PART 1General

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012.

(2) This Order comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this Order—

“the 1983 Act” means the Representation of the People Act 1983(3);

“the 2000 Act” means the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000(4);

“the 2001 Regulations” means Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001(5);

“the 2011 Act” means the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011;

“absent voter” means—

“anonymous entry” is to be read in accordance with section 9B of the Representation of the People Act 1983(6);

“authorised person” means a person (other than a barrister or solicitor) who, for the purposes of the Legal Services Act 2007(7), is an authorised person in relation to an activity which constitutes the exercise of a right of audience (within the meaning of that Act);

“bank holiday” means a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(8) in England and Wales;

“candidate” is to be read in accordance with article 3;

“the Commission” means the Electoral Commission established by section 1 of the 2000 Act;

“counting agent” is to be read in accordance with rule 31(11) of the PCC elections rules;

“disability”, in relation to doing a thing, includes a short term inability to do it;

“election court” means the court constituted under Part 3 of the 1983 Act, as applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9, for the trial of a PCC election petition;

“elector”, in relation to a PCC election, means a person who has for the time being an entry on the register of electors, but does not include—

“electoral area” means any electoral division or ward or, in the case of a parish or community in which there are no wards, the parish or community, for which the election of councillors is held under the Local Government Act 1972(9);

“electoral number” means a person’s number in the register of electors or, pending publication of the register, the person’s number (if any) in the electors lists for that register;

“legal incapacity” includes (in addition, where applicable, to any incapacity arising by virtue of a subsisting provision of the common law) any disqualification imposed by this Order or any other enactment;

“legal process” means a claim form, application notice, writ, summons or other process;

“the list of proxies” means a list kept under paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 2;

“local authority” means—

“local government election” means the election of councillors for any electoral area;

“local referendum” means—

“local returning officer” means a person who, by virtue of section 35 of the 1983 Act, is a returning officer for any elections of members of a local authority;

“nominating officer” means the person registered under the 2000 Act as the officer with responsibility for the matters referred to in section 24(3) of that Act in respect of a registered party;

“PCC election” means an election of a police and crime commissioner in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act;

“PCC election petition” means a petition presented in pursuance of Part 3 of the 1983 Act as applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9;

“PCC elections rules” has the meaning given in article 12;

“person” includes (without prejudice to the provisions of the Interpretation Act 1978(12)) an association corporate or unincorporate;

“police area” means a police area listed in Schedule 1 to the Police Act 1996(13) (police areas outside London);

“police area returning officer”, in relation to any police area, means the person designated by an Order made by virtue of section 54(1)(b) of the 2011 Act as the returning officer for that police area;

“polling agent” is to be read in accordance with rule 31(11) of the PCC elections rules;

“postal ballot paper” means a ballot paper issued to a postal voter;

“postal proxy” means a person who is entitled to vote by post as proxy at a PCC election;

“postal voter” means an elector or proxy who is entitled to vote by post;

“postal voters list” means a list kept under paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 2;

“presiding officer” is to be read in accordance with rule 27 of the PCC elections rules;

“proxy postal voters list” means a list kept under paragraph 7(7) of Schedule 2;

“record of anonymous entries” means the record prepared in pursuance of regulations made by virtue of paragraph 8A of Schedule 2 to the 1983 Act(14);

“register of electors” means the register of local government electors(15);

“registered party” means a party registered under Part 2 of the 2000 Act;

“registration officer” means an electoral registration officer;

“relevant citizen of the Union” means a citizen of the Union who is not a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland and “citizen of the Union” is to be construed in accordance with article 9 of the Treaty on European Union(16);

“relevant registration officer”, in relation to voting area, means the registration officer of the local authority in whose area that voting area is situated;

“voter” means a voter voting in the PCC election and includes a person voting as proxy and “vote” (whether noun or verb) is to be construed accordingly; and a reference to an elector voting or an elector’s vote includes a reference to an elector voting by proxy or an elector’s vote given by proxy;

“voting area” has the meaning given by paragraph (2).

(2) Each of the following, as it exists on the day of a PCC election, is a “voting area” for the purposes of this Order—

(a)a district for which there is a district Council,

(b)a county in England in which there are no districts with councils,

(c)the Isles of Scilly,

(d)a county or county borough in Wales.

(3) For the purposes of this Order a person is deemed not to have attained a given age until the commencement of the relevant anniversary of the day of the person’s birth.

Meaning of “candidate”

3.—(1) References to a candidate in this Order are to be construed in accordance with this article (except where the context otherwise requires).

(2) A person becomes a candidate at a PCC election—

(a)on the last day for publication of notice of the election if on or before that day the person is declared by himself or herself or by others to be a candidate at the election, and

(b)otherwise, on the day on which the person is so declared by himself or herself or by others or on which the person is nominated as a candidate at the election (whichever is the earlier).

PART 2Exercise of franchise for PCC elections

Registration

Effect of register of electors

4.—(1) Any entry in the register of electors, if it gives a date as that on which the person named will attain voting age, is conclusive for any purpose of this Part relating to that person as elector that until the date given in the entry the person is not of voting age nor entitled to be treated as an elector except for the purposes of a PCC election at which the day fixed for the poll is that or a later date.

(2) Paragraph (1) applies to an entry in the record of anonymous entries as it applies to an entry in the register of electors.

(3) A person registered in the register of electors, or entered in the list of proxies, is not excluded from voting at a PCC election on any of the grounds specified in paragraph (4): but this does not prevent the rejection of the vote on a scrutiny, or affect the person’s liability to any penalty for voting.

(4) The grounds are—

(a)that the person is not of voting age;

(b)that the person is not, or, on the relevant date or the date of the person’s appointment as proxy (as the case may be), was not—

(i)a Commonwealth citizen,

(ii)a citizen of the Republic of Ireland,

(iii)a relevant citizen of the Union;

(c)that the person is, or, on the relevant date or the date of the person’s appointment as proxy (as the case may be), was, otherwise subject to any other legal incapacity to vote.

(5) In paragraph (4) “the relevant date” means—

(a)in relation to a person registered in the register of electors as published in accordance with section 13(1) of the 1983 Act, the 15th October immediately preceding the date of publication of the register;

(b)in relation to any other person registered in the register of electors, the relevant date for the purposes of section 4 of the 1983 Act.

Effect of misdescription

5.—(1) No misnomer or inaccurate description of any person or place named—

(a)in the register of electors, or

(b)in any list, record, proxy paper, nomination paper, ballot paper, notice or other document required for the purposes of this Order,

affects the full operation of the document with respect to that person or place in any case where the description of the person or place is such as to be commonly understood.

Discharge of registration duties

6.—(1) A registration officer must comply with any general or special directions which may be given by the Secretary of State with respect to the arrangements to be made by the registration officer for carrying out the officer’s functions under this Order.

(2) The Secretary of State may give a direction under this article only if it is in accordance with a recommendation of the Commission.

(3) Any of the duties and powers of a registration officer under this Order may be performed and exercised by any deputy for the time being approved by the local authority which appointed the registration officer, and the provisions of this Order apply to any such deputy so far as respects any duties or powers to be performed or exercised by the deputy as they apply to the registration officer.

(4) Any acts authorised or required to be done by or with respect to the registration officer under this Order may, in the event of the officer’s incapacity to act or of a vacancy, be done by or with respect to the proper officer of the local authority by which the registration officer was appointed.

(5) Each local authority must place the services of such of its officers as are required at the disposal of a registration officer on whom functions are conferred by this Order for the purpose of assisting the registration officer in the discharge of those functions.

(6) “Proper officer” means a proper officer within the meaning of section 270(3) of the Local Government Act 1972(17).

Payment of expenses of registration

7.—(1) Any expenses properly incurred by a registration officer in the performance of the officer’s functions under this Order are to be paid by the local authority by which the registration officer was appointed.

(2) Such expenses are referred to in paragraph (4) as “registration expenses”.

(3) Any fees paid to the registration officer under this Order must be accounted for by the officer and paid to the local authority by which the officer was appointed.

(4) On the request of a registration officer for an advance on account of registration expenses, the local authority by which the registration officer was appointed may, if they think fit, make such an advance to the officer of such an amount and subject to such conditions as they may approve.

Effect of registration appeals

8.—(1) An appeal to the county court or Court of Appeal by virtue of a relevant provision which is pending when notice of a PCC election is given does not prejudice the operation as respects the election of the decision appealed against, and anything done in pursuance of the decision is as good as if no such appeal had been brought and is not affected by the decision of the appeal.

(2) Where, as a result of the decision on an appeal by virtue of section 56 of the 1983 Act, an alteration in the register of electors takes effect under section 13(5), 13A(2) or 13B(3) or (3B) of the 1983 Act(18) (effective dates of register following conclusion of canvass and notices of alterations of register) on or before the date of the poll for a PCC election, paragraph (1) does not apply to that appeal as respects that election.

(3) “Relevant provision” means—

(a)section 56 of the 1983 Act;

(b)regulation 21 of the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004(19).

Conduct of elections

Supply of register of electors

9.  Schedule 1 (which makes provision about the supply of the register of electors) has effect.

Polling districts and places at PCC elections

10.—(1) For the purpose of PCC elections every police area is to be divided into polling districts.

(2) The power to constitute polling districts for the purpose of PCC elections is to be exercised in relation to each police area so that electors from any parliamentary polling district wholly or partly within a relevant voting area can, in the absence of special circumstances, be allotted to a polling station within the parliamentary polling place for that district unless the parliamentary polling place is outside the voting area.

(3) In paragraph (2), the reference to a relevant voting area is to a voting area wholly or partly comprised in the police area.

(4) An election is not to be questioned by reason of—

(a)any non-compliance with paragraph (1) or (2), or

(b)any irregularity relating to polling districts or polling places.

Manner of voting at PCC elections

11.—(1) Schedule 2 (which makes provision with respect to the manner of voting at PCC elections, and in particular absent voting) has effect as regards PCC elections.

(2) For the purposes of Schedule 2, where the day or last day of the time allowed by this Order for the doing of anything falls on a day which is—

(a)a Saturday or Sunday,

(b)Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday, or

(c)a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning,

that time is to be extended until the next following day which is not one of those days.

(3) Subject to paragraph 16(5) and 59(6) of Schedule 2, in computing any period of not more than 7 days for the purposes of that Schedule any day referred to in paragraph (2)(a) or (b) is to be disregarded.

Conduct of PCC elections

12.—(1) Elections of police and crime commissioners for police areas must be conducted in accordance with the rules set out in Parts 1 to 7 of Schedule 3 (“PCC elections rules”).

(2) Part 8 of Schedule 3 (forms and directions) has effect for the purposes of those rules.

Combination of polls

13.—(1) In this article, “relevant election or referendum” means one or more of the following elections or referendums—

(a)a parliamentary election,

(b)a European parliamentary election,

(c)a local government election in England or Wales,

(d)an election in England for the return of an elected mayor as defined by section 9H(1) of the Local Government Act 2000(20),

(e)an election in Wales for the return of an elected mayor as defined by section 39(1) of the Local Government Act 2000,

(f)a local referendum.

(2) Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 4 contain provision for polls at a PCC election to be taken together with polls at one or more relevant elections or referendums.

(3) Where the poll at a PCC election is taken together with the poll at one or more relevant elections or referendums, the PCC elections rules have effect with the modifications set out in Part 3 of Schedule 4.

(4) Part 4 of Schedule 4 (forms and directions) has effect for the purposes of those modified PCC elections rules.

Further provision about persons involved in conduct of PCC elections

14.—(1) No person is subject to any incapacity to vote at a PCC election by reason of that person being or acting as police area returning officer or local returning officer.

(2) A PCC election is not to be questioned by reason of a defect in the title, or want of title, of the person presiding at or conducting the election, if that person was then in actual possession of, or acting in, the office giving the right to preside at or conduct the election.

Validity of PCC election

15.  No PCC election may be declared invalid by reason of any act or omission by any police area returning officer, local returning officer or other person in breach of his or her official duty in connection with the election or otherwise of the PCC elections rules if it appears to the tribunal having cognizance of the question that—

(a)the election was so conducted as to be substantially in accordance with the law as to PCC elections, and

(b)the act or omission did not affect the result.

Loan of equipment for PCC elections

16.—(1) Any ballot boxes, fittings and compartments provided for parliamentary elections out of moneys provided by Parliament, may, on request, be lent to a local returning officer at a PCC election on such terms and conditions as the Secretary of State may determine.

(2) Any ballot boxes, fittings and compartments provided by or belonging to a local authority within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1972(21) must, on request, and if not required for immediate use by that authority, be lent to a local returning officer at a PCC election on such terms and conditions as may be agreed.

Offences

Personation

17.—(1) A person is guilty of a corrupt practice if the person commits, or aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of, the offence of personation.

(2) A person (“P”) is deemed guilty of personation at a PCC election if P—

(a)votes in person or by post as some other person, whether as an elector or as proxy, and whether that other person is living or dead or is a fictitious person, or

(b)votes in person or by post as proxy—

(i)for a person whom P knows or has reasonable grounds for supposing to be dead or to be a fictitious person, or

(ii)when P knows or has reasonable grounds for supposing that P’s appointment as proxy is no longer in force.

(3) For the purposes of this article, a person who has applied for a ballot paper for the purpose of voting in person or who has marked, whether validly or not, and returned a ballot paper issued for the purpose of voting by post, is deemed to have voted.

(4) Section 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984(22) (arrest without warrant: other persons) does not permit a person other than a constable to arrest, inside a polling station, a person who commits or is suspected of committing an offence under the preceding provisions of this article.

Other voting offences

18.—(1) A person (“P”) is guilty of an offence if—

(a)P votes in person or by post, whether as an elector or as proxy, or applies to vote by proxy or by post as elector, at a PCC election or at PCC elections, knowing that P is subject to a legal incapacity to vote at the election or, as the case may be, the elections, or

(b)P applies for the appointment of a proxy to vote for P at a PCC election or at PCC elections knowing that P is or the person to be appointed is subject to a legal incapacity to vote at any such election or elections, or

(c)P votes, whether in person or by post, as proxy for some other person at a PCC election, knowing that that person is subject to a legal incapacity to vote.

For the purposes of this paragraph, references to a person being subject to a legal incapacity to vote do not, in relation to things done before polling day at the election or first election at or for which they are done, include the person being below voting age if the person will be of voting age on that day.

(2) A person (“P”) is guilty of an offence if—

(a)P votes as elector otherwise than by proxy either—

(i)more than once in the same police area at any PCC election, or

(ii)in any police area at a PCC election when there is in force an appointment of a person to vote as P’s proxy at the election in respect of an address in the same police area which is other than the address by virtue of which P votes as elector, or

(b)P votes as elector in person in any police area at a PCC election at which P is entitled to vote by post in the same police area, or

(c)P votes as elector in person in any police area at a PCC election, knowing that a person appointed to vote in the same police area as P’s proxy at the election either has already voted in person at the election or is entitled to vote by post at the election.

