Representation of the People Act 1983
Representation of the People Act 1983 (1983 c. 2)
- Representation of the People Act 1983 (1983 c. 2)
- Part I Parliamentary and Local Government Franchise and its Exercise
- Parliamentary and local government franchise
- 1 Parliamentary electors.
- 2 Local government electors.
- 2 Local government electors.
- 3 Disfranchisement of offenders in prison etc.
- 3A Disfranchisement of offenders detained in mental hospitals.
- Entitlement to registration
- 4 Entitlement to be registered as parliamentary or local government elector.
- 4 Entitlement to be registered as parliamentary or local government elector.
- 5 Residence: general.
- 6 Residence: merchant seamen.
- 7 Residence: patients in mental hospitals who are not detained offenders or on remand.
- 7A Residence: persons remanded in custody etc.
- 7AA Residence: convicted person to whom section 3(1A) applies
- 7B Notional residence: declarations of local connection.
- 7B Notional residence: declarations of local connection.
- 7C Effect of declaration of local connection.
- Registration of parliamentary and local government electors
- 8 Registration officers.
- 9 Registers of electors.
- 9A Registration officers: duty to take necessary steps
- 9B Anonymous registration
- 9C Removal of anonymous entry
- 9D Maintenance of registers: duty to conduct canvass in Great Britain
- 9E Maintenance of registers: invitations to register in Great Britain
- 10 Maintenance of registers: duty to conduct canvassin Northern Ireland.
- 10ZA Northern Ireland: timing of canvass
- 10ZB The relevant registration objectives (Northern Ireland)
- 10ZC Registration of electors in Great Britain
- 10ZD Registration of electors in Great Britain: alterations
- 10ZE Removal of electors in Great Britain from register
- 10ZF. Digital registration and canvass in Northern Ireland
- 10A Maintenance of the registers: registration of electors in Northern Ireland.
- 10B. Register of electors in Northern Ireland: digital registration number
- 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 13 Publication of registers.
- 13A Alteration of registers.
- 13AB Alteration of registers: interim publication dates
- 13B Alteration of registers: pending elections.
- 13B Alteration of registers: pending elections.
- 13BA Alteration of registers in Northern Ireland: pending elections
- 13BB Election falling within canvass period
- 13BC Alteration of registers: recall petition
- 13BD Electoral identity document: Great Britain
- 13BE Anonymous elector’s document: Great Britain
- 13C Electoral identity card: Northern Ireland
- 13CZA Provision of false information: application for electoral identity document, anonymous elector’s document or electoral identity card
- 13CA Scottish local government elections: false information in connection with applications for absent voting
- 13D Provision of false information
- Service qualifications and declarations for registration
- 14 Service qualification.
- 15 Service declaration.
- 15 Service declaration.
- 16 Contents of service declaration.
- 16 Contents of service declaration.
- 16 Contents of service declaration.
- 17 Effect of service declaration.
- 17 Effect of service declaration.
- Place and manner of voting at parliamentary elections
- 18 Polling districts and places at parliamentary elections.
- 18A Polling districts at parliamentary elections: Great Britain
- 18AA Polling districts at parliamentary elections: Northern Ireland
- 18B Polling places at parliamentary elections
- 18C Review of polling districts and places: Great Britain
- 18CA Review of polling places: Northern Ireland
- 18D Review of polling districts and places: representations to Electoral Commission
- 18E Sections 18A to 18D: supplemental
- 19, 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 21, 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Conduct of parliamentary elections
- 23 Rules for parliamentary elections.
- 24 Returning officers: England and Wales.
- 25 Returning officers: Scotland.
- 26 Returning officer: Northern Ireland.
- 27 Returning officers generally.
- 28 Discharge of returning officer’s functions in England and Wales.
- 29 Payments by and to returning officer.
- 29A Inadequate performance of returning officer: reduction of charges
- 30 Taxation of returning officer’s account.
- Place and manner of voting at local government elections
- 31 Polling districts and stations at local government elections.
- 32–34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Conduct of local government elections in England and Wales
- 35 Returning officers: local elections in England and Wales.
- 36 Local elections in England ....
- 36A Rules for local elections in Wales
- 36B Combination of local elections in Wales
- 36C Expenditure by returning officers at local elections in Wales
- 37 Ordinary day of local elections in England ...
