Representation of the People Act 1983

[F310 Maintenance of registers: [F1duty to conduct canvass] [F2in Northern Ireland].U.K.

F4(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F5(1A)The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland must conduct a canvass in Northern Ireland in such years as are determined in accordance with section 10ZA.]

(2)The canvass [F6under subsection F7... (1A)] shall be conducted by reference to residence on 15th October in [F8the year in which it is conducted].

(3)A canvass [F9under this section] shall not, however, be concerned with—

(a)the registration of persons in respect of residence in penal institutions (within the meaning of section 3 above) or mental hospitals (within the meaning of section 7 above) or other places at which persons to whom section 7A above applies may be detained; or

(b)the registration of persons in pursuance of—

(i)declarations of local connection,

(ii)service declarations, or

(iii)overseas electors’ declarations[F10; or

(c)the registration of persons with anonymous entries in the register.]

[F11(4)The form to be used for the purposes of a canvass under this section must [F12comply with such requirements as to its form or content as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of State after having consulted the Electoral Commission].]

[F13(4A)Subject to subsection (4B) below, the information to be obtained by the use of such a form F14... shall include—

(a)the signature of each of the persons in relation to whom the form is completed;

(b)the date of birth of each such person; and

(c)in relation to each such person—

(i)his national insurance number or a statement that he does not have one,

F15(ii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and

(iii)any address in the United Kingdom in respect of which he is or has applied to be registered (other than the address in respect of which the form is completed),

and the power in subsection (4) above to [F16prescribe requirements] includes power to give effect to the requirements of this subsection.

(4B)The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland may dispense with the requirement mentioned in subsection (4A)(a) above in relation to any person if he is satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable for that person to sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of [F17blindness or any other disability] of his or because he is unable to read.]

[F18(4BA)If requested to do so by the Secretary State for the purposes of making regulations under subsection (4), the Electoral Commission must design a form for the purposes of a canvass under this section.]

(5)In connection with a canvass [F19under this section the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland] may, for the purpose of—

(a)supplementing the information obtained by the use of any such form, or

(b)where any such form has not been returned, obtaining any information designed to be obtained by the use of the form,

make such house to house inquiries as he thinks fit.

(6)On the conclusion of a canvass [F20under this section the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland] shall make such alterations in his registers as fall to be made in accordance with section 10A below as a result of the canvass.

(7)In this section “residence” means residence for the purposes of section 4 above.]