(3) A person (“P”) is guilty of an offence if—

(a)P votes as proxy for the same elector more than once in the same police area at any PCC election, or

(b)P votes in person as proxy for an elector at a PCC election at which P is entitled to vote by post as proxy for that elector, or

(c)P votes in person as proxy for an elector at a PCC election knowing that the elector has already voted in person at the election.

(4) A person is also guilty of an offence if the person votes at a PCC election in any police area as proxy for more than two persons of whom P is not the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild(23).

(5) A person is also guilty of an offence if the person knowingly induces or procures some other person to do an act which is, or but for that other person’s want of knowledge would be, an offence by that other person under any of paragraphs (1) to (4).

(6) For the purposes of this article, a person who has applied for a ballot paper for the purpose of voting in person, or who has marked, whether validly or not, and returned a ballot paper issued for the purpose of voting by post, is deemed to have voted, but for the purpose of determining whether an application for a ballot paper constitutes an offence under paragraph (4), a previous application made in circumstances which entitle the applicant only to mark a tendered ballot paper is to be disregarded, if the person does not exercise that right.

(7) A person is not guilty of an offence under paragraph (2)(b) or (3)(b) only by reason of the person having marked a tendered ballot paper in pursuance of case 3, 4, 5 or 6 of rule 42 of the PCC elections rules.

(8) An offence under this article is an illegal practice, but—

(a)the court before which a person is convicted of any such offence may, if it thinks it just in the special circumstances of the case, mitigate or entirely remit any incapacity imposed by virtue of section 173 of the 1983 Act (read with article 77) (incapacities on conviction of corrupt or illegal practices), and

(b)a candidate is not liable, nor shall the candidate’s election be avoided, for an illegal practice under this article of any agent of the candidate other than an offence under paragraph (5).

Breach of official duty

19.—(1) If a person to whom this article applies is, without reasonable cause, guilty of any act or omission in breach of the person’s official duty, the person is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(2) No person to whom this article applies is liable for breach of his or her official duty to any penalty at common law and no action for damages lies in respect of the breach by such a person of the person’s official duty.

(3) The persons to whom this article applies are—

(a)any registration officer, police area returning officer, local returning officer or presiding officer,

(b)any other person whose duty it is to be responsible after a PCC election for the used ballot papers and other documents (including returns and declarations as to expenses),

(c)any deputy of a person mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b),

(d)any person appointed to assist or in the course of employment assisting a person mentioned in any of sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) in connection with that person’s official duties;

and for the purposes of this article “official duty” is to be construed accordingly, but does not include duties imposed otherwise than by the law relating to PCC elections or the registration of local government electors.

(4) Where a police area returning officer or a local returning officer for a PCC election—

(a)is guilty of an act or omission in breach of the officer’s official duty, but

(b)remedies that act or omission in full by taking steps under regulation 6 of the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Functions of Returning Officers) Regulations 2012(24) (correction of procedural errors),

the officer is not guilty of an offence under paragraph (1).

(5) Paragraph (4) does not affect any conviction which takes place, or any penalty which is imposed, before the date on which the act or omission is remedied in full.

Tampering with nomination papers, ballot papers etc

20.—(1) A person is guilty of an offence, if, at a PCC election, the person—

(a)fraudulently defaces or fraudulently destroys any nomination paper, or

(b)fraudulently defaces or fraudulently destroys any ballot paper, or the official mark on any ballot paper, or any postal voting statement or official envelope used in connection with voting by post, or

(c)without due authority supplies any ballot paper to any person, or

(d)fraudulently puts into any ballot box any paper other than the ballot paper which the person is authorised by law to put in, or

(e)fraudulently takes out of the polling station any ballot paper, or

(f)without due authority destroys, takes, opens or otherwise interferes with any ballot box or packet of ballot papers then in use for the purposes of the PCC election, or

(g)fraudulently or without due authority, as the case may be, attempts to do any of the foregoing acts.

(2) If a police area returning officer, a local returning officer, a presiding officer or a clerk appointed to assist in taking the poll, counting the votes or assisting at the proceedings in connection with the issue or receipt of postal ballot papers is guilty of an offence under this article, the officer or clerk is liable—

(a)on conviction on indictment to a fine, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both;

(b)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both.

(3) If any other person is guilty of an offence under this article, that person is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both.

False statements in nomination papers etc

21.—(1) A person is guilty of a corrupt practice if, at a PCC election, the person causes or permits to be included in a document delivered or otherwise furnished to a police area returning officer or a local returning officer for use in connection with the election—

(a)a statement of the name or home address of a candidate at the PCC election which the person knows to be false in any particular, or

(b)a statement under rule 5(7)(b) of the PCC elections rules which the person knows to be false in any particular, or

(c)anything which purports to be the signature of an elector who proposes, seconds or assents to, the nomination of a candidate at the PCC election but which the person knows—

(i)was not written by the elector by whom it purports to have been written, or

(ii)if written by that elector, was not written for the purpose of signifying that the person was proposing, seconding, or (as the case may be) assenting to, that candidate’s nomination, or

(d)a certificate authorising for the purposes of rule 6 of the PCC elections rules (nomination papers: name of registered political party) the use by a candidate of a description if the person knows that the candidate has been nominated as a candidate for election as a police and crime commissioner for any other police area for which the poll is to be held on the same day as the poll at the PCC election to which the certificate relates.

(2) A person is guilty of a corrupt practice if, at a PCC election, the person makes in any document in which the person consents to his or her nomination as a candidate—

(a)a statement of the person’s date of birth,

(b)a statement as to the person’s qualification for being elected at that election, or

(c)a statement that the person is not a candidate at an election for any other police area the poll for which is to be held on the same day as the poll at the election to which the consent relates,

which the person knows to be false in any particular.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2), a statement as to a candidate’s qualification is a statement—

(a)that the candidate is qualified for being elected,

(b)that the candidate will be qualified for being elected, or

(c)that to the best of the candidate’s knowledge and belief the candidate is not disqualified for being elected.

Requirement of secrecy

22.—(1) The persons listed in paragraph (2) must maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of voting and must not, except for some purpose authorised by law, communicate to any person before the poll is closed any information as to—

(a)the name of any elector or proxy for an elector who has or has not applied for a ballot paper or voted at a polling station,

(b)the number on the register of electors of any elector who, or whose proxy, has or has not applied for a ballot paper or voted at a polling station, or

(c)the official mark on any ballot paper.

(2) The listed persons are—

(a)every police area returning officer or local returning officer attending at a polling station,

(b)every deputy of such an officer so attending,

(c)every presiding officer or clerk so attending,

(d)every candidate or election agent or polling agent so attending, and

(e)every person so attending by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the 2000 Act(25) (which makes provision about the attendance at certain elections of Commission representatives and accredited observers).

(3) Every person attending at the verification of the ballot paper accounts or the counting of the votes must maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of voting and must not—

(a)ascertain or attempt to ascertain at the counting of the votes the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of any ballot paper;

(b)communicate any information obtained at the counting of the votes as to the candidate for whom any vote is given on any particular ballot paper.

(4) No person attending at the verification of the ballot paper accounts may express to any person an opinion based on information obtained at that verification as to the likely result of the election.

(5) No person may—

(a)interfere with or attempt to interfere with a voter when recording his vote;

(b)otherwise obtain or attempt to obtain in a polling station information as to the candidate for whom a voter in that station is about to vote or has voted;

(c)communicate at any time to any person any information obtained in a polling station as to the candidate for whom a voter in that station is about to vote or has voted, or as to the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of the ballot paper given to a voter at that station;

(d)directly or indirectly induce a voter to display the ballot paper after the voter has marked it so as to make known to any person the name of the candidate for whom the voter has or has not voted.

(6) Every person attending the proceedings in connection with the issue or the receipt of ballot papers for persons voting by post must maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the voting and must not—

(a)except for some purpose authorised by law, communicate, before the poll is closed, to any person any information obtained at those proceedings as to the official mark;

(b)except for some purpose authorised by law, communicate to any person at any time any information obtained at those proceedings as to the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of the ballot paper sent to any person;

(c)except for some purpose authorised by law, attempt to ascertain at the proceedings in connection with the receipt of ballot papers the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of any ballot paper;

(d)attempt to ascertain at the proceedings in connection with the receipt of the ballot papers the candidate for whom any vote is given in any particular ballot paper or communicate any information with respect thereto obtained at those proceedings.

(7) No person having undertaken to assist a voter with disabilities (within the meaning of rule 41(10) of the PCC elections rules) to vote may communicate at any time to any person any information as to the candidate for whom that voter intends to vote or has voted, or as to the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of the ballot paper given for the use of that voter.

(8) A person who acts in contravention of this article is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months.

Prohibition on publication of exit polls

23.—(1) No person may in the case of a PCC election publish before the poll is closed—

(a)any statement relating to the way in which voters have voted at the election where that statement is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information given by voters after they have voted, or

(b)any forecast as to the result of the election which is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information so given.

(2) A person who acts in contravention of paragraph (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

(3) In this article—

“forecast” includes estimate;

“publish” means make available to the public at large, or any section of the public, in whatever form and by whatever means;

and any reference to the result of an election is a reference to the result of the election either as a whole or so far as any particular candidate or candidates at the election is or are concerned.

PART 3The election campaign

Registration, funding and expenditure of political parties and others

Amendment of Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

24.—(1) The 2000 Act is amended as follows.

(2) In section 22 (parties to be registered in order to field candidates at elections)—

(a)in subsection (2)(a), after “constituency,” insert “police area,”;

(b)in subsection (5), after paragraph (e), insert—

“(ea)elections of police and crime commissioners,”.

(3) In section 67 (weekly donation reports in connection with elections other than general elections), in subsection (2)(b)—

(a)omit “or” at the end of sub-paragraph (iii);

(b)after sub-paragraph (iv) insert—

“or

(v)an election of a police and crime commissioner.”

(4) In Schedule 7 (control of donations to individuals and members associations)—

(a)in paragraph 1(8) (definition of “relevant elective office”), after paragraph (e) insert—

“(ea)police and crime commissioner;”;

(b)in paragraph 15A(1) (donations to holders of certain elective offices)(26), after “relevant elective office” insert “, other than a police and crime commissioner”.

Amendment of section 62 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006

25.—(1) Section 62 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006(27) (regulation of loans: power to make provision for candidates, third parties and referendums) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (2)(a), for “an election” substitute “a relevant election”.

(3) In subsection (8)—

(a)for the definition of “candidate” substitute—

““candidate”—

(b)omit the definition of “election”;

(c)after the definition of “permitted participant” insert—

““police and crime commissioner election” means an election of a police and crime commissioner in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011(28);

“relevant election” means—

(4) After subsection (8) insert—

“(8A) For the purposes of this section, a person becomes a candidate at a police and crime commissioner election—

(a)on the last day for publication of notice of the election if on or before that day the person is declared by himself or herself or by others to be a candidate at the election, and

(b)otherwise, on the day on which the person is so declared by himself or herself or by others or on which the person is nominated as a candidate at the election (whichever is the earlier).”

The election agent

Appointment of election agent

26.—(1) Not later than the latest time for the delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature for a PCC election—

(a)a person must be named by or on behalf of each candidate as the candidate’s election agent, and

(b)the name and address of the candidate’s election agent must be declared in writing by the candidate or some other person on the candidate’s behalf to the police area returning officer.

(2) A candidate may name himself or herself as election agent.

(3) A candidate who names himself or herself as election agent is, so far as circumstances admit, subject to the provisions of this Order both as a candidate and as an election agent, and, except where the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Order to an election agent is to be construed as referring to the candidate acting in the capacity of election agent.

(4) One election agent only may be appointed for each candidate, but the appointment (whether the candidate appointed himself or herself as election agent or not) may be revoked.

(5) If whether before, during or after the PCC election the appointment (or deemed appointment) of an election agent is revoked or an election agent dies—

(a)another election agent must be appointed forthwith, and

(b)the name and address of the election agent appointed must be declared in writing to the police area returning officer.

(6) The declaration as a candidate’s election agent of a person other than the candidate is of no effect under this article unless it is made and signed by that person or is accompanied by a written declaration of acceptance signed by that person.

(7) Upon the name and address of an election agent being declared to the police area returning officer, the officer must forthwith give public notice of the name and address and must forward it to the local returning officer for each voting area wholly or partly comprised in the police area.

Nomination of sub-agent

27.—(1) An election agent for a candidate at a PCC election may appoint to act in any part of the police area one, but not more than one, deputy election agent (in this Order referred to as a “sub-agent”).

(2) As regards matters in a part of the police area for which there is a sub-agent the election agent may act by the sub-agent and—

(a)anything done for the purposes of this Order by or to the sub-agent in the part of the police area for which the sub-agent acts is deemed by virtue of this sub-paragraph to be done by or to the election agent, and

(b)any act or default of a sub-agent which, if the sub-agent were the election agent, would be an illegal practice or other offence against this Order is an illegal practice and offence against this Order committed by the sub-agent, and the sub-agent is liable to punishment accordingly, and

(c)the candidate is to suffer the like incapacity as if that act or default had been the election agent’s act or default.

(3) Not later than the fifth day before the day of the poll the election agent must declare in writing the name and address of every sub-agent to the police area returning officer.

(4) The appointment of a sub-agent—

(a)is not vacated by the election agent who appointed the sub-agent ceasing to be election agent, but

(b)may be revoked by whoever is for the time being the candidate’s election agent,

and in the event of the revocation of the appointment or of the death of a sub-agent another sub-agent may be appointed, and that sub-agent’s name and address must forthwith be declared in writing to the police area returning officer.

(5) Upon the name and address of a sub-agent being declared to the police area returning officer under paragraph (3) or (4), the officer must forthwith give public notice of the name and address and must forward it to the local returning officer for each voting area wholly or partly comprised in the police area.

(6) The declaration to be made to the police area returning officer under paragraph (3) or (4), and the public notice to be given by the officer under paragraph (5), must specify the part of the police area within which the sub-agent is appointed to act.

Office of election agent and sub-agent

28.—(1) Every election agent and every sub-agent must have an office to which all claims, notices, legal process and other documents may be sent.

(2) The address of the office must be—

(a)declared to the police area returning officer at the same time as the appointment of the agent is declared to the officer,

(b)stated in the public notice of the name of the agent, and

(c)forwarded by the officer to the local returning officer for each voting area wholly or partly comprised in the police area.

(3) The office of the election agent must be within the police area.

(4) The office of a sub-agent must be in the area within which the sub-agent is appointed to act.