- 37ZA Ordinary day of local elections in Wales
- 37A Power to change date of local elections to date of European Parliamentary general election: England
- 37B Power to change date of local elections to date of European Parliamentary general election: Wales
- 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 39 Local elections void etc. in England and Wales.
- 40 Timing as to local elections in England and Wales.
- Conduct of local government elections in Scotland
- 41 Returning officers: local elections in Scotland.
- 42 Local elections in Scotland.
- 43 Day of ordinary local elections in Scotland, and other timing provisions.
- 43A Power of convener of Electoral Management Board to postpone election
- 43B Power of returning officers to postpone election for their area
- 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 45 Non-election of local authority etc. in Scotland.
- Supplemental provisions as to local government elections
- 46 Further provision as to local election voting in England.
- 46A Further provision as to local election voting in Wales
- 47 Loan of equipment for local elections.
- 48 Validity of local elections, and legal costs.
- Supplemental provisions as to parliamentary and local government elections
- 49 Effect of registers.
- 50 Effect of misdescription.
- 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 52 Discharge of registration duties.
- 53 Power to make regulations as to registration etc.
- 54 Payment of expenses of registration.
- 55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 56 Registration appeals: England and Wales.
- 57 Registration appeals: Scotland.
- 58 Registration appeals: Northern Ireland.
- 59 Supplemental provisions as to members of forces and service voters.
- 59A Reports on voter identification requirements in Great Britain
- Offences
- 60 Personation.
- 61 Other voting offences.
- 62 Offences as to declarations.
- 62A Offences relating to applications for postal and proxy votes
- 62B Scottish local government elections: offences relating to applications for postal and proxy votes
- 62C Influencing voters at polling booths
- 63 Breach of official duty.
- 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 65 Tampering with nomination papers, ballot papers, etc.
- 65A False statements in nomination papers etc.
- 65B Scottish local government elections: false information in nomination papers etc.
- 66 Requirement of secrecy.
- 66A Prohibition on publication of exit polls.
- 66B Failure to comply with conditions relating to supply etc. of certain documents
- Part II The Election Campaign
- The Election agent
- 67 Appointment of election agent
- 68 Nomination of sub-agent at parliamentary or Authority elections.
- 69 Office of election agent and sub-agent.
- 70 Effect of default in election agent’s appointment.
- 70A Application of s.70 in relation to election of London members of the London Assembly.
- 71 Elections where election agent not required.
- Donations to candidates
- 71A Control of donations to candidates.
- Election expenses
- 72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 73 Payment of expenses through election agent.
- 74 Expenses which may be paid otherwise than by election agent.
- 74A Expenses incurred otherwise than for election purposes.
- 75 Prohibition of expenses not authorised by election agent.
- 75ZA Return of permitted expenditure: power to require return
- 75ZB Return of permitted expenditure: compliance and sanctions
- 75A Scottish local government elections: prohibition of expenses not authorised by election agent
- 76 Limitation of election expenses.
- 76 Limitation of election expenses.
- 76 Limitation of election expenses.
- 76ZA Limitation of pre-candidacy election expenses for certain general elections
- 76A Power to vary provisions about election expenses.
- 77 Expenses limit for joint candidates at local election.
- 78 Time for sending in and paying claims.
- 79 Disputed claims.
- 80 Election agent’s claim.
- 81 Return as to election expenses.
- 82 Declarations as to election expenses.
- 83 Where no return and declarations needed at parliamentary elections.
- 84 Penalty for failure as respects return or declarations.
- 85 Penalty for sitting or voting where no return and declarations transmitted.
- 85A Disqualification where no return and declarations transmitted after election of Mayor of London.
- 86 Authorised excuses for failures as to return and declarations.
- 87 Court’s power to require information from election agent or sub-agent.
- 87A Duty of appropriate officer to forward returns and declarations to Electoral Commission.
- 87B. Scottish local government elections: duty of appropriate officer to forward returns and declarations to Electoral Commission
- 88 Publication of time and place for inspection of returns and declarations.
- 88A. Scottish local government elections: Publication of time and place for inspection of returns and declarations
- 89 Inspection of returns and declarations.
- 90 Election expenses at elections where election agent not required.
- 90ZA Meaning of “election expenses”
- 90A Meaning of “election expenses”.
- 90B Incurring of election expenses for purposes of section 90A.
- 90ZB Scottish local government elections: meaning of “election expenses”
- 90C Property, goods, services etc. provided free of charge or at a discount.
