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Representation of the People Act 1983
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Changes over time for: Paragraph 32
Version Superseded: 12/12/2023
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Representation of the People Act 1983, Paragraph 32 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 May 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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32[F1(1)The presiding officer shall exclude all persons from the polling station except—U.K.
(a)voters;
(b)persons under the age of 18 who accompany voters to the polling station;
(c)the candidates and their election agents;
(d)the polling agents appointed to attend at the polling station;
(e)the clerks appointed to attend at the polling station;
(f)persons who are entitled to attend by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;
(g)the constables on duty; and
(h)the companions of voters with disabilities.
(1A)The presiding officer shall regulate the total number of voters and persons under the age of 18 who accompany them to be admitted to the polling station at the same time.]
(2)Not more than one polling agent shall be admitted at the same time to a polling station on behalf of the same candidate.
(3)A constable or person employed by a returning officer shall not be admitted to vote in person elsewhere than at his own polling station under the relevant provision of this Act, except on production and surrender of a certificate as to his employment, which shall be in the prescribed form and signed by the prescribed officer of police or by the returning officer, as the case may be.
(4)Any certificate surrendered under this rule shall forthwith be cancelled.
[F2(5)In the application of this rule to an election in England or Wales, a reference to a constable includes a person designated as a community support officer [F3or community support volunteer] under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002 (police powers for employees [F4or volunteers]).]
Textual Amendments
F1Sch. 1 rule 32(1)(1A) substituted (31.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) for Sch. 1 rule 32(1) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 47, 77, Sch. 1 para. 84; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 5; S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2, 4
F2Sch. 1 rule 32(5) inserted (6.4.2014) by Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6), ss. 21(2), 27(1); S.I. 2014/414, art. 3(e) (with art. 4)
F3Words in Sch. 1 para. 32(5) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 15.12.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 12 para. 6(3)(a); S.I. 2017/1139, reg. 2(k) (as amended by S.I. 2017/1162, reg. 2)
F4Words in Sch. 1 para. 32(5) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 15.12.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 12 para. 6(3)(b); S.I. 2017/1139, reg. 2(k) (as amended by S.I. 2017/1162, reg. 2)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Sch. 1 rules 32–34 applied (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/2250, regs. 2, 3, 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I
C2Sch. 1 rules 32–34 applied (E.W.S.) by S.I. 1986/2209, regs. 2, 3, 5(1)(6)–(8), Sch. 1 Pt. I
C3Sch. 1 rule 32 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art. 3(1)(5)-(8), Sch. 1
Sch. 1 rule 32 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (25.4.1998) by S.I. 1998/1126, art. 6, Sch. 2
C4Sch. 1 rule 32 applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by The Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/2599), art. 3, Sch. 1 (as amended (13.11.2003) by S.I. 2003/2989, art. 2(2); substituted (10.2.2009) by S.I. 2009/256, arts. 1(2), 3, Sch. 1; and modified (16.2.2011) by Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 (c. 1), s. 19(1), Sch. 8 para. 19(2))
C5Sch. 1 rule 32(2) applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art. 3(1)(b)(6)(d)(7)
C6Sch. 1 rule 32(1)(3)(4) applied (with modifications) (31.7.1997) by 1997 c. 61, s. 3, Sch. 3 para. 13 Table 2
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