(5) Any claim, notice, legal process or other document delivered at the office of a person who is the election agent or sub-agent and addressed to that person, is deemed to have been served on that person.

(6) The person who is acting as agent or sub-agent in a PCC election may in respect of any matter connected with the election be sued in any court having jurisdiction at the place where the person’s office is situated.

Effect of default of election agent’s appointment

29.—(1) If no person’s name and address is given as required by article 26 as the election agent of a candidate who remains validly nominated at the latest time for delivery of notices of withdrawals, the candidate is deemed at that time to be appointed as election agent and any appointment of another person as the candidate’s election agent is revoked by virtue of this paragraph.

(2) If—

(a)the person (not being the candidate) whose name and address have been so given as those of the candidate’s election agent dies, and

(b)a new appointment is not made on the day of the death or on the following day,

the candidate is deemed to be appointed as election agent as from the time of death.

(3) If the appointment of a candidate’s election agent is revoked without a new appointment being made, the candidate is deemed to be appointed (or re-appointed) as election agent.

(4) The deemed appointment of a candidate as the candidate’s own election agent may be revoked as if it were an actual appointment.

(5) Where a candidate is by virtue of this article to be treated as the candidate’s own election agent, the office of the election agent is deemed to be—

(a)at the candidate’s address as given in the statement of persons nominated (or where the address is not given on that statement, the address as given under rule 5(5) of the PCC elections rules), or

(b)if that address is outside the permitted area for the office, at the qualifying address of the person (or first person) named in that statement as proposer of the candidate.

(6) The police area returning officer on being satisfied that a candidate is by virtue of this article to be treated as the candidate’s own election agent, must forthwith—

(a)give public notice to the like effect as if the name and address of the candidate and the address of the candidate’s office had been duly given to the officer under articles 26 and 28, and

(b)forward the information to the local returning officer for each voting area wholly or partly comprised in the police area.

(7) Paragraph (6) applies whether or not a statement has been made under rule 5(6) of the PCC elections rules requiring the candidate’s home address not to be made public.

Donations to candidates

Control of donations to candidates

30.—(1) In the case of any candidate at a PCC election, any money or other property provided (whether as a gift or loan)—

(a)by any person other than the candidate or the candidate’s election agent, and

(b)for the purpose of meeting election expenses incurred by or on behalf of the candidate,

must be provided to the candidate or the candidate’s election agent.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any money or other property so provided for the purpose of meeting any such expenses which may be lawfully paid by a person other than the candidate, the candidate’s election agent or any sub-agent.

(3) A person who provides any money or other property in contravention of paragraph (1) is guilty of an illegal practice.

(4) Schedule 5 has effect for the purpose of controlling donations to candidates.

(5) In this article and that Schedule “property” includes any description of property, and references to the provision of property accordingly include the supply of goods.

Candidate election expenses

Payment of candidate election expenses through election agent

31.—(1) Subject to paragraph (4), no payment (of whatever nature) may be made by—

(a)a candidate at a PCC election, or

(b)any other person,

in respect of election expenses incurred by or on behalf of the candidate unless it is made by or through the candidate’s election agent.

(2) Every payment made by an election agent in respect of any election expenses must, except where less than £20, be vouched for by a bill stating the particulars or by a receipt.

(3) The references in paragraphs (1) and (2) to an election agent are to be taken as references to the election agent acting by himself or herself or by a sub-agent.

(4) This article does not apply to—

(a)any expenses which are, in accordance with article 32(1) or (2), 37(6) or 38(2), paid by the candidate,

(b)any expenses which are paid in accordance with article 32(4) by a person authorised as mentioned in that provision,

(c)any expenses included in a declaration made by the election agent under article 33, or

(d)any expenses which are to be regarded as incurred by or on behalf of the candidate by virtue of article 50(5).

(5) A person who makes any payment (of whatever nature) in contravention of paragraph (1) is guilty of an illegal practice.

Candidate election expenses which may be paid otherwise than by election agent

32.—(1) The candidate at a PCC election may pay any personal expenses incurred by the candidate on account of or in connection with or incidental to the election but—

(a)the amount which a candidate may pay must not exceed £5,000, and

(b)any further personal expenses so incurred by the candidate must be paid by the candidate’s election agent.

(2) The candidate at a PCC election may also pay any election expenses (other than expenses falling within paragraph (1)) which were incurred by or on behalf of the candidate and in respect of which payment falls to be made before the date on which the candidate appoints (or is deemed to have appointed) an election agent.

(3) The candidate must send to the candidate’s election agent within the time limited by this Order for sending in claims a written statement of the amount of expenses paid as mentioned in paragraph (1) or (2) by the candidate.

(4) Any person may, if so authorised in writing by the candidate’s election agent, pay any necessary expenses for stationery, postage, telegrams (or any similar means of communication) and other petty expenses, to a total amount not exceeding that named in the authority, but any excess above the total amount so named must be paid by the election agent.

(5) A statement of the particulars of payments made by any person so authorised must be sent to the election agent within the time limited by this Order for sending in claims, and must be vouched for by a bill containing that person’s receipt.

(6) Articles 37 and 38 do not apply to expenses which, in accordance with any provision of this article, are paid otherwise than by the candidate’s election agent.

Candidate election expenses incurred otherwise than for election purposes

33.—(1) Articles 31, 37 and 38 do not apply to election expenses—

(a)which are incurred by or on behalf of a candidate otherwise than for the purposes of the candidate’s election, but

(b)which by virtue of article 50(1) fall to be regarded as election expenses by reason of the property, services or facilities in respect of which they were incurred being used for the purposes of the candidate’s election.

(2) The candidate’s election agent must make a declaration of the amount of any election expenses falling within paragraph (1).

(3) In this article “for the purposes of the candidate’s election” has the same meaning as in articles 50 and 51.

Prohibition of candidate election expenses not authorised by election agent

34.—(1) No expenses may, with a view to promoting or procuring the election of a person who becomes a candidate at a PCC election, be incurred after the person becomes a candidate at the election by anyone other than the candidate, the candidate’s election agent and persons authorised in writing by the election agent on account—

(a)of holding public meetings or organising any public display, or

(b)of issuing advertisements, circulars or publications, or

(c)of otherwise presenting to the electors the candidate or the views of the candidate or the extent or nature of the candidate’s backing or disparaging another candidate.

(2) Paragraph (1)(c) does not restrict the publication of any matter relating to the election in—

(a)a newspaper or other periodical,

(b)a broadcast made by the British Broadcasting Corporation or by Sianel Pedwar Cymru, or

(c)a programme included in any service licensed under Part 1 or 3 of the Broadcasting Act 1990(29) (independent television and radio services) or Part 1 or 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1996(30) (digital terrestrial television and sound broadcasting).

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any expenses incurred by any person—

(a)which do not exceed in the aggregate the permitted sum (and are not incurred by that person as part of a concerted plan of action), or

(b)in travelling or in living away from home or similar personal expenses.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(a), the permitted sum in respect of a candidate at a PCC election for a police area listed in an entry in the first column of table 1 is the amount shown for that entry in the second column.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(a), expenses are to be regarded as incurred by a person “as part of a concerted plan of action” if they are incurred by that person in pursuance of any plan or other arrangement whereby that person and one or more other persons are to incur, with a view to promoting or procuring the election of the same candidate, expenses which (disregarding paragraph (3)(a)) fall within paragraph (1).

(6) Where a person incurs any expenses required by this article to be authorised by the election agent—

(a)that person must within 21 days after the day on which the result of the election is declared deliver to the police area returning officer a return of the amount of those expenses, stating the PCC election at which and the candidate in whose support they were incurred, and

(b)the return must be accompanied by a declaration made by that person (or in the case of an association or body of persons, by a director, general manager, secretary or other similar officer of the association or body) verifying the return and giving particulars of the matters for which the expenses were incurred,

but this paragraph does not apply to any person engaged or employed for payment or promise of payment by the candidate or the election agent of a candidate.

(7) The return and declaration under the preceding provisions of this article must be in Form 24 and Form 25 set out in Schedule 6 or a form to like effect, and the authority received from the election agent must be annexed to the return and is deemed to form part of it.

(8) The police area returning officer must forward to the registration officer for each local authority wholly or partly comprised in the police area every document sent to the officer in pursuance of paragraph (7), and rule 68 of the PCC elections rules shall apply to any such documents.

(9) If a person—

(a)incurs, or aids, abets, counsels or procures any other person to incur, any expenses in contravention of this article, or

(b)knowingly makes the declaration required by paragraph (6)(b) falsely,

that person is guilty of a corrupt practice.

(10) If a person fails to deliver or send any declaration or return or a copy of it as required by this article the person is guilty of an illegal practice.

(11) The court before which a person is convicted under paragraph (9) or (10) may, if it thinks it just in the special circumstances of the case, mitigate or entirely remit any incapacity imposed by virtue of section 173 of the 1983 Act (read with article 77) (incapacities on conviction of corrupt or illegal practices).

(12) A candidate is not liable and the candidate’s election is not to be avoided for a corrupt or illegal practice under paragraph (9) or (10) committed by an agent without the candidate’s consent or connivance.

(13) Where any act or omission of an association or body of persons, corporate or unincorporate, is an offence declared to be a corrupt or illegal practice by this article, any person who at the time of the act or omission was a director, general manager, secretary or other similar officer of the association or body, or was purporting to act in any such capacity, is deemed guilty of that offence by virtue of this paragraph, unless that person proves—

(a)that the act or omission took place without the person’s consent or connivance, and

(b)that the person exercised all such diligence to prevent the commission of the offence as the person ought to have exercised having regard to the nature of the person’s functions in that capacity and to all the circumstances.

(14) For the purposes of paragraph (1), expenditure incurred before the date when a person becomes a candidate at the election is to be treated as having been incurred after that date if it is incurred in connection with anything which is used or takes place after that date.

(15) References in this article to an election agent include a sub-agent.

Limitation of candidate election expenses

35.—(1) The election expenses incurred by or on behalf of a candidate at a PCC election must not in the aggregate exceed the maximum amount specified in the table in paragraph (2).

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the maximum amount in respect of a candidate at a PCC election for a police area listed in an entry in the first column of table 2 is the amount shown for that entry in the second column.

(3) The maximum amount is not required to cover the candidate’s personal expenses.

(4) The maximum amount is not affected for any candidate by the change in the timing of the PCC election or of any step in the proceedings at the election.

(5) Where a poll at a PCC election is countermanded or abandoned by reason of a candidate’s death, the maximum amount for any of the other candidates who then remain validly nominated is to be twice or, if there has been a previous increase under this paragraph, three times what it would have been but for any increase under this paragraph.

(6) Where any election expenses are incurred in excess of a maximum amount specified in paragraph (2) or (5), any candidate or election agent who—

(a)incurred, or authorised the incurring of, the election expenses, and

(b)knew or ought reasonably to have known that the expenses would be incurred in excess of that maximum amount,

is guilty of an illegal practice.

Power to vary provisions about candidate election expenses

36.—(1) The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument vary any of the sums to which this article applies—

(a)where the Secretary of State considers that the variation is expedient in consequence of changes in the value of money, or

(b)in order to give effect to a recommendation of the Commission.

(2) This article applies to any of the sums for the time being specified in—

(a)article 31(2);

(b)article 32(1)(a);

(c)article 34(4);

(d)article 35(2).

(3) An order under paragraph (1) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(4) For the purposes of section 1 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946(31) (definition of “Statutory Instrument”), the power to make an order which is conferred by paragraph (1) is to be taken to be conferred by an Act of Parliament.

Time for sending in and paying claims

37.—(1) Every claim against a candidate or the candidate’s election agent in respect of election expenses which is not sent in to the election agent within 21 days after the day on which the result of the election is declared is barred and must not be paid.

(2) All election expenses must be paid not later than 28 days after that day.

(3) Any person who pays a claim in contravention of paragraph (1) or makes a payment in contravention of paragraph (2) is guilty of an illegal practice.

(4) Where the election court reports that it has been proved to the court that any payment made as described in paragraph (3) was by an election agent without the sanction or connivance of the candidate—

(a)the candidate’s election is not void, nor

(b)is the candidate subject to any incapacity under this Order by reason only of that payment having been made in contravention of this article.

(5) The claimant or the candidate or the candidate’s election agent may apply to the High Court or to a county court for leave to pay a claim for any election expenses, although sent in after the period of 21 days or although sent in to the candidate and not to the election agent, and the court on cause shown to their satisfaction may by order grant the leave.

(6) Any sum specified in the order of leave may be paid by the candidate or the candidate’s election agent and when paid in pursuance of the leave does not contravene paragraph (2).

Disputed claims

38.—(1) If the election agent disputes any claim sent in to the agent within the period of 21 days mentioned in article 37 or refuses or fails to pay the claim within the period of 28 days mentioned in that article, the claim is deemed to be a disputed claim.

(2) The claimant may, if the claimant thinks fit, bring an action for a disputed claim in any competent court, and any sum paid by the candidate or the candidate’s election agent in pursuance of the judgment or order of the court does not contravene article 31(1) or 37(2).

(3) Article 37(5) and (6) apply in relation to a disputed claim as they apply in relation to a claim for election expenses sent in after that period of 21 days.

Election agent’s claim

39.  So far as circumstances admit, this Order applies to an election agent’s claim for remuneration and to its payment in like manner as if the agent were any other creditor, and if any difference arises about the amount of the claim, the claim is a disputed claim within the meaning of this Part of this Order and is to be dealt with accordingly.

Return as to candidate election expenses

40.—(1) Within 70 days after the day on which the result of the PCC election is declared, the election agent of every candidate at the election must deliver to the police area returning officer a true return containing as respects that candidate—

(a)a statement of all election expenses incurred by or on behalf of the candidate, and

(b)a statement of all payments made by the election agent together with all bills or receipts relating to the payments.

(2) A return under this article must—

(a)specify the poll by virtue of which the return is required,

(b)specify the name of the candidate to whom the return relates and the name of the candidate’s election agent, and

(c)deal under a separate heading with any expenses in respect of which a return is required by virtue of article 34(6).

(3) The return must also contain as respects that candidate—

(a)a statement relating to such other expenses in connection with which provision is made by this Part as the Commission provide in regulations;

(b)a statement relating to such claims (whether paid, unpaid or disputed) in connection with such election expenses or such other expenses mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) as the Commission so provide;

(c)a statement relating to such other matters as the Commission provide in regulations.

(4) Where after the date at which the return as to election expenses is delivered, leave is given by the court under article 37(5) for any claim to be paid, the candidate or the candidate’s election agent—

(a)must, within 7 days after its payment, deliver to the police area returning officer a return of the sums paid in pursuance of the leave, accompanied by a copy of the order of the court giving the leave, and

(b)in default, is to be treated as having failed to comply with the requirements of this article without such authorised excuse as is mentioned in article 45.