- 90D Modification of sections 90ZA and 90C in relation to election of London members of the London Assembly.
- Publicity at parliamentary elections
- 91 Candidate’s right to send election address post free.
- 92 Broadcasting from outside United Kingdom.
- 93 Broadcasting of local items during election period.
- 94 Imitation poll cards.
- Election meetings
- 95 Schools and rooms for parliamentary election meetings.
- 96 Schools and rooms for local election meetings.
- 97 Disturbances at election meetings.
- 98 Premises not affected for rates.
- Agency by election officials and canvassing by police officers
- 99 Officials not to act for candidates.
- 100 Illegal canvassing by police officers.
- Conveyance of voters to and from poll
- 101 No hiring of vehicles to convey voters.
- 102 No payments for conveyance of voters.
- 103 Provisions supplemental to ss. 101 and 102.
- 104 “Carriage” in ss. 101 to 103.
- 105 Access to polling place by sea.
- Other illegal practices, payments, employments or hirings
- 106 False statements as to candidates.
- 107 Corrupt withdrawal from candidature.
- 108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 109 Payments for exhibition of election notices.
- 110 Details to appear on election publications.
- 110A Scottish local government elections: details to appear on election publications
- 111 Prohibition of paid canvassers.
- 112 Providing money for illegal purposes.
- 112A Handling of postal voting documents by political campaigners
- Bribery, treating and undue influence
- 113 Bribery.
- 114 Treating.
- 114A Undue influence
- 115 Undue influence : local government elections in Scotland ....
- Supplemental
- 116 Rights of creditors.
- 117 Savings as to parliamentary elections.
- 118 Interpretation of Part II.
- 118A Meaning of candidate.
- 119 Computation of time for purposes of Part II.
- Part III Legal Proceedings
- Questioning of a parliamentary election
- 120 Method of questioning parliamentary election.
- 121 Presentation and service of parliamentary election petition.
- 122 Time for presentation or amendment of parliamentary election petition.
- 123 Constitution of election court and place of trial.
- 124 Judges’ expenses and reception: England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
- 125 Judges’ expenses and reception: Scotland.
- 126 Attendance of House of Commons shorthand writer.
- Questioning of a local election
- 127 Method of questioning local election.
- 128 Presentation of petition questioning local election.
- 129 Time for presentation or amendment of petition questioning local election.
- 130 Election court for local election in England and Wales, and place of trial.
- 131 Accommodation of and attendance on court.
- 132 Remuneration and allowances.
- 133 Repayments under ss. 131 and 132.
- 134 Election court for local election in Scotland, and place of trial.
- 135 Consequences of local election declared void.
- 135A Consequences of election or return of London members being declared void.
- Procedure on all election petitions
- 136 Security for costs.
- 137 Petition at issue.
- 138 List of petitions.
- 139 Trial of petition.
- 140 Witnesses.
- 141 Duty to answer relevant questions.
- 142 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 143 Expenses of witnesses.
- 144 Conclusion of trial of parliamentary election petition.
- 145 Conclusion of trial of local election petition.
- 145A Determination in respect of election of Mayor of London or constituency member of London Assembly.
- 146 Special case for determination of High Court.
- 147 Withdrawal of petition.
- 148 Evidence required for withdrawal of petition.
- 149 Penalty for corrupt withdrawal and breach of s. 148.
- 150 Substitution of new petitioner.
- 151 Report on withdrawal.
- 152 Abatement of petition.
- 153 Withdrawal and substitution of respondents before trial.
- 154 Costs of petition.
- 155 Neglect or refusal to pay costs.
- 156 Further provision as to costs.
- 157 Appeals and jurisdiction.
- Consequences of finding by election court of corrupt or illegal practice
- 158 Report as to candidate guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice.
- 159 Candidate reported guilty of corrupt or illegal practice.
- 160 Persons reported personally guilty of corrupt or illegal practices.
- Director of Public Prosecutions’ duty to report corrupt practice
- 161 Justice of the Peace.
- 162 Member of legal and certain other professions.
- 163 Holder of licence or certificate under Licensing Acts.
- Further provision as to avoidance of elections and striking off votes
- 164 Avoidance of election for general corruption etc.
- 165 Avoidance of election for employing corrupt agent.
- 166 Votes to be struck off for corrupt or illegal practices.
- Power to except innocent act from being illegal practice, payment, employment or hiring
- 167 Application for relief.
