SCHEDULES
C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11SCHEDULE 1
Paras. 3–7 of Pt. II of Sch. 1 to Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42) have effect (N.I.) (prosp.) by virtue of s. 10 of, and Sch. 1 para. 2 to, that Act as additional rules in Sch. 1 to this Act
Sch. 1 applied with modifications (S.) by S.I. 1986/2213, Rules 2, 5
Sch. 1 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (28.4.1999) by 1985 c. 50, s. 15(1)(2) (as applied (with modifications) (28.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/1214, reg. 8, Sch. 3) (which S.I. was revoked (23.3.2004) by S.I. 2004/293, reg. 126)
Sch. 1 modified (E.W.) by S.I. 1986/1081, regs. 2, 97, 98, 100 (which S.I. was revoked (23.3.2004) by S.I. 2004/294, reg. 3)
Sch. 1 extended (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art. 6(1)-(4)
Sch. 1 modified (N.I.) (10.4.2001) by Elections Act 2001 (c. 7), s. 4, Sch. (as amended (16.12.2010) by S.I. 2010/2977, arts. 2(2), 6; (15.9.2014) by S.I. 2014/1116, arts. 1(1), 9; and (4.4.2024) by S.I. 2024/382, art. 1(2), Sch. 5 (with art. 1(3)))
Sch. 1 modified (S.) by The Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 1986 (S.I. 1986/1111), regs. 2, 95, 96, 98 (as amended (16.1.2023) by The Voter Identification Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1382), regs. 1(3), 36 (with reg. 1(6)(7)))
Sch. 1 modified (E.W.) (23.3.2004) by The Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/294), reg. 8, Sch. 2 (as amended (22.5.2014) by S.I. 2014/920, regs. 1(1), 2(7), 3-6; (7.5.2015) by S.I. 2015/654, regs. 1(1), 2); (16.1.2023) by The Voter Identification Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1382), regs. 1(3), 37 (with reg. 1(6)(7)) and (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Representation of the People (Postal Vote Handling and Secrecy) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1225), reg. 4)
Part V Disposal of Documents
Retention and public inspection of documents
C1C2C3E1C1257
1
The F1relevant registration officer shall retain for a year all documents relating to an election forwarded to him in pursuance of these rules by a returning officer, and then, unless otherwise directed by order of the House of Commons F2, the High Court, the Crown Court or a magistrates' court , shall cause them to be destroyed.
F32
The documents mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (1A) except—
a
ballot papers,
b
the completed corresponding number lists,
F8ba
in the case of an election held in England and Wales or Scotland, the completed ballot paper refusal list,
c
certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll,
shall be open to public inspection.
F43
The relevant registration officer or the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland (as the case may be) must, on request, supply to any person copies of or extracts from such description of the documents open to public inspection as is prescribed by regulations.
F54
Each of the following must, on request, be supplied with a copy of the marked copies of the register, the postal voters list, the list of proxies and the proxy postal voters list—
a
a registered party within the meaning of Part 2 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;
b
a person who was a candidate at the election in relation to the constituency for which he was a candidate.
5
Regulations may impose conditions in relation to—
a
the inspection of any document in pursuance of paragraph (2);
b
the supply of any document or part of a document in pursuance of paragraph (3);
c
the supply of any document or part of a document in pursuance of paragraph (4).
6
Regulations may also make provision—
a
as to the form in which any such document or part is supplied;
b
for the payment of a fee in respect of the supply of a document or part.
7
Conditions which may be imposed for the purposes of paragraph (5)(a) or (b) include conditions as to—
a
whether a person may take any copy of a document he is permitted to inspect;
b
the manner in which any such copy is to be taken;
c
the purposes for which information contained in any document or part of a document which is inspected or supplied in pursuance of paragraph (2) or (3) may be used.
8
Conditions which may be imposed for the purposes of paragraph (5)(b) or (c) include conditions as to the extent to which a person to whom a document or part of a document has been supplied may—
a
supply that document or part to any other person;
b
disclose to any other person any information contained in the document or part;
c
use any such information for a purpose other than that for which the document or part was supplied to him.
9
Regulations may also impose conditions corresponding to those mentioned in paragraph (8) in respect of persons who have obtained a document or part of a document mentioned in paragraph (4)—
a
which was supplied to another person in pursuance of paragraph (4), or
b
otherwise than in accordance with regulations under this section.
C1C2C3E257
1
The F1relevant registration officer shall retain for a year all documents relating to an election forwarded to him in pursuance of these rules by a returning officer, and then, unless otherwise directed by order of the House of Commons or the High Court, shall cause them to be destroyed.
F61A
The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland shall retain for a year the documents mentioned in rule 55(1B), and then, unless otherwise directed by order of the House of Commons or the High Court, shall cause them to be destroyed.
F72
The documents mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (1A) except—
a
ballot papers,
b
the completed corresponding number lists,
c
certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll,
shall be open to public inspection.
F43
The relevant registration officer or the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland (as the case may be) must, on request, supply to any person copies of or extracts from such description of the documents open to public inspection as is prescribed by regulations.
F54
Each of the following must, on request, be supplied with a copy of the marked copies of the register, the postal voters list, the list of proxies and the proxy postal voters list—
a
a registered party within the meaning of Part 2 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;
b
a person who was a candidate at the election in relation to the constituency for which he was a candidate.
5
Regulations may impose conditions in relation to—
a
the inspection of any document in pursuance of paragraph (2);
b
the supply of any document or part of a document in pursuance of paragraph (3);
c
the supply of any document or part of a document in pursuance of paragraph (4).
6
Regulations may also make provision—
a
as to the form in which any such document or part is supplied;
b
for the payment of a fee in respect of the supply of a document or part.
7
Conditions which may be imposed for the purposes of paragraph (5)(a) or (b) include conditions as to—
a
whether a person may take any copy of a document he is permitted to inspect;
b
the manner in which any such copy is to be taken;
c
the purposes for which information contained in any document or part of a document which is inspected or supplied in pursuance of paragraph (2) or (3) may be used.
8
Conditions which may be imposed for the purposes of paragraph (5)(b) or (c) include conditions as to the extent to which a person to whom a document or part of a document has been supplied may—
a
supply that document or part to any other person;
b
disclose to any other person any information contained in the document or part;
c
use any such information for a purpose other than that for which the document or part was supplied to him.
9
Regulations may also impose conditions corresponding to those mentioned in paragraph (8) in respect of persons who have obtained a document or part of a document mentioned in paragraph (4)—
a
which was supplied to another person in pursuance of paragraph (4), or
b
otherwise than in accordance with regulations under this section.
Parliamentary election rules modified (N.I.) (prosp.) by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 10, Sch. 1 paras. 8–23