(5) The Commission may, by regulations, prescribe a form of return which may be used for the purposes of making any return (or any description of return) required by this article.

Declarations as to candidate election expenses

41.—(1) The return delivered under article 40(1) must be accompanied by a declaration made by the candidate’s election agent in Form 26 set out in Schedule 6 or a form to like effect.

(2) At the same time that the candidate’s election agent delivers that return, or within seven days afterwards, the candidate must deliver to the police area returning officer a declaration made by the candidate in Form 27 set out in Schedule 6 or a form to like effect.

(3) Where the candidate is out of the United Kingdom when the return is so delivered—

(a)the declaration required by paragraph (2) may be made by the candidate within 14 days after the candidate’s return to the United Kingdom, and

(b)in that case, the declaration must be forthwith delivered to the police area returning officer.

(4) But the delay authorised by paragraph (3) in making the declaration does not exonerate the candidate’s election agent from complying with the provisions of this Order relating to the return and declaration as to election expenses.

(5) Where the candidate is his or her own election agent, the declaration by an election agent as to election expenses need not be made and the declaration by the candidate as to election expenses is to be made in Form 28 in Schedule 6 or a form to like effect.

(6) A candidate or an election agent who knowingly makes the declaration required by this article falsely is guilty of a corrupt practice.

Circumstances in which no return or declaration required

42.  Notwithstanding anything in article 40 or 41, no return or declaration as to election expenses is required in the case of a person—

(a)who is a candidate at a PCC election, but is so only because he or she has been declared by others to be a candidate, and

(b)who has not consented to the declaration or taken any part as a candidate at the election.

Penalty for failure as respects return or declarations

43.  Subject to the provisions of article 45, a candidate or election agent who fails to comply with the requirements of articles 40 or 41 is guilty of an illegal practice.

Disqualification where no return and declarations transmitted after PCC election

44.—(1) If, in the case of any candidate, the return and declarations as to election expenses are not delivered before the expiry of the time limited for the purpose, the candidate is, as respects that election, disqualified from being elected as, or being, a police and crime commissioner.

(2) Any application under article 45 by such a candidate for relief in respect of a failure to deliver the return and declarations as to election expenses must be made within the period of 6 weeks following the day on which the time limited for their delivery expires.

(3) A disqualification under paragraph (1) does not take effect unless or until—

(a)the period specified in paragraph (2) for making an application for relief under article 45 expires without such an application having been made, or

(b)if such an application is made, the application—

(i)is finally disposed of without relief being granted, or

(ii)is abandoned or fails by reason of non-prosecution.

Authorised excuses for failures as to return and declarations

45.—(1) A candidate or the candidate’s election agent may apply for relief under this article to the High Court, an election court or a county court.

(2) Where a person makes an application under this article, the person must notify the Director of Public Prosecutions of the application and the Director or any assistant of the Director or any barrister, solicitor or authorised person duly appointed as the Director’s representative may attend the hearing of the application and make representations at the hearing in respect of it.

(3) Relief under this article may be granted—

(a)to a candidate, in respect of any failure to deliver the return and declarations as to election expenses, or any part of them, or in respect of any error or false statement in them, or

(b)to an election agent, in respect of the failure to deliver the return and declarations which the agent was required to deliver, or any part of them, or in respect of any error or false statement in them.

(4) The application for relief may be made on the ground that the failure, error or false statement arose—

(a)by reason of the applicant’s illness, or

(b)where the applicant is the candidate, by reason of the absence, death, illness or misconduct of the candidate’s election agent or sub-agent or of any clerk or officer of such agent, or

(c)where the applicant is the election agent—

(i)by reason of the death or illness of any prior election agent of the candidate, or

(ii)by reason of the absence, death, illness or misconduct of any sub-agent, clerk or officer of any election agent of the candidate, or

(d)by reason of inadvertence or any reasonable cause of a like nature,

and not by reason of any want of good faith on the applicant’s part.

(5) The court may—

(a)after such notice of the application in the police area as it considers fit, and

(b)on production of such evidence of the grounds stated in the application and of the good faith of the applicant, and otherwise, as it considers fit,

make such order for allowing an authorised excuse for the failure, error or false statement as it considers just.

(6) Where it is proved to the court by the candidate—

(a)that any act or omission of the election agent in relation to the return and declarations was without the sanction or connivance of the candidate, and

(b)that the candidate took all reasonable means for preventing the act or omission,

the court must relieve the candidate from the consequences of the act or omission of the candidate’s election agent.

(7) An order under paragraph (5) may make the allowance conditional on the making of the return and declaration in a modified form or within an extended time, and upon the compliance with such other terms as to the court seem best calculated for carrying into effect the objects of this Part.

(8) An order under paragraph (5) has the effect of relieving the applicant for the order from any liability or consequences in respect of the matter excused by the order that would otherwise arise under this Order.

(9) The date of the order or, if conditions and terms are to be complied with, the date at which the applicant fully complies with them, is referred to in this Order as the date of the allowance of the excuse.

Court’s power to require information from election agent or sub-agent

46.—(1) Where on an application under article 45 it appears to the court that any person (“P”) who is or has been an election agent or sub-agent has refused or failed to make such return, or to supply such particulars, as will enable the candidate and the candidate’s election agent respectively to comply with the provisions of this Order as to the return or declarations as to election expenses, the court, before making an order under that article, must order P to attend before the court.

(2) The court must on the attendance of P, unless P shows cause to the contrary, order P—

(a)to make the return and declaration, or

(b)to deliver a statement of the particulars required to be contained in the return,

as the court considers just, within such time, to such person and in such manner as the court may direct, or may order P to be examined with respect to the particulars.

(3) If P fails to comply with any order of the court under this article, the court may order P to pay a fine not exceeding the amount specified in paragraph (4).

(4) The specified amount is the amount of the maximum fine to which P would be liable if, at the time the court makes the order under paragraph (3), P were convicted of a summary offence on conviction of which P was liable to a fine of level 5 on the standard scale.

Police area returning officer to forward returns and declarations to the Commission

47.  Where the police area returning officer receives any return or declaration under article 34, 40 or 41, the officer must —

(a)as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving the return or declaration deliver a copy of it to the Commission, and

(b)if so requested by the Commission, also deliver to them a copy of any accompanying documents.

Publication of time and place for inspection of returns and declarations

48.—(1) The police area returning officer at a PCC election must within 10 days after the end of the time allowed for delivering to the officer returns as to election expenses—

(a)publish in not less than two newspapers circulating in the police area for which the election was held, and

(b)send to each of the election agents,

a notice of the time and place at which the returns and declarations (including the accompanying documents) can be inspected.

(2) If any return or declaration has not been received by the police area returning officer before the notice is despatched for publication under paragraph (1), the notice must so state, and a like notice about that return or declaration, if afterwards received, must within 10 days after the receipt be published in like manner and sent to each of the election agents other than the agent who is in default or is agent for the candidate in default.

Inspection of returns and declarations

49.—(1) Where the police area returning officer receives any return or declaration under article 34, 40 or 41, the officer must—

(a)as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving the return or declaration make a copy of it, and any accompanying documents, available for public inspection at the office of the police area returning officer, or some other convenient place chosen by the officer, for a period of two years beginning with the date when the return is received by the officer;

(b)if requested to do so by any person, and on payment of the fee determined in accordance with paragraph (3), supply that person with a copy of the return or declaration and any accompanying documents.

(2) If any such return contains a statement of donations in accordance with paragraph 10 of Schedule 5, the police area returning officer must secure that the copy of the statement made available for public inspection under paragraph (1)(a) or (as the case may be) supplied under paragraph (1)(b) does not include, in the case of any donation by an individual, the donor’s address.

(3) The fee for a copy of a return, declaration or document referred to in paragraph (1)(b) is to be determined at the rate of 15p for each side of each page.

(4) After the expiry of the two year period referred to in paragraph (1)(a), the police area returning officer—

(a)may cause those returns and declarations (including the accompanying documents) to be destroyed, or

(b)if the candidate or the candidate’s election agent so requires, must return them to the candidate.

(5) Any returns or declarations delivered under article 34 must be returned not to the candidate (if the candidate or the candidate’s election agent so requires) but to the person delivering them, if that person so requires.

Meaning of “election expenses”

50.—(1) In this Part “election expenses” in relation to a candidate at a PCC election means (subject to paragraph (2) and article 51) any expenses incurred at any time in respect of any matter specified in Part 1 of Schedule 7 which is used for the purposes of the candidate’s election after the date when the candidate becomes a candidate at the election.

(2) No election expenses are to be regarded as incurred by virtue of paragraph (1) or article 51 in respect of any matter specified in Part 2 of Schedule 7.

(3) In this article and in article 51, “for the purposes of the candidate’s election” means with a view to, or otherwise in connection with, promoting or procuring the candidate’s election at the election.

(4) For the purposes of this Part, election expenses are incurred by or on behalf of a candidate at a PCC election if they are incurred—

(a)by the candidate or the candidate’s election agent, or

(b)by any person authorised by the candidate or the candidate’s election agent to incur expenses.

(5) A reference in this Part to a candidate at an election, in relation to election expenses, includes (where the context allows) a reference to a person who becomes a candidate at the election after the expenses are incurred.

(6) In this Part and in Part 3 of the 1983 Act, as applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9, any reference (in whatever terms) to promoting or procuring a candidate’s election at an election includes doing so by prejudicing the electoral prospects of another candidate at the election.

(7) Schedule 7 has effect.

Property, goods, services etc provided free of charge or at a discount

51.—(1) This article applies where, in the case of a candidate at a PCC election—

(a)either—

(i)property or goods is or are transferred to the candidate or the candidate’s election agent free of charge or at a discount of more than 10 per cent. of the market value of the property or goods, or

(ii)property, goods, services or facilities is or are provided for the use or benefit of the candidate free of charge or at a discount of more than 10 per cent of the commercial rate for the use of the property or for the provision of the goods, services or facilities, and

(b)the property, goods, services or facilities is or are made use of by or on behalf of the candidate in circumstances such that, if any expenses were to be (or are) actually incurred by or on behalf of the candidate in respect of that use, they would be (or are) election expenses incurred by or on behalf of the candidate.

(2) Where this article applies, and subject to Part 2 of Schedule 7—

(a)an amount of election expenses determined in accordance with this article (“the appropriate amount”) is to be treated, for the purposes of this Part, as incurred by the candidate, and

(b)the candidate’s election agent must make a declaration of that amount,

unless that amount is not more than £50.

(3) Where paragraph (1)(a)(i) applies, the appropriate amount is such proportion of either—

(a)the market value of the property or goods (where the property or goods is or are transferred free of charge), or

(b)the difference between the market value of the property or goods and the amount of expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of the candidate in respect of the property or goods (where the property or goods is or are transferred at a discount),

as is reasonably attributable to the use made of the property or goods as mentioned in paragraph (1)(b).

(4) Where paragraph (1)(a)(ii) applies, the appropriate amount is such proportion of either—

(a)the commercial rate for the use of the property or the provision of the goods, services or facilities (where the property, goods, services or facilities is or are provided free of charge), or

(b)the difference between that commercial rate and the amount of expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of the candidate in respect of the use of the property or the provision of the goods, services or facilities (where the property, goods, services or facilities is or are provided at a discount),

as is reasonably attributable to the use made of the property, goods, services or facilities as mentioned in paragraph (1)(b).

(5) Where the services of an employee are made available by the employer for the use or benefit of a candidate, then for the purposes of this article the commercial rate for the provision of those services is to be taken as being the amount of the remuneration and allowances payable to the employee by the employer in respect of the period for which the employee’s services are so made available (but this does not include any amount in respect of any contributions or other payments for which the employer is liable in respect of the employee).

(6) In this article “market value”, in relation to any property or goods, means the price which might reasonably be expected to be paid for the property or goods on a sale in the open market; and paragraph 2(6)(a) of Schedule 5 applies with any necessary modifications for the purpose of determining, for the purposes of paragraph (1), whether property or goods is or are transferred to a candidate or the candidate’s election agent.

Publicity

Publication of election addresses of candidates

52.—(1) Each candidate at an ordinary PCC election is entitled to have an election address included on a website which is maintained by or on behalf of the Secretary of State for the purpose of publishing election addresses of candidates at such an election.

(2) No election address may be included on the website unless it has been prepared and submitted to, and approved by, the police area returning officer in accordance with Schedule 8.

(3) Any expenses incurred by or on behalf of a candidate in respect of the hosting and publication of the candidate’s election address are not to be taken, for the purposes of this Part, as an amount of expenses incurred by the candidate for the purposes of the PCC election.

(4) The Secretary of State must take whatever steps the Secretary of State thinks appropriate to promote public awareness of—

(a)the existence of the website, and

(b)the availability of printed and other versions of election addresses of candidates.

(5) The Commission may include on the Commission’s website information about—

(a)how to access the website;

(b)the availability of printed and other versions of election addresses of candidates,

and must include such information in any printed material which the Commission may publish in connection with PCC elections.

(6) Schedule 8 has effect.

Broadcasting from outside United Kingdom

53.—(1) No person may, with intent to influence persons to give or refrain from giving their votes at a PCC election, include, or aid, abet, counsel or procure the inclusion of, any matter relating to the election in any programmes service (within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1990(32)) provided from a place outside the United Kingdom otherwise than in pursuance of arrangements made with—

(a)the British Broadcasting Corporation,

(b)Sianel Pedwar Cymru, or

(c)the holder of any licence granted by the Office of Communications,

for the reception and re-transmission of that matter by that body or the holder of that licence.

(2) An offence under this article is an illegal practice, but the court before which a person is convicted of an offence under this article may, if it thinks it just in the special circumstances of the case, mitigate or entirely remit any incapacity imposed by virtue of section 173 of the 1983 Act read with article 77) (incapacities on conviction of corrupt or illegal practices).

(3) Where any act or omission of an association or body of persons, corporate or unincorporate, is an illegal practice under this article, any person (“P”) who at the time of the act or omission was a director, general manager, secretary or other similar officer of the association or body, or was purporting to act in any such capacity, is deemed to be guilty of the illegal practice, unless P proves—

(a)that the act or omission took place without P’s consent or connivance, and

(b)that P exercised all such diligence to prevent the commission of the illegal practice as P ought to have exercised having regard to the nature of P’s functions in that capacity and to all the circumstances.

Broadcasting of local items during election

54.—(1) Each broadcasting authority must adopt a code of practice with respect to the participation of candidates at a PCC election in items about the police area in question which are included in relevant services during the election period.