- Prosecutions for corrupt or illegal practices
- 168 Prosecutions for corrupt practices.
- 169 Prosecutions for illegal practices.
- 170 Conviction of illegal practice on charge of corrupt practice etc.
- 171 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 172 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 173 Incapacities on conviction of corrupt or illegal practice.
- 173A Incapacity to hold public or judicial office in Scotland.
- Mitigation and remission of incapacities
- 174 Mitigation and remission etc.
- Illegal payments, employments or hirings
- 175 Illegal payments etc.
- General provisions as to prosecutions
- 176 Time limit for prosecutions.
- 177 Local election offence punishable summarily.
- 178 Prosecution of offences committed outside the United Kingdom.
- 179 Offences by associations.
- 180 Evidence by certificate of holding of elections.
- 180A Evidence by certificate of electoral registration.
- 181 Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Supplemental
- 182 Rules of procedure.
- 183 Costs.
- 184 Service of notices.
- 185 Interpretation of Part III.
- 186 Computation of time for purposes of Part III.
- Part IV Special Provisions as to Other Local Elections
- England and Wales, and Scotland
- 187 Application of Act to certain local elections.
- 187 Application of Act to certain local elections.
- 188 Parts II and III as to local elections in Scotland.
- 189 Voting offences at certain local elections.
- The Greater London Authority
- 189A Extension of references to elections under the local government Act.
- 190 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- The City
- 191 Municipal elections in the City.
- 192 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 193 Personation and other voting offences.
- 194 Broadcasting.
- 195 Disturbances at meetings.
- 196 Costs or expenses.
- 197 Candidate’s expenses: ward, and liverymen in common hall, elections.
- 198 Effect of avoidance of election to corporate office.
- Part V General and Supplemental
- Supplemental
- 199ZA. Functions of the Minister for the Cabinet Office
- 199 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 199A Functions of the Lord Chancellor
- 199B Translations etc of certain documents
- 199C Scottish local government elections: translations etc. of certain documents
- 199C Local government elections in Wales: translations etc. of certain documents
- 200 Public notices, and declarations.
- 200A Remuneration for free postal services provided under Act.
- 201 Regulations.
- Interpretation
- 202 General provisions as to interpretation.
- 203 Local government provisions as to England and Wales.
- 203A Meaning of “qualifying EU citizen”
- 203B Meaning of “EU citizen with retained rights”
- Scotland and Northern Ireland
- 204 General application to Scotland.
- 205 General application to Northern Ireland.
- Operation
- 206 Transitional and saving provisions, amendments and repeals.
- 207 Citation and commencement.
- SCHEDULES
- SCHEDULE ZA1 Civil penalties under section 9E
- Introduction
- Amount
- Procedure
- Reviews and appeals
- Power to create exceptions
- Accounts and record keeping
- Interest and enforcement etc.
- Power to make further provision
- SCHEDULE A1 Review of polling districts and polling places
- Part I Provisions as to Time
- Timetable
- Computation of time
- Part II Stages Common to Contested and Uncontested Elections
- Issue of Writ and Notice of Election
- Issue of writ
- Conveyance of writ to acting returning officer
- Notice of election
- Nomination
- Nomination of candidates
- Nomination papers: name of registered political party
- Subscription of nomination paper
- Consent to nomination
- Deposit
- Place for delivery of nomination papers
- Right to attend nomination
- Decisions as to validity of nomination papers
- Withdrawal of candidates
- Publication of statement of persons nominated
- Correction of minor errors
- Disqualification by Representation of the People Act 1981
- Adjournment of nomination proceedings in case of riot
- Method of election
- Part III Contested Elections
- General Provisions
- Poll to be taken by ballot
- The ballot papers
- Corresponding number list
- Date of birth lists for polling stations in Northern Ireland
- The official mark
- Prohibition of disclosure of vote
- Use of schools and public rooms
- Action to be Taken Before the Poll
- Notice of poll
- Postal ballot papers
- Provision of polling stations
- Appointment of presiding officers and clerks
- Special lists
- Issue of official poll cards
- Equipment of polling stations
- Appointment of polling and counting agents
- Notification of requirement of secrecy
- Return of postal ballot papers
- The Poll
- Admission to polling station
- Keeping of order in station
- Sealing of ballot boxes
- Questions to be put to voters
- Challenge of voter
