provision

Modification

 
 

Section 63 (breach of official

For subsections (3) and (4) substitute—

 
 

duty)

“(3)   

The persons to whom this section applies

 
  

are—

 
  

(a)   

the Chief Counting Officer and any

 

5

  

Regional Counting Officer or

 
  

counting officer,

 
  

(b)   

any presiding officer or registration

 
  

officer,

 
  

(c)   

any official designated by a

 

10

  

universal postal service provider,

 
  

and

 
  

(d)   

any deputy of a person mentioned

 
  

in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) above

 
  

or any person appointed to assist or

 

15

  

in the course of his employment

 
  

assisting a person so mentioned in

 
  

connection with his official duties;

 
  

   

and “official duty” shall for the purposes of

 
  

this section be construed accordingly, but

 

20

  

shall not include duties imposed otherwise

 
  

than by Part 1 of the Parliamentary Voting

 
  

System and Constituencies Act 2010 or the

 
  

law relating to referendums.

 
  

(4)   

Where—

 

25

  

(a)   

a Regional Counting Officer or

 
  

counting officer is guilty of an act

 
  

or omission in breach of his official

 
  

duty, but

 
  

(b)   

he remedies that act or omission in

 

30

  

full by taking steps under

 
  

paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the

 
  

Parliamentary Voting System and

 
  

Constituencies Act 2010,

 
  

   

he shall not be guilty of an offence under

 

35

  

subsection (1) above.”

 
 

Section 65 (tampering with

In subsection (1)—

 
 

papers)

(a)   

for “at a parliamentary or local

 
  

government election” substitute “in the

 
  

referendum”;

 

40

  

(b)   

omit paragraph (a);

 
  

(c)   

in paragraph (f), for “election” substitute

 
  

“referendum”.

 
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 4 — Application to the referendum of existing provisions
Part 1 — Representation of the People Act 1983

100

 
 

Provision

Modification

 
  

For subsection (2) substitute—

 
  

“(2)   

In Scotland, a person shall be guilty of an

 
  

offence if—

 
  

(a)   

in the referendum, he forges or

 

5

  

counterfeits any ballot paper or the

 
  

official mark on any ballot paper; or

 
  

(b)   

he fraudulently or without due

 
  

authority, as the case may be,

 
  

attempts to do any of those things.”

 

10

  

In subsection (3), for “a returning officer”

 
  

substitute “the Chief Counting Officer, a Regional

 
  

Counting Officer, a counting officer”.

 
 

Section 66(1) to (6)

In subsection (1), for paragraphs (a) to (d)

 
 

(requirement of secrecy)

substitute—

 

15

  

“(a)   

the Chief Counting Officer, and

 
  

every Regional Counting Officer

 
  

and counting officer, attending at a

 
  

polling station,

 
  

(b)   

every deputy of such an officer so

 

20

  

attending,

 
  

(c)   

every presiding officer and clerk so

 
  

attending,

 
  

(d)   

every referendum agent, polling

 
  

agent and counting agent so

 

25

  

attending, and

 
  

(e)   

every person so attending by virtue

 
  

of any of sections 6A to 6D of the

 
  

Political Parties, Elections and

 
  

Referendums Act 2000,”.

 

30

  

In subsections (2)(b), (3)(b) and (c), (4)(d) and (5),

 
  

for “the candidate for whom” substitute “the

 
  

referendum answer for which”.

 
  

In subsection (3)(d), for “the name of the

 
  

candidate for whom” substitute “the referendum

 

35

  

answer for which”.

 
  

In subsection (5)—

 
  

(a)   

for “blind voter” substitute “voter with

 
  

disabilities”;

 
  

(b)   

at the end insert—

 

40

  

   

““Voter with disabilities” has the meaning

 
  

given by rule 31(11) of the referendum

 
  

rules.”

 
 

Section 66A (prohibition on

In subsection (1), for “an election to which this

 
 

publication of exit polls)

section applies”, and for “the election” (in both

 

45

  

places), substitute “the referendum”.

 
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 4 — Application to the referendum of existing provisions
Part 1 — Representation of the People Act 1983

101

 
 

Provision

Modification

 
  

Omit subsection (2).

 
  

In subsection (4), for the words after “whatever

 
  

means” substitute—

 
  

   

“and the reference to a forecast as to the

 

5

  

result of the referendum includes a

 
  

reference to a forecast as to the number or

 
  

proportion of votes expected to be cast for

 
  

each answer to the referendum question in

 
  

any region, voting area or other area.”

 

10

 

Section 66B (failure to comply

In subsection (1)(a), for “regulations under rule 57

 
 

with conditions relating to

of the parliamentary election rules” substitute

 
 

supply etc of documents)

“regulations mentioned in rule 52(5)(a) of the

 
  

referendum rules”.

 
 

Section 92 (broadcasting from

In subsection (1)—

 

15

 

outside UK)

(a)   

for “at a parliamentary or local

 
  

government election” substitute “in the

 
  

referendum”;

 
  

(b)   

for “the election” substitute “the

 
  

referendum”.