(2) The code for the time being adopted by a broadcasting authority under this article must be either—

(a)a code drawn up by that authority, whether on their own or jointly with one or more other broadcasting authorities, or

(b)a code drawn up by one or more other such authorities,

and a broadcasting authority must from time to time consider whether the code for the time being so adopted by them should be replaced by a further code falling within sub-paragraph (a) or (b).

(3) Before drawing up a code under this article a broadcasting authority must have regard to any views expressed by the Commission for the purposes of this paragraph; and any such code may make different provision for different cases.

(4) The Office of Communications must do all that they can to secure that the code for the time being adopted under this article is observed in the provision of relevant services; and the British Broadcasting Corporation and Sianel Pedwar Cymru must each observe in the provision of relevant services the code so adopted by them.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (1), “the election period”, in relation to a PCC election, means the period beginning with the last date for publication of notice of the election and ending with the close of the poll.

(6) In this article—

“broadcasting authority” means the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Office of Communications or Sianel Pedwar Cymru;

“candidate”, in relation to a PCC election, means a candidate standing nominated at the election;

“relevant services”—

Imitation poll cards

55.  No person may for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of any candidate at a PCC election issue any poll card or document so closely resembling an official poll card as to be calculated to deceive, and paragraphs (2) and (3) of article 53 apply as if an offence under this article were an offence under that article.

Election meetings

Schools and rooms for PCC election meetings

56.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this article, a candidate for a police area at a PCC election is entitled for the purpose of holding public meetings in furtherance of the candidature to the use free of charge at reasonable times between the last date for publication of notice of the election and the day preceding the date of the poll of—

(a)a suitable room in the premises of a school to which this article applies;

(b)any meeting room to which this article applies.

(2) This article applies to community, foundation and voluntary schools of which the premises are situated in the police area.

(3) This article applies to meeting rooms situated in the police area, the expense of maintaining which is payable wholly or mainly out of public funds, or by a body whose expenses are so payable.

(4) Where a room is used for a meeting in pursuance of the rights conferred by this article, the person by whom or on whose behalf the meeting is convened—

(a)must defray any expenses incurred in preparing, warming, lighting and cleaning the room and providing attendance for the meeting and restoring the room to its usual condition after the meeting, and

(b)must defray any damage done to the room or the premises in which it is situated, or to the furniture, fittings or apparatus in the room or premises.

(5) A candidate is not entitled to exercise the rights conferred by this article except on reasonable notice; and this article does not authorise any interference with the hours during which a room in school premises is used for educational purposes, or any interference with the use of a meeting room either for the purposes of the person maintaining it or under a prior agreement for its letting for any purpose.

(6) For the purposes of this article (except those of paragraph (4)(b)), the premises of a school are not to be taken to include any private dwelling.

(7) In this article—

“dwelling” includes any part of a building where that part is occupied separately as a dwelling;

“meeting room” means any room which it is the practice to let for public meetings;

“room” includes a hall, gallery or gymnasium.

Making arrangements for the purposes of article 56

57.—(1) Any arrangements under article 56 for the use of a room in school premises must be made with the local authority maintaining the school, or, in the case of a room in the premises of a foundation or voluntary aided school, with the governing body of the school.

(2) Any person claiming to be, or to be authorised, by a candidate is entitled at all reasonable times to inspect the list of rooms in school premises and of meeting rooms prepared under Schedule 5 to the 1983 Act or a copy of those lists.

Disturbances at election meetings

58.—(1) A person who at a lawful public meeting to which this article applies acts, or incites others to act, in a disorderly manner for the purpose of preventing the transaction of the business for which the meeting was called together is guilty of an illegal practice.

(2) This article applies to a political meeting held in any police area between the last date on which a notice of the election may be published in accordance with the PCC elections rules and the date of the poll.

(3) If a constable reasonably suspects any person of committing an offence under paragraph (1), the constable may if requested so to do by the chairman of the meeting require that person to declare to the constable immediately the person’s name and address and, if that person refuses or fails to do so or gives a false name or false address, the person is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.

Agency by election officials and canvassing by police officers

Officials not to act for candidates

59.—(1) If any person who is—

(a)a police area returning officer or local returning officer at a PCC election, or

(b)a deputy of any such returning officer, or

(c)an officer of a local authority whose services have been placed at the disposal of such a returning officer, or

(d)an officer or clerk appointed under the PCC elections rules, or

(e)a deputy or clerk appointed under regulation 5 of the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Functions of Returning Officers) Regulations 2012(35), or

(f)a partner or clerk of a person mentioned in any of sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) in connection with that person’s official duties,

acts as a candidate’s agent in the conduct or management of the election, the person is guilty of an offence, but nothing in this paragraph prevents a candidate from acting as the candidate’s own election agent.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this article is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

Illegal canvassing by police officers

60.—(1) No member of a police force for any police area may by word, message, writing or in any other manner, endeavour to persuade any person to give, or dissuade any person from giving, his or her vote, whether as an elector or as proxy at a PCC election.

(2) A person acting in contravention of paragraph (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) Nothing in this article applies to subject a person who is member of a police force to any penalty for anything done in the discharge of that person’s duty as such.

Other illegal practices, payments or employments

False statements as to candidates

61.—(1) A person who, or any director of any body or association corporate which—

(a)before or during a PCC election, and

(b)for the purpose of affecting the election of any candidate as police and crime commissioner,

makes or publishes any false statement of fact in relation to the candidate’s personal character or conduct is guilty of an illegal practice, unless the person can show that the person had reasonable grounds for believing, and did believe, the statement to be true.

(2) A candidate is not liable nor is the candidate’s election to be avoided for an illegal practice under paragraph (1) which is committed by an agent, other than the election agent, of the candidate unless—

(a)it can be shown that the candidate or the candidate’s election agent has authorised or consented to the committing of the illegal practice by that other agent or has paid for the circulation of the false statement constituting the illegal practice, or

(b)an election court find and report that the election of the candidate was procured or materially assisted in consequence of the making or publishing of such false statements.

(3) A person making or publishing any false statement of fact as mentioned above may be restrained by interim or perpetual injunction by the High Court or the county court from any repetition of that false statement or of a false statement of a similar character in relation to the candidate and, for the purpose of granting an interim injunction, prima facie proof of the falsity of the statement is sufficient.

(4) Any person who, before or during a PCC election, knowingly publishes a false statement of a candidate’s withdrawal at the election for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of another candidate is guilty of an illegal practice.

(5) A candidate is not liable, nor is the candidate’s election to be avoided, for an illegal practice under paragraph (4) committed by an agent of the candidate other than the candidate’s election agent.

Corrupt withdrawal from candidature

62.  Any person who corruptly induces or procures any other person to withdraw from being a candidate at a PCC election, in consideration of any payment or promise of payment, and any person withdrawing in pursuance of the inducement or procurement, is guilty of an illegal payment.

Payments for exhibition of election notices

63.—(1) No payment or contract for payment may, for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of a candidate at a PCC election, be made to an elector or the elector’s proxy on account of the exhibition of, or the use of any house, land, building or premises for the exhibition of, any address, bill or notice, unless—

(a)it is the ordinary business of the elector or proxy as an advertising agent to exhibit for payment bills and advertisements, and

(b)the payment or contract is made in the ordinary course of that business.

(2) If any payment or contract for payment is knowingly made in contravention of this article either before, during or after a PCC election—

(a)the person making the payment or contract, and

(b)any person who receives the payment or is a party to the contract knowing it to be in contravention of this Order,

is guilty of an illegal practice.

Details to appear on election publications

64.—(1) This article applies to any material which can reasonably be regarded as intended to promote or procure the election of a candidate at a PCC election (whether or not it can be so regarded as intended to achieve any other purpose as well).

(2) No material to which this article applies may be published unless—

(a)in the case of material which is, or is contained in, such a document as is mentioned in paragraph (4), (5) or (6), the requirements of that paragraph are complied with, or

(b)in the case of any other material, any requirements falling to be complied with in relation to the material by virtue of regulations under paragraph (7) are complied with.

(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (4) to (6), the following details are “the relevant details” in the case of any material falling within paragraph (2)(a), namely—

(a)the name and address of the printer of the document,

(b)the name and address of the promoter of the material, and

(c)the name and address of any person on behalf of whom the material is being published (and who is not the promoter).

(4) Where the material is a document consisting (or consisting principally) of a single side of printed matter, the relevant details must appear on the face of the document.

(5) Where the material is a printed document other than one to which paragraph (4) applies, the relevant details must appear either on the first or the last page of the document.

(6) Where the material is an advertisement contained in a newspaper or periodical—

(a)the name and address of the printer of the newspaper or periodical must appear either on its first or last page, and

(b)the relevant details specified in paragraph (3)(b) and (c) must be included in the advertisement.

(7) The Secretary of State may, after consulting the Commission, by regulations made by statutory instrument make provision for and in connection with the imposition of requirements as to the inclusion in material falling within paragraph (2)(b) of the following details, namely—

(a)the name and address of the promoter of the material, and

(b)the name and address of any person on behalf of whom the material is being published (and who is not the promoter).

(8) Regulations under paragraph (7) may in particular specify—

(a)the manner and form in which such details must be included in any such material for the purpose of complying with any such requirement;

(b)circumstances in which—

(i)any such requirement does not have to be complied with by a person of any description specified in the regulations, or

(ii)a breach of any such requirement by a person of any description so specified is not to result in the commission of an offence under this article by that person or by a person of any other such description;

(c)circumstances in which material is, or is not, to be taken for the purposes of the regulations to be published or (as the case may be) published by a person of a description so specified.

(9) Where any material falling within paragraph (2)(a) is published in contravention of paragraph (2), then (subject to paragraphs (11) and (12))—

(a)the promoter of the material,

(b)any other person by whom the material is so published, and

(c)the printer of the document,

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(10) Where any material falling within paragraph (2)(b) is published in contravention of paragraph (2), then (subject to regulations made by virtue of paragraph (8)(b) and to paragraphs (11) and (12))—

(a)the promoter of the material, and

(b)any other person by whom the material is so published,

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(11) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this article to prove—

(a)that the contravention of paragraph (2) arose from circumstances beyond the person’s control, and

(b)that the person took all reasonable steps, and exercised all due diligence, to ensure that that contravention would not arise.

(12) Where a candidate or a candidate’s election agent would (apart from this paragraph) be guilty of an offence under paragraph (9) or (10), that person is instead guilty of an illegal practice.

(13) In this article—

“print” means print by whatever means, and “printer” is to be construed accordingly;

“the promoter”, in relation to any material to which this article applies, means the person causing the material to be published;

“publish” means make available to the public at large, or any section of the public, in whatever form and by whatever means.

(14) For the purpose of determining whether any material is material such as is mentioned in paragraph (1), it is immaterial that it does not expressly mention the name of any candidate.

(15) Regulations made under paragraph (7) are subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(16) For the purposes of section 1 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946(36) (definition of “Statutory Instrument”), the power to make regulations which is conferred by paragraph (7) is to be taken to be conferred by an Act of Parliament.

Prohibition of paid canvassers

65.  If a person (“P”) is, either before, during or after a PCC election, engaged or employed for payment or promise of payment as a canvasser for the purpose of promoting or procuring a candidate’s election—

(a)P, and

(b)the person engaging or employing P,

is guilty of illegal employment.

Providing money for illegal purposes

66.—(1) Where a person knowingly provides money—

(a)for any payment which is contrary to the provisions of this Order, or

(b)for any expenses incurred in excess of the maximum amount allowed by this Order, or

(c)for replacing any money expended in any such payment or expenses,

except where the payment or the incurring of the expenses may have been previously allowed to be an exception in pursuance of the provision mentioned in paragraph (2), that person is guilty of an illegal payment.

(2) The provision referred to in paragraph (1) is section 167 of the 1983 Act (application for relief), as applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9.

Bribery, treating and undue influence

Bribery

67.—(1) A person (“P”) is guilty of a corrupt practice if P is guilty of bribery.

(2) P is guilty of bribery if P, directly or indirectly, by himself or herself or by any other person on P’s behalf—

(a)gives any money or procures any office to or for—

(i)any voter,

(ii)any other person on behalf of any voter, or

(iii)any other person in order to induce any voter to vote or refrain from voting, or

(b)corruptly does any such act as mentioned above on account of any voter having voted or refrained from voting, or

(c)makes any such gift or procurement as mentioned above to or for any person in order to induce that person to procure, or endeavour to procure, the election of any person as police and crime commissioner or the vote of any voter,

or if upon or in consequence of any such gift or procurement as mentioned above P procures or engages, promises or endeavours to procure the election of any person as police and crime commissioner or the vote of any voter.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)—

(a)references to giving money include references to giving, lending, agreeing to give or lend, offering, promising, or promising to procure or endeavour to procure any money or valuable consideration, and

(b)references to procuring any office include references to giving, procuring, agreeing to give or procure, offering, promising, or promising to procure or to endeavour to procure any office, place or employment.

(4) A person is guilty of bribery if the person advances or pays or causes to be paid any money to or for the use of any other person with the intent that that money or any part of it be expended in bribery at a PCC election or knowingly pays or causes to be paid any money to any person in discharge or repayment of any money wholly or in part expended in bribery at a PCC election.

(5) The preceding provisions of this article do not extend and are not to be construed as extending to any money paid or agreed to be paid for or on account of any legal expenses incurred in good faith at or concerning a PCC election.

(6) A voter is guilty of bribery if before or during a PCC election the voter, directly or indirectly, by himself or herself or by any other person on the voter’s behalf receives, agrees, or contracts for any money, gift, loan or valuable consideration, office, place or employment for the voter or for any other person for voting or agreeing to vote or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting.

(7) A person is guilty of bribery if after a PCC election the person directly or indirectly by himself or herself or by any other person on the person’s behalf receives any money or valuable consideration on account of any person having voted or refrained from voting or having induced any other person to vote or refrain from voting.

(8) In this article the expression “voter” includes any person who has or claims to have a right to vote.

Treating

68.—(1) A person (“P”) is guilty of a corrupt practice if P is guilty of treating.

(2) P is guilty of treating if P corruptly, by himself or herself or by any other person, either before, during or after a PCC election, directly or indirectly gives or provides, or pays wholly or in part the expense of giving or providing, any meat, drink, entertainment or provision to or for any person—

(a)for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting, or

(b)on account of that person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting, or being about to vote or refrain from voting.

(3) Every elector or proxy for an elector who corruptly accepts or takes any such meat, drink, entertainment or provision is also guilty of treating.

Undue influence

69.—(1) A person (“P”) is guilty of a corrupt practice if P is guilty of undue influence.