- Voting procedure and voter identification requirements: Northern IrelandVoting procedure and voter identification requirements: Great Britain
- Votes marked by presiding officer
- Voting by persons with disabilities
- Tendered ballot papers
- Tendered postal ballot papers: anonymous entries in Northern Ireland
- Refusal to deliver ballot paper: Great Britain
- Refusal to deliver ballot paper: Northern Ireland
- Collection and disclosure of information relating to applications made under rules 37 to 40
- Spoilt ballot papers
- Correction of errors on day of poll
- Correction of errors on day of poll: Northern Ireland
- Adjournment of poll in case of riot
- Procedure on close of poll
- Counting of Votes
- Attendance at counting of votes
- The count
- Recount
- Rejected ballot papers
- Decisions on ballot papers
- Equality of votes
- Part IV Final Proceedings in Contested and Uncontested Elections
- Declaration of result
- Return to the writ
- Record of returns at Crown Office
- Return or forfeiture of candidate’s deposit
- Counting of votes: statement by returning officer
- Part V Disposal of Documents
- Destruction of home address forms
- Destruction of date of birth lists: Northern Ireland
- Sealing up of ballot papers
- Delivery of documents to registration officer
- Orders for production of documents
- Inspection of ballot paper refusal list: Great Britain
- Retention and public inspection of documents
- Disposal of documents in Scotland
- Disposal of documents in Northern Ireland
- Part VI Death of Candidate
- Independent candidate
- Deceased independent candidate wins
- Deceased independent candidate with equality of votes
- Party candidate
- Speaker of the House of Commons seeking re-election
- Abandoned poll
- Appendix of forms
- Form of writ
- Label or direction of writ
- Endorsement
- Certificate endorsed on writ
- Form of notice of election
- Form of nomination paper
- NOTE
- Form of Ballot Paper
- Directions as to printing the ballot paper
- Form of directions for the guidance of the voters in voting
- Form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter with disabilities
- ...
- SCHEDULE 2 Provisions Which May be Contained in Regulations as to Registration Etc.
- Schedule 2A Control of Donations to Candidates
- Part I Introductory
- Operation and interpretation of Schedule
- Donations: general rules
- Sponsorship
- Payments etc. not to be regarded as donations
- Value of donations
- Part II Controls on donations
- Prohibition on accepting donations from impermissible donors
- Acceptance or return of donations
- Transfer of donations received by candidate to election agent
- Evasion of restrictions on donations
- Part III Reporting of donations
- Statement of relevant donations
- Donations from permissible donors
- Donations from impermissible donors
- SCHEDULE 3 Return and Declarations as to Election Expenses
- SCHEDULE 4 Election Expenses at Certain Local Elections in England and Wales
- SCHEDULE 4A Election expenses
- Part 1 List of matters
- Part 2 General Exclusions
- Part 3 Supplemental
- Guidance by Commission
- Power to amend Parts 1 and 2
- SCHEDULE 4B Scottish local government elections: election expenses
- Part 1 List of matters
- Part 2 General exclusions
- PART 2A Guidance by the Electoral Commission
- Part 3 Power to amend Parts 1 and 2
- SCHEDULE 5 Use for Parliamentary Election Meetings of Rooms in School Premises and of Meeting Rooms
- SCHEDULE 6 Ward Elections in the City
- Schedule 6A List of countries for purposes of section 203A
- SCHEDULE 7 Transitional and Saving Provisions, and Interpretation of other Acts
- Part I Transitional and Saving Provisions
- General
- Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962
- Licensing Act 1964
- Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973
- Variation of limits of candidates’ election expenses
- Section 254 of the Local Government Act 1972
- Criminal Justice Act 1982
- Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982
- Part II Interpretation of Other Acts
- Register, electors, etc.
- Registration and returning officers
- Registration expenses
- Supplemental
- SCHEDULE 8 Consequential Amendments Acts
- Public Meeting Act 1908
- City of London (Various Powers) Act 1957
- City of London (Various Powers) Act 1960
- London Government Act 1963
- Licensing Act 1964
- Post Office Act 1969
- Local Government Act 1972
- Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
- Juries Act 1974
- House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975
- European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978
- Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978
- Senior Courts Act 1981
- Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982
- Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (Northern Ireland) Order 1981
- SCHEDULE 9 Repeals and Revocations
- Part I Repeals of Obsolete Provisions
- Part II Consequential Repeals
- Part III Consequential Revocations
Feedback