 

20

  

In subsection (2), after “section 173 below” insert

 
  

“(read with paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to the

 
  

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies

 
  

Act 2010)”.

 
 

Section 94(1) (imitation poll

For “the election of any candidate at a

 

25

 

cards)

parliamentary election or a local government

 
  

election to which this section applies” substitute

 
  

“a particular result in the referendum”.

 
 

Section 97 (disturbances at

For subsection (2) substitute—

 
 

meetings)

“(2)   

This section applies to a meeting held by a

 

30

  

permitted participant during the

 
  

referendum period (within the meaning

 
  

given by paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the

 
  

Parliamentary Voting System and

 
  

Constituencies Act 2010) in connection

 

35

  

with the referendum.”

 
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 4 — Application to the referendum of existing provisions
Part 1 — Representation of the People Act 1983

102

 
 

Provision

Modification

 
 

Section 99 (officials not to act

For subsection (1) substitute—

 
 

for candidates)

“(1)   

If—

 
  

(a)   

the Chief Counting Officer or any

 
  

Regional Counting Officer or

 

5

  

counting officer,

 
  

(b)   

any officer, deputy or clerk

 
  

appointed by such a person,

 
  

(c)   

any officer of a local authority

 
  

whose services have been placed at

 

10

  

the disposal of a counting officer or

 
  

Regional Counting Officer under

 
  

paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the

 
  

Parliamentary Voting System and

 
  

Constituencies Act 2010,

 

15

  

   

acts as a referendum agent for a permitted

 
  

participant, he shall be guilty of an

 
  

offence.”

 
 

Section 100 (illegal canvassing

In subsection (1), for the words after “proxy”

 
 

by police officers)

substitute “in the referendum”.

 

20

 

Section 109 (payments for

In subsection (1), for “the election of a candidate

 
 

exhibition of election notices)

at an election” substitute “a particular result in the

 
  

referendum”.

 
  

In subsection (2), for “an election” substitute “the

 
  

referendum”.

 

25

 

Section 111 (prohibition of

For “an election” substitute “the referendum”

 
 

paid canvassers)

  
  

For “a candidate’s election” substitute “a

 
  

particular result in the referendum”.

 
 

Section 112(a) and (c)

  

30

 

(providing money for illegal

  
 

purposes)

  
 

Section 113 (bribery)

In subsection (2)—

 
  

(a)   

for “the return of any person at an

 
  

election” (in both places) substitute “a

 

35

  

particular result in the referendum”;

 
  

(b)   

omit paragraph (iii).

 
  

In subsection (3), for “at any election” (in both

 
  

places) substitute “in the referendum”.

 
  

In subsections (4), (5) and (6), for “an election”

 

40

  

substitute “the referendum”.

 
 

Section 114 (treating)

In subsection (2), for “an election” substitute “the

 
  

referendum”.

 
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 4 — Application to the referendum of existing provisions
Part 1 — Representation of the People Act 1983

103

 
 

Provision

Modification

 
 

Section 115 (undue influence)

  
 

Section 116(a) (rights of

  
 

creditors)

  
 

Section 117(2) (saving for

For “parliamentary electors” substitute “persons

 

5

 

employees to be absent for

entitled to vote on their own behalf”.

 
 

voting)

  
  

For “at a parliamentary election” substitute “in the

 
  

referendum”.

 
  

In paragraphs (b) and (c), for “any particular

 

10

  

candidate at the election” substitute “a particular

 
  

answer in the referendum”.

 
 

In section 118 (interpretation),

  
 

the definitions of “money”,

  
 

“pecuniary reward” and

  

15

 

“payment”

  
 

Section 167(1) to (2)

For subsection (1) substitute—

 
 

(application for relief)

“(1)   

An application for relief under this section

 
  

may be made to the High Court.”

 
  

In subsection (2)(c), omit the words from “in the

 

20

  

constituency” to “was held,”.

 
 

Sections 168(1) and (7), 169

  
 

and 170 (prosecutions for

  
 

corrupt and illegal practices)

  
 

Section 175(1) and (3)

  

25

 

(prosecution for illegal

  
 

employment)

  
 

Section 176 (time limit for

In subsection (2C), for “rule 57 of the

 
 

prosecutions)

parliamentary elections rules” substitute “rule 52

 
  

of the referendum rules”.

 

30

  

In subsection (2D), for paragraph (a) substitute—

 
  

“(a)   

directing the registration officer not

 
  

to cause the documents to be

 
  

destroyed at the expiry of the

 
  

period of one year mentioned in

 

35

  

rule 52 of the referendum rules,”.

 
 

Section 178 (prosecution of

  
 

offences committed outside

  
 

the UK)

  
 

Section 179 (offences by

Omit paragraph (b).

 

40

 

associations)

  
 
 

 
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