(2) P is guilty of undue influence—

(a)if P, directly or indirectly, by himself or herself or by any other person on P’s behalf, makes use of or threatens to make use of any force, violence or restraint, or inflicts or threatens to inflict, by himself or herself or by any other person, any temporal or spiritual injury, damage, harm or loss upon or against any person in order to induce or compel that person to vote or refrain from voting, or on account of that person having voted or refrained from voting, or

(b)if, by abduction, duress or any fraudulent device or contrivance, P impedes or prevents, or intends to impede or prevent, the free exercise of the franchise of an elector or proxy for an elector, or so compels, induces or prevails upon, or intends so to compel, induce or prevail upon, an elector or proxy for an elector either to vote or to refrain from voting.

Supplemental

Rights of creditors

70.  The provisions of this Part prohibiting—

(a)payments and contracts for payments,

(b)the payment or incurring of election expenses in excess of the maximum amount allowed by this Order, or

(c)the incurring of expenses not authorised by the election agent,

do not affect the right of any creditor, who, when the contract was made or the expense was incurred, was ignorant of that contract or expense being in contravention of this Order.

Savings as to PCC elections

71.—(1) Where a person has been declared by others to be a candidate at a PCC election without the person’s consent, nothing in this Part is to be construed as imposing any liability on that person, unless the person has afterwards assented to the declaration or has been nominated.

(2) Nothing in this Part makes it illegal for an employer to permit electors or proxies for an elector to absent themselves from the employer’s employment for a reasonable time for the purpose of voting at the poll at a PCC election without having any deduction from their salaries or wages on account of their absence, if the permission—

(a)is (so far as practicable without injury to the employer’s business) given equally to all persons alike who are at the time in the employment, and

(b)is not given with a view to inducing any person to record the person’s vote for any particular candidate at the election, and

(c)is not refused to any person for the purpose of preventing the recording of the person’s vote for any particular candidate at the election,

but this paragraph is not to be construed as making illegal any act which would not be illegal apart from this paragraph.

Interpretation of Part 3

72.  In this Part—

“declaration as to election expenses” means a declaration made under article 41;

“disputed claim” has the meaning given by article 38(1) as extended by article 39.

“election expenses”, in relation to a PCC election, is to be construed in accordance with articles 50 and 51;

“money” and “pecuniary reward” is deemed (except in articles 30, 67 and 68 and Schedule 5) to include—

and expressions referring to money are to be construed accordingly;

“payment” includes any pecuniary or other reward;

“personal expenses” as used with respect to the expenditure of any candidate in a PCC election includes the reasonable travelling expenses of the candidate, and the reasonable expenses of the candidate in living at hotels or elsewhere for the purposes of and in relation to the election;

“return as to election expenses” means a return (including the bills and receipts to be delivered with it) to be made under article 40(1);

“sub-agent” has the meaning given in article 27.

Computation of time for purposes of Part 3

73.—(1) For the purposes of this Part, where the day or last day allowed for the doing of anything falls on a day which is—

(a)a Saturday or Sunday,

(b)Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday, or

(c)a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning,

that time is to be extended until the next following day which is not one of those days.

(2) In computing any period of not more than 7 days any day referred to in paragraph (1)(a) to (c) is to be disregarded.

PART 4Legal Proceedings

Application to PCC elections of existing provisions about legal proceedings

74.  Schedule 9 (application to PCC elections of certain existing provisions about legal proceedings) has effect.

Persons reported personally guilty of corrupt and illegal practices

75.—(1) In section 160 of the 1983 Act(37) (incapacities where a person has been reported by an election court personally guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice)—

(a)in subsections (1), (4), (5)(a), (5A) and (7), each reference to a person guilty of a corrupt practice includes a reference to a person guilty of such a practice under—

(i)a provision of the 1983 Act applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9, or

(ii)a provision of this Order;

(b)in subsections (1), (4), (5)(b) and (7), each reference to a person guilty of an illegal practice includes a reference to a person guilty of such a practice under—

(i)a provision of the 1983 Act applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9, or

(ii)a provision of this Order;

(c)in subsections (1)(b) and (4), each reference to elective office or office includes a reference to the office of police and crime commissioner.

(2) In the application of section 160 of the 1983 Act by virtue of paragraph (1)(a)(ii) or (b)(ii)—

(a)the reference in subsection (1) to section 145 of the 1983 Act includes a reference to that provision as applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9;

(b)in subsection (4A)—

(i)the reference to a person convicted of a corrupt practice under section 60, 62A or 62B of the 1983 Act(38) includes a reference to a person convicted of a corrupt practice under article 17 of, or paragraph 10 of Schedule 2 to, this Order, and

(ii)the reference to a person convicted of an illegal practice under section 61 of the 1983 Act includes a reference to a person convicted of an illegal practice under article 18 of this Order;

(c)the reference in subsection (5A) to section 174 of the 1983 Act includes a reference to that provision as applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9;

(d)the reference in subsection (7) to the provisions of the 1983 Act includes a reference to the provisions of this Order.

Avoidance of election for employing corrupt agent

76.  In section 165 of the 1983 Act(39) (avoidance of election for employing corrupt agent)—

(a)in subsections (1) and (2), each reference to local government election includes a reference to an election in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act;

(b)the reference in subsection (1)(a) to a person convicted or reported of a corrupt or illegal practice within the meaning of the 1983 Act includes a reference to a person convicted or reported of a corrupt or illegal practice under—

(i)a provision of the 1983 Act applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9, or

(ii)a provision of this Order;

(c)the reference in subsection (4) to an election of the Mayor of London includes a reference to an election in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act.

Incapacities on conviction of corrupt or illegal practice

77.—(1) In section 173 of the 1983 Act(40) (incapacities where a person has been convicted of a corrupt or illegal practice)—

(a)in subsections (1), (3)(a) and (7), each reference to a person convicted of a corrupt practice includes a reference to a person convicted of a corrupt practice under—

(i)a provision of the 1983 Act applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9, or

(ii)a provision of this Order;

(b)in subsections (1), (3)(b), and (7), each reference to a person convicted of an illegal practice includes a reference to a person convicted of an illegal practice under—

(i)a provision of the 1983 Act applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9, or

(ii)a provision of this Order;

(c)in subsections (1), (4), (6), (7) and (8), each reference to elective office or office includes a reference to the office of police and crime commissioner.

(2) In the application of section 173 of the 1983 Act by virtue of paragraph (1)(a)(ii) or (b)(ii)—

(a)in subsection (2)—

(i)the reference to a person convicted of a corrupt practice under section 60, 62A or 62B of the 1983 Act includes a reference to a person convicted of a corrupt practice under article 17 of, or paragraph 10 of Schedule 2 to, this Order, and

(ii)the reference to a person convicted of an illegal practice under section 61 of the 1983 Act includes a reference to a person convicted of an illegal practice under article 18 of this Order;

(b)the references in subsection (9) to section 168 or 169 of the 1983 Act, and section 174 of that Act, include a reference to that section as applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9.

Incapacity to hold public or judicial office: Scotland

78.—(1) In section 173A of the 1983 Act(41) (incapacity where a person has been convicted of a corrupt practice), the reference in subsection (1) to a person convicted of a corrupt practice includes a reference to a person convicted of a corrupt practice under—

(a)a provision of the 1983 Act applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9, or

(b)a provision of this Order.

(2) In the application of section 173A of the 1983 Act by virtue of paragraph (1)(b)—

(a)the reference in subsection (1) to section 174 of the 1983 Act includes a reference to that section as applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9;

(b)the reference in subsection (2)(a) to section 173 of the 1983 Act is a reference to that section as it has effect by virtue of article 77;

(c)the reference in subsection (2)(b) to section 168 of the 1983 Act includes a reference to that section as applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9.

PART 5Miscellaneous and supplemental

Duty to notify appropriate officer of failure of PCC election

79.  The police area returning officer must forthwith notify the appropriate officer for the police area where—

(a)the poll at a PCC election is countermanded or abandoned for any reason, or

(b)no person is or remains validly nominated as a candidate for election as police and crime commissioner, or

(c)the election is for any other reason not held on the day required by section 50 (ordinary elections) of the 2011 Act or within the period prescribed by section 51 of that Act (election to fill vacancy in the office of police and crime commissioner).

Consequences where PCC election fails or is declared void

80.—(1) This article applies where—

(a)a notice under article 79 is given to the appropriate officer for a police area, or

(b)at the conclusion of a trial of a PCC election petition questioning the election of a police and crime commissioner for a police area, a specified notice is given to the appropriate officer for the police area certifying that the election court hearing the petition has determined that the election is void.

(2) For the purposes of section 59(1)(a) of the 2011 Act (date of vacancy in office of police and crime commissioner in consequence of failure of, or other irregularity in relation to, a PCC election), a vacancy in the office of police and crime commissioner in the police area is to be regarded as occurring on the day on which the notice referred to in paragraph (1) is received by the appropriate officer.

(3) The appropriate officer must give notice of the vacancy in accordance with section 59(3) to (5) of the 2011 Act and an election to fill the vacancy must be held under section 51 of that Act (election to fill a vacancy in office of police and crime commissioner).

(4) For the purposes of section 51(4) of the 2011 Act (which specifies the period within which the election must be held), the “relevant event” is the receipt of the notice referred to in paragraph (1) by the appropriate officer.

(5) In paragraph (1)(b), “specified notice” means a notice under section 145(6) of the 1983 Act, as applied by paragraph 1 of Schedule 9.

Validity of acts where PCC election declared void

81.  The acts of a person elected as police and crime commissioner for a police area who acts in that office are, despite any determination of an election court that the person’s election is void, as valid and effectual as if the person’s election had not been declared void.

Access to marked registers and other documents open to public inspection after an election

82.  Schedule 10 (which makes provision about access to marked registers etc after a PCC election) has effect.

Advertisements

83.—(1) The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007(42) apply in relation to the display on any site in England of an advertisement relating specifically to a PCC election as they apply in relation to the display of an advertisement relating specifically to a pending parliamentary election.

(2) The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992(43) apply in relation to the display on any site in Wales of an advertisement relating specifically to a PCC election as they apply in relation to the display of an advertisement relating specifically to a pending parliamentary election.

Forms

84.—(1) The forms set out in this Order or forms substantially to the like effect may be used with such variations as the circumstances may require.

(2) But—

(a)paragraph (1) does not apply to the ballot paper, and

(b)any variations made by a local returning officer must, where appropriate, be in compliance with any directions issued by the police area returning officer under regulations made under section 54(2) of the 2011 Act (functions of returning officers).

(3) The registration officer must supply free of charge as many forms for use in connection with applications made under Schedule 2 (absent voting in PCC elections) as appear to that officer reasonable in the circumstances to any person who satisfies that officer of the person’s intention to use the forms in connection with a PCC election.

Translations etc of certain documents

85.—(1) Paragraphs (2) and (3) apply to any document which under or by virtue of this Order is required or authorised to be given to voters or displayed in any place for the purposes of a PCC election.

(2) The person who is required or authorised to give or display the document must, as the person thinks appropriate, give or display or otherwise make available in such form as the person thinks appropriate—

(a)the document in Braille;

(b)the document in languages other than English;

(c)graphical representations of the information contained in the document;

(d)other means of making the information contained in the document accessible to persons who might not otherwise have reasonable access to the information.

(3) The person required or authorised to give or display the document must also, as the person thinks appropriate, make available the information contained in the document in such audible form as the person thinks appropriate.

(4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) do not apply to—

(a)the nomination paper;

(b)the ballot paper.

(5) The local returning officer at a PCC election must cause to be displayed at every polling station in the election an enlarged sample copy of the ballot paper.

(6) The sample copy mentioned in paragraph (5) must have printed the following words at the top of the list of candidates—

(a)in the case of an election where there are three or more candidates—

“Vote once (X) in column 1 for your first choice, and

Vote once (X) in column 2 for your second choice”:

(b)in the case of an election where there are only two candidates—

“Vote (X) for one candidate only”,

and may include a translation of those words into such other languages as the local returning officer thinks appropriate.

Public notices and declarations

86.—(1) This article applies to any public notice which is required by this Order to be given by a police area returning officer or a local returning officer.

(2) Public notice must be given by posting the notice in some conspicuous place or places in (as the case may be) the police area or voting area for which the officer acts, and may also be given in such other manner as the officer thinks desirable for publicising it.

(3) Any person before whom a declaration is authorised to be made under this Order may take the declaration.

Sending of applications and notices; electronic signatures and related certificates

87.—(1) The requirement in this Order that any application, notice, representation or objection should be in writing is satisfied where (apart from the usual meaning of that expression) the text of it—

(a)is transmitted by electronic means,

(b)is received in legible form, and

(c)is capable of being used for future reference.

(2) The requirement in this Order for an application, notice, representation or objection to be signed is satisfied (as an alternative to a signature given by hand) where there is—

(a)an electronic signature incorporated into or logically associated with a particular electronic communication, and

(b)the certification by any person of such a signature.

(3) For the purposes of this Order, an electronic signature is so much of anything in electronic form as—

(a)is incorporated into or otherwise logically associated with any electronic communication or both, and

(b)purports to be so incorporated or associated for the purpose of being used in establishing the authenticity of the communication, the integrity of the communication or both.

(4) For the purposes of this Order, an electronic signature incorporated into or associated with a particular electronic communication is certified by any person if that person (whether before or after the making of the communication) has made a statement confirming that—

(a)the signature,

(b)a means of producing, communicating or verifying the signature, or

(c)a procedure applied to the signature,

is (either alone or in combination with other factors) a valid means of establishing the authenticity of the communication, the integrity of the communication or both.

Publication of documents

88.—(1) Any failure to publish a document in accordance with this Order does not invalidate the document, but this provision does not relieve any person from any penalty for such a failure.

(2) Where a document is made available for inspection, any person may make a copy (whether in handwriting or by other means) of the whole or any part of such a document.

(3) Paragraph (2) is subject to any restriction as to the making of copies which is imposed by—

(a)paragraph 21(5) of Schedule 2;

(b)paragraph 3(8) of Schedule 10;

(c)an order for the inspection of documents which is made under rule 67 of the PCC Elections Rules.

Interference with notices

89.  Any person who without lawful authority destroys, mutilates, defaces or removes—

(a)any notice published by the registration officer in connection with the officer’s registration duties, or

(b)any copies of a document which have been made available for inspection in pursuance of those duties,

is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

SCHEDULES

Article 9

SCHEDULE 1Supply of register

Supply of free copy of register for electoral purposes and restrictions on use

1.—(1) As soon as practicable after the relevant date, the registration officer must supply each relevant returning officer with as many printed copies of the following as the relevant returning officer may reasonably require for the purposes of the PCC election—

(a)the latest revised version of the register published under section 13(1) or (3) of the 1983 Act, and

(b)any notice, published under section 13A(2), 13B(3), (3B) or (3D) or 13BB(4) or (5) of that Act(44), setting out an alteration to the latest version of the register.

(2) In this paragraph—

“relevant date” means—

“relevant returning officer”, in relation to a registration officer, means—

but does not include a returning officer who is the same individual as the registration officer.

(3) Where a registration officer is under a duty to supply a returning officer with printed copies of a register or notice under this paragraph, the registration officer must also supply a copy of the register or notice in data form.

(4) A copy of a register or notice supplied under this paragraph is to be supplied free of charge.

(5) No person to whom a copy of a register or notice has been supplied under this paragraph may—

(a)supply a copy of that register or those notices to any person,

(b)disclose any information contained in them that is not contained in the edited register (within the meaning of regulation 93 of the 2001 Regulations), or

(c)make use of any such information,

other than for the purposes of an election.

Supply on request and specific restrictions

2.—(1) The persons or organisations within any of paragraphs 3 to 5 may request the registration officer to supply free of charge the relevant part (within the meaning of those paragraphs) of any of the following—

(a)a revised version of the register published under section 13(1) or (3) of the 1983 Act;

(b)any notice, published under section 13A(2), 13B(3), (3B) or (3D) or 13BB(4) or (5) of the 1983 Act, setting out an alteration to the register.

(2) A request under sub-paragraph (1) must be made in writing and must—

(a)specify the documents requested,

(b)subject to sub-paragraph (5), state whether the request is made only in respect of the current documents or whether it includes a request for the supply of any subsequent document on publication for so long as the person making the request falls within the category of persons entitled to receive the documents requested, and

(c)state whether a printed copy of any of the documents is requested instead of the version in data form.

(3) Unless a request has been made in advance of supply under sub-paragraph (2)(c), the copy of a document supplied under this paragraph is to be in data form.

(4) The registration officer must supply the relevant part of the documents referred to in sub-paragraph (1) in accordance with a request that has been duly made.

(5) A person within paragraph 5 may not make the request set out in sub-paragraph (2)(b).

(6) A person who obtains a copy of any document under sub-paragraph (4) may use it for any purpose for which that person would be entitled to obtain that document under this Schedule and any restrictions which apply under whichever of paragraphs 3 to 5 entitles that person to obtain that document for that purpose applies to such use.

Supply of register etc to police and crime commissioner and restrictions on use

3.—(1) This paragraph applies to a person elected to the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area in which the whole or part of the area for which the registration officer acts is situated.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph 2(1), the relevant part of the documents listed in that provision is so much of them as relates to any part of the police area for which the police and crime commissioner is elected as falls within the area for which the registration officer acts.

(3) No person to whom this paragraph applies who has been supplied with a copy of a register or notices under paragraph 2 may—

(a)supply a copy of that register or those notices to any person,

(b)disclose any information contained in them that is not contained in the edited register (within the meaning of regulation 93 of the 2001 Regulations), or

(c)make use of any such information,

other than for purposes in connection with the office of police and crime commissioner or for electoral purposes.

Supply of register etc to candidates and restrictions on use

4.—(1) This paragraph applies to a candidate for election at a PCC election.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph 2(1), the relevant part of the documents listed in that provision is the whole of them.

(3) No candidate for election at a PCC election who has been supplied with a copy of a register or notices under paragraph 2 may—

(a)supply a copy of that register or those notices to any person,

(b)disclose any information contained in them that is not contained in the edited register (within the meaning of regulation 93 of the 2001 Regulations), or

(c)make use of any such information,

other than for the purpose of complying with the controls on donations set out in Schedule 5.

Supply of register etc to certain candidates and restrictions on use

5.—(1) This paragraph applies to a candidate for election as a police and crime commissioner for a police area in which the whole or part of the area for which the registration officer acts is situated.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph 2(1), the relevant part of the documents listed in that provision is so much of them as relates to any part of the police area for which the candidate is standing as falls within the area for which the registration officer acts.

(3) No candidate to whom this paragraph applies who has been supplied with a copy of a register or notices under paragraph 2 may—

(a)supply a copy of that register or those notices to any person,

(b)disclose any information contained in them that is not contained in the edited register (within the meaning of regulation 93 of the 2001 Regulations), or

(c)make use of any such information,

other than for electoral purposes.

Article 11

SCHEDULE 2Absent voting in PCC elections

PART 1Manner of voting at PCC election and entitlement to absent vote

Manner of voting at PCC elections

1.—(1) This paragraph applies to determine the manner of voting of a person (“P”) entitled to vote as an elector at a PCC election.

(2) P may vote in person at the polling station to which he or she is allotted under the PCC elections rules, unless P is entitled as an elector to vote by post or by proxy at the PCC election.

(3) P may vote by post if P is entitled as an elector to vote by post at the PCC election.

(4) If P is entitled to vote by proxy at the PCC election, P may so vote unless, before a ballot paper has been issued for P to vote by proxy, P applies at the polling station to which he or she is allotted under the PCC elections rules for a ballot paper for the purpose of voting in person, in which case P may vote in person there.

(5) If—

(a)P is not entitled to vote by post or by proxy at a PCC election, but

(b)P cannot reasonably be expected to go in person to the polling station to which P is allotted under the PCC elections rules by reason of the particular circumstances of P’s employment, either as a constable or by a local returning officer, on the date of the poll for a purpose connected with the PCC election,

P may vote in person at any polling station in the same voting area as the allotted polling station.

(6) Nothing in the preceding provisions of this paragraph applies to a person to whom section 7 of the 1983 Act (mental patients who are not detained offenders) applies and who is liable, by virtue of any enactment, to be detained in the mental hospital in question, whether the person is registered by virtue of that provision or not; and such a person may vote—

(a)in person (where the person is granted permission to be absent from the hospital and voting in person does not breach any condition attached to that permission), or

(b)by post or by proxy (where the person is entitled to vote by post or, as the case may be, by proxy in the PCC election).

(7) Nothing in the preceding provisions of this paragraph applies to a person to whom section 7A of the 1983 Act (persons remanded in custody) applies, whether the person is registered by virtue of that provision or not; and such a person may vote only by post or by proxy (where the person is entitled to vote by post or, as the case may be, by proxy in the PCC election).

(8) Sub-paragraph (2) does not prevent a person, at the polling station to which he or she is allotted, marking a tendered ballot paper in pursuance of rule 40 of the PCC elections rules (votes marked by presiding officer).

Entitlement to absent vote at PCC elections

2.—(1) A person entitled to vote in a PCC election is entitled to vote by post or by proxy if sub-paragraph (2) or (3) (as the case may be) applies to the person.

(2) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is shown in the postal voters list mentioned in paragraph 4(2) as entitled to vote by post in a PCC election.

(3) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is shown in the list of proxies mentioned in paragraph 4(3) as entitled to vote by proxy in a PCC election.

Application to vote by post or proxy at a particular PCC election

3.—(1) Where a person applies to the registration officer to vote by post at a particular PCC election, the officer must grant the application if—

(a)the officer is satisfied that the applicant is or will be registered in the register of electors, and

(b)the application contains the applicant’s signature and date of birth and meets the requirements set out in Part 2 of this Schedule.

(2) Where a person applies to the registration officer to vote by proxy at a particular PCC election, the officer must grant the application if—

(a)the officer is satisfied that the applicant’s circumstances on the date of the poll will be or are likely to be such that the applicant cannot reasonably be expected to vote in person at the polling station to which the applicant is, or is likely to be, allotted under the PCC elections rules,

(b)the officer is satisfied that the applicant is or will be registered in the register of electors, and

(c)the application contains the applicant’s signature and date of birth and meets the requirements set out in Part 2 of this Schedule.

(3) Where a person who has an anonymous entry in the register applies to the registration officer to vote by proxy at a particular PCC election, the registration officer must grant the application if it meets the requirements set out in Part 2 of this Schedule.

(4) Nothing in sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3) applies to—

(a)a person who is included in the record kept under paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (absent vote at parliamentary or local government elections for definite or indefinite period)(45), or

(b)a person who is included in the record kept under paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004 (absent vote at European Parliamentary elections for definite or indefinite period)(46).

(5) But if a person is included in a record mentioned in sub-paragraph (4) and is shown in the record as voting by post, the person may, in respect of a particular PCC election, apply to the registration officer—

(a)for his or her ballot paper to be sent to a different address from that shown in the record, or

(b)to vote by proxy.

(6) The registration officer must grant an application under sub-paragraph (5) if—

(a)in the case of any application, it meets the requirements set out in Part 2 of this Schedule, and

(b)in the case of an application to vote by proxy, the officer is satisfied that the applicant’s circumstances on the date of the poll will be or are likely to be such that the applicant cannot reasonably be expected to vote in person at the polling station to which the applicant is, or is likely to be allotted, under the PCC elections rules.

(7) The registration officer may dispense with the requirement under sub-paragraph (1)(b) or (2)(c) for the applicant to provide a signature if the officer is satisfied that the applicant is unable—

(a)to provide a signature because of any disability the applicant has, or

(b)to provide a signature because the applicant is unable to read or write, or

(c)to sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of any such disability or inability.

(8) The registration officer must keep a record of those whose applications under this paragraph have been granted showing—

(a)their dates of birth, and

(b)except in cases where the registration officer in pursuance of sub-paragraph (7) has dispensed with the requirement to provide a signature, their signatures.

(9) The record kept under sub-paragraph (8) must be retained by the registration officer for the period specified in paragraph 26 of this Schedule (the personal identifiers record).

Absent voter lists

4.—(1) The registration officer must, in respect of each PCC election, keep the two special lists mentioned in sub-paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) The first of those lists (“the postal voters list”) is a list of—

(a)the persons who are for the time being shown as voting by post in the record referred to in paragraph 3(4)(a) or (b), together with (in each case) the addresses provided in their applications under, as the case may be—

(i)paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000,

(ii)paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004, or

(iii)paragraph 3(5)(a) of this Schedule,

as the address to which their ballot papers are to be sent;

(b)the persons whose application under paragraph 3(1) of this Schedule to vote by post at the PCC election have been granted, together with the addresses provided in their applications as the address to which their ballot papers are to be sent.

(3) The second list (“the list of proxies”) is a list of—

(a)the persons who are for the time being shown as voting by proxy in the record referred to in paragraph 3(4)(a) or (b), together with (in each case) the names and addresses of the proxies appointed under, as the case may be—

(i)paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000,

(ii)paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004;

(b)the persons whose application under paragraph 3(2), (3) or (5)(b) of this Schedule to vote by proxy at the PCC election have been granted, together with (in each case) the names and addresses of the proxy appointed under paragraph 5 of this Schedule.

(4) In the case of a person who has an anonymous entry in the register of electors, the postal voters list or list of proxies (as the case may be) must contain only—

(a)the person’s electoral number, and

(b)the period for which the anonymous entry has effect.

(5) The registration officer must, forthwith on completion of the compilation of those special lists, supply to the local returning officer for any voting area wholly or partly comprised in the area for which the registration officer acts so much of those lists as relate to that voting area.

Proxies at PCC elections: appointment

5.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, any person is capable of being appointed proxy to vote for another (“the elector”) at a PCC election.

(2) The elector cannot have more than one person at a time appointed as proxy to vote for the elector at a PCC election in the same police area.

(3) A person is capable of being appointed to vote as proxy at a PCC election only if—

(a)the person is not subject to any legal incapacity (age apart) to vote at that election as an elector, and

(b)the person is a Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a relevant citizen of the Union.

(4) The registration officer must make the appointment if the application meets the requirements set out in Part 2 of this Schedule and the registration officer is satisfied that—

(a)the elector is or will be—

(i)registered in the register of electors, and

(ii)entitled to vote by proxy at that election by virtue of an application under paragraph 3(2), (3) or (5)(b) (proxy vote at particular PCC election), and

(b)the proxy is capable of being, and willing to be, appointed.

(5) The appointment of a proxy under this paragraph must be made by means of a proxy paper issued by the registration officer in Form 1 set out in Part 4 of this Schedule or a proxy paper to the like effect.

(6) The appointment may be cancelled by the elector by giving notice to the registration officer.

(7) The appointment also ceases to be in force on the issue of a proxy paper appointing a different person to vote for the elector at a PCC election in the same police area.

(8) Subject to sub-paragraphs (6) and (7), the appointment remains in force for the particular election to which it relates.

Proxies at PCC elections: entitlement to vote

6.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, where a relevant proxy appointment is in force, the person appointed is entitled to vote as proxy for the person for whom the appointment was made (“the elector”).

(2) In sub-paragraph (1) “relevant proxy appointment” means—

(a)in relation to an elector who is included in the list of proxies by virtue of paragraph 4(3)(a)(i), an appointment under paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000;

(b)in relation to an elector who is included in the list of proxies by virtue of paragraph 4(3)(a)(ii), an appointment under paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004;

(c)in relation to an elector who is included in the list of proxies by virtue of paragraph 4(3)(b), an appointment under paragraph 5 of this Schedule.

(3) A person is capable of voting as proxy at a PCC election only if—

(a)the person is not subject to any legal incapacity (age apart) to vote at that election as an elector, and

(b)the person is a Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a relevant citizen of the Union.

(4) A person is not capable of voting as proxy at a PCC election unless on the date of the poll he or she has attained the age of eighteen.

(5) A person is not entitled to vote as proxy at the same ordinary PCC election in any police area on behalf of more than two others of whom that person is not the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild.

Voting as proxy

7.—(1) A person entitled to vote as proxy for another (“the elector”) at a PCC election may do so in person at the polling station to which the elector is allotted under the PCC elections rules unless the person is entitled to vote by post as proxy for the elector at the election, in which case the person may vote by post.

(2) Where a person is entitled to vote by post as proxy for an elector at a PCC election, the elector may not apply for a ballot paper for the purpose of voting in person at the election.

(3) A person entitled to vote as proxy for an elector at a PCC election is entitled so to vote by post if the person is included in the list kept under sub-paragraph (7) in respect of the election.

(4) Where a person applies to the registration officer to vote by post as proxy at a particular PCC election, the registration officer must grant the application if the conditions set out in sub-paragraph (5) are satisfied.

(5) Those conditions are—

(a)that the registration officer is satisfied that the elector is or will be registered in the register of electors, and

(b)that the applicant is the subject of a relevant proxy appointment within the meaning of paragraph 6(2)(c), and

(c)that the application contains the applicant’s signature and date of birth and meets the requirements set out in Part 2 of this Schedule.

(6) In the case of a particular PCC election, a person who is the subject of a relevant proxy appointment within the meaning of paragraph 6(2)(a) or (b) and who—

(a)is included in the record kept under paragraph 7(6) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (record of proxies who have applied to vote by post), or

(b)is included in the record kept under paragraph 7(6) of Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections 2004 (record of proxies who have applied to vote by post),

may apply to the registration officer for his or her ballot paper for the PCC election to be sent to a different address from that shown in the record, and the officer must grant the application if it meets the requirements set out in Part 2 of this Schedule.

(7) The registration officer must, in respect of each PCC election, keep a special list (“the proxy postal voters list”) of—

(a)the proxies who—

(i)were appointed as mentioned in paragraph 4(3)(a)(i), and

(ii)are for the time being included in the record kept under paragraph 7(6) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (record of proxies who have applied to vote by post),

together with the addresses provided in their applications under paragraph 7(4)(a) or (7) of that Schedule or under sub-paragraph (6) (as the case may be) as the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent;

(b)the proxies who—

(i)were appointed as mentioned in paragraph 4(3)(a)(ii), and

(ii)are for the time being included in the record kept under paragraph 7(6) of Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004 (record of proxies who have applied to vote by post),

together with the addresses provided in their applications under paragraph 7(4)(a) or (7) of that Schedule or under sub-paragraph (6) (as the case may be) as the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent;

(c)the proxies—

(i)who were appointed as mentioned in paragraph 4(3)(b), and

(ii)whose applications under sub-paragraph (4) have been granted,

together with the addresses provided in their application under sub-paragraph (4) as the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent.

(8) In the case of a person who has an anonymous entry in the register of electors, the special list mentioned in sub-paragraph (7) must contain only—

(a)the person’s electoral number, and

(b)the period for which the anonymous entry has effect.

(9) The registration officer must, forthwith on the completion of the compilation of that special list, supply to the local returning officer for any voting area wholly or partly comprised in the area for which the registration officer acts so much of that list as relates to that voting area.

(10) Sub-paragraph (2) does not prevent a person, at the polling station to which the person is allotted, marking a tendered ballot paper in the circumstances set out in case 3, 4, 5 or 6 of rule 42 of the PCC elections rules, if the person would otherwise be able to do so.

(11) The registration officer may dispense with the requirement under sub-paragraph (5)(c) for the applicant to provide a signature if the officer is satisfied that the applicant is unable—

(a)to provide a signature because of any disability the applicant has, or

(b)to provide a signature because the applicant is unable to read or write, or

(c)to sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of any such disability or inability.

(12) The registration officer must also keep a record in relation to those whose applications under sub-paragraph (4), have been granted showing—

(a)their dates of birth, and

(b)except in cases where the registration officer in pursuance of sub-paragraph (11) has dispensed with the requirement to provide a signature, their signatures.

(13) The record kept under sub-paragraph (12) must be retained by the registration officer for the period specified in paragraph 26 of this Schedule (the personal identifiers record).

Use of personal identifier information

8.—(1) The registration officer must either—

(a)provide the local returning officer for a PCC election with a copy of the information in relation to electors entitled to vote at the election which is contained in records kept by the registration officer in pursuance of—

(i)paragraphs 3(9), 4(6) and 7(12) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (dates of birth and signatures of certain electors and proxies),

(ii)paragraphs 3(9), 4(7) and 7(13) of Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004 (dates of birth and signatures of certain electors and proxies),

(iii)paragraphs 3(8) and 7(12) of this Schedule, or

(b)give the local returning officer access to such information.

(2) Information contained in records kept by a registration officer in pursuance of paragraph 3(8) or 7(12) may be disclosed by the registration officer (subject to the conditions prescribed in Part 2 of this Schedule) to—

(a)any other registration officer if the officer thinks that to do so will assist the other registration officer in the performance of his or her duties;

(b)any person exercising functions in relation to the preparation or conduct of legal proceedings under this Order or the Representation of the People Acts.

Offences as to declarations or forms used for purposes of postal and proxy vote applications

9.  A person who—

(a)in any declaration or form used for any of the purposes of this Part of this Schedule makes a statement knowing it to be false, or

(b)attests an application under paragraph 3 knowing—

(i)that he or she is not authorised to do so, or

(ii)that it contains a statement which is false,

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Other offences as to postal and proxy vote applications

10.—(1) A person (“P”) commits an offence if P—

(a)engages in an act specified in sub-paragraph (2) at a PCC election, and

(b)intends, by doing so, to deprive another of an opportunity to vote or to make for P or another a gain of a vote to which P or the other is not otherwise entitled or a gain of money or property.

(2) These are the acts—

(a)applying for a postal or proxy vote as some other person (whether that other person is living or dead or is a fictitious person);

(b)otherwise making a false statement in, or in connection with, an application for a postal or proxy vote;

(c)inducing the registration officer or local returning officer to send a postal ballot paper or any communication relating to a postal or proxy vote to an address which has not been agreed to by the person entitled to the vote;

(d)causing a communication relating to a postal or proxy vote or containing a postal ballot paper not to be delivered to the intended recipient.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1)(b) property includes any description of property.

(4) In sub-paragraph (2) a reference to a postal vote or a postal ballot paper includes a reference to a proxy postal vote or a proxy postal ballot paper (as the case may be).

(5) A person who commits an offence under sub-paragraph (1) or who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of such an offence is guilty of a corrupt practice.

PART 2Applications for absent vote

General requirements for applications for absent vote

11.—(1) An application under Part 1 of this Schedule must state—

(a)the full name of the applicant,

(b)except in a case within paragraph (c), the address in respect of which the applicant is registered or has applied to be (or is treated as having applied to be) registered in the register,

(c)in the case of an application under paragraph 7(4) or 7(6) (applications relating to postal proxy voting), the proxy’s address, together with the name of the elector for whom the applicant will act as proxy and the elector’s address for the purposes of paragraph (b),

(d)in the case of a person applying to vote by post, the address to which the ballot paper should be sent,

(e)in the case of an application to vote by proxy, the grounds on which the elector claims to be entitled to an absent vote,

(f)in the case of a person who is unable to provide a signature (or a consistent or distinctive signature), the reasons for requesting the waiver of any requirement under paragraph 3 or 7 to provide a signature and the name and address of any person who has assisted in the completion of the application, and

(g)where the applicant has, or has applied for, an anonymous entry, that fact.

(2) The application must be made in writing and must be dated.

(3) Where an application is required to contain a signature and date of birth, the information must be set out in a manner that is sufficiently clear and unambiguous as to be capable of electronic scanning into the record by configuring the information as follows—

(a)the signature must appear against a background of white unlined paper of at least five centimetres long and two centimetres high, and

(b)the applicant’s date of birth must be set out numerically configured in the sequence of date, month and year, namely [d][d][m][m][y][y][y][y].

(4) Sub-paragraph (3)(a) does not apply where the application contains a request that the registration officer waive the requirement for a signature.

(5) An application under Part 1 of this Schedule must—

(a)state that it is made for a particular PCC election, and

(b)identify the election in question.

(6) An application to vote by proxy must also include an application for the appointment of a proxy which meets the requirements of paragraph 14.

(7) An application under Part 1 of this Schedule may be combined with an application for an absent vote made under the 2001 Regulations, including those Regulations as applied by regulations made under sections 9HE and 105, 9MG and 105, 44 and 105 or 45 and 105 of the Local Government Act 2000(47) or sections 52ZQ and 113 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992(48).

Additional requirements for certain applications

Additional requirements: applications where address for ballot papers differs from address in application

12.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where—

(a)in the case of an application to vote by post under paragraph 3(1), the addresses stated in accordance with paragraph 11(1)(b) and (d) are different;

(b)in the case of an application by a proxy to vote by post under paragraph 7(4), the proxy’s address stated in accordance with paragraph 11(1)(c) and the address stated in accordance with paragraph 11(1)(d) are different.

(2) The application must set out why the applicant’s circumstances will be or are likely to be such that the applicant requires the ballot paper to be sent to the address stated in accordance with paragraph 11(1)(d).

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply where an applicant has, or has applied for, an anonymous entry.

Additional requirements: applications for ballot papers to be sent to different address from address in record

13.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies to an application—

(a)under paragraph 3(5)(a) of this Schedule by a person shown as voting by post in the record kept under paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 or paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004, or

(b)under paragraph 7(6) of this Schedule by a person shown as voting by post in the record kept under paragraph 7(6) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 or paragraph 7(6) of Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004,

for the ballot paper to be sent to a different address from that shown in the record.

(2) The application must set out why the applicant’s circumstances will be or are likely to be such that the applicant requires the ballot paper to be sent to that address.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply where an applicant has, or has applied for, an anonymous entry.

Additional requirements: applications for the appointment of a proxy in respect of a particular PCC election

14.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies to an application for the appointment of a proxy under paragraph 3.

(2) The application must state the full name and address of the person whom the applicant (“P”) wishes to appoint as proxy, together with the person’s family relationship (if any) with P and—

(a)if it is signed only by P, must contain a statement that P has consulted the person so named and that that person is capable of being and willing to be appointed to vote as P’s proxy, or

(b)if it is also signed by the person to be appointed as proxy, must contain a statement that the person is capable of being and willing to be appointed to vote as P’s proxy.

(3) The application must set out why the applicant’s circumstances on the date of the poll for the election in respect of which it is made will be or are likely to be such that the applicant cannot reasonably be expected to vote in person at the applicant’s allotted polling station.

(4) Where an application under paragraph 3—

(a)is made on the grounds of the applicant’s disability, and

(b)is made after 5 pm on the sixth day before the date of the poll at the PCC election for which it is made,

the requirements of paragraph 15 apply to the matters to be specified and as to the attestation.

(5) Where an application mentioned in sub-paragraph (4) is made, the person attesting the application must state, in addition to the matters specified in paragraph 15, to the best of the attestor’s knowledge and belief, the date upon which the applicant became disabled.

(6) Where an application under paragraph 3 is made by a person to whom paragraph 1(6) applies after 5pm on the sixth day before the date of the poll at the election for which it is made, the requirements of sub-paragraph (7) apply to the matters to be specified and as to attestation.

(7) Where an application mentioned in sub-paragraph (6) is made—

(a)the application must additionally state the name and address of the hospital at which the applicant is liable to be detained, and

(b)the application must be attested by or on behalf of a manager, within the meaning of section 145(1) of the Mental Health Act 1983(49), of the hospital at which the applicant is liable to be detained, and the attestation must state—

(i)the name of the person attesting the application,

(ii)that the person is authorised to make the attestation,

(iii)the person’s position in the hospital at which the applicant is liable to be detained, and

(iv)the statutory provision under which the applicant is liable to be detained in the hospital.

(8) This paragraph does not apply where an applicant has an anonymous entry.

(9) In this paragraph and in paragraph 15, references to an “allotted polling station”, in relation to an elector, are to the polling station to which the elector is, or is likely to be, allotted under the PCC elections rules.

Additional requirements referred to in paragraph 14(4)

15.—(1) This paragraph applies to an application to vote by proxy which is made in the circumstances set out in paragraph 14(4).

(2) The application must specify the disability by reason of which it is made and must be attested and signed by—

(a)a registered medical practitioner,

(b)a registered nurse,

(c)a registered dentist as defined by section 53(1) of the Dentists Act 1984(50),

(d)a registered dispensing optician or a registered optometrist within the meaning of the Opticians Act 1989(51),

(e)a registered pharmacist as defined in article 3(1) of the Pharmacy Order 2010(52),

(f)a registered osteopath as defined by section 41 of the Osteopaths Act 1993(53),

(g)a registered chiropractor as defined by section 43 of the Chiropractors Act 1994(54),

(h)a Christian Science practitioner,

(i)a person registered as a member of a profession to which the Health Professions Order 2002(55) for the time being extends,

(j)the person carrying on a care home registered under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000(56) where the applicant states that he or she is resident in that care home,

(k)the warden of premises forming one of a group of premises provided for persons of pensionable age or disabled persons for which there is a resident warden, where the applicant states that he or she is resident in the premises where the warden works,

(l)a manager within the meaning of section 145(1) of the Mental Health Act 1983 (interpretation), or on behalf of such a manager, or

(m)a person registered in the register for social workers maintained in accordance with section 56 of the Care Standards Act 2000(57).

(3) A person who qualifies—

(a)by virtue of any of paragraphs (a) to (i) of sub-paragraph (2), may not attest an application for these purposes unless—

(i)that person is treating the applicant for the disability specified in the application, or

(ii)the applicant is receiving care from that person in respect of that disability, or

(b)by virtue of paragraph (m) of sub-paragraph (2), may not attest an application for these purposes unless—

(i)that person is treating the applicant for the disability specified in the application,

(ii)the applicant is receiving care from that person in respect of that disability, or

(iii)that person has arranged care or assistance for the applicant in respect of that disability.

(4) The person (“A”) attesting the application must state—

(a)A’s name and address and the qualification by virtue of which A attests the application;

(b)where A is a person referred to in sub-paragraph (3)(a), that—

(i)A is treating the applicant for the disability specified in the application, or

(ii)the applicant is receiving care from A in respect of that disability,

(c)where A is a person referred to in sub-paragraph (3)(b), that—

(i)A is treating the applicant for the disability specified in the application,

(ii)the applicant is receiving care from A in respect of that disability, or

(iii)A has arranged care or assistance for the applicant in respect of that disability,

(d)that, to the best of A’s knowledge and belief, the applicant has the disability specified in the application and that the applicant cannot reasonably be expected to go in person to the allotted polling station or to vote unaided there by reason of that disability, and

(e)that, to the best of A’s knowledge and belief, the disability specified in the application is likely to continue either indefinitely or for a period specified by A.

(5) Where A is a person referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(l), A must (instead of the matters specified in sub-paragraph (4)(a)) state in the attestation—

(a)A’s name,

(b)that A is authorised to attest the application,

(c)A’s position in the hospital at which the applicant is liable to be detained or is receiving treatment, and

(d)if applicable, the statutory provision under which the applicant is detained, or liable to be detained, at the hospital.

(6) Sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) do not apply where—

(a)the application is based on the applicant’s blindness and the applicant is registered as a blind person by the local authority which is specified in the application under section 29(4)(g) of the National Assistance Act 1948(58), or

(b)the application states that the applicant is in receipt of the higher rate of the mobility component of a disability living allowance (payable under section 73 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992) because of the disability specified in the application.

(7) The fact that an applicant is registered by a local authority under section 29(4)(g) of the National Assistance Act 1948 is sufficient evidence that the applicant is eligible to vote by proxy on the grounds set out in paragraph 3(3)(c).

Determination of applications

Closing date for applications

16.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), an application under paragraph 3(2) or (5) or 5(4) is to be refused if it is received by the registration officer after 5 pm on the sixth day before the date of the poll at the PCC election for which it is made.

(2) Where an application made under paragraph 3(2) or (5)(b) is made—

(a)on the grounds of the applicant’s disability and the applicant became disabled after 5pm on the sixth day before the date of the poll at the PCC election for which it is made, or

(b)by a person to whom paragraph 1(6) applies,

the application, or an application under paragraph 5(4) made by virtue of that application, is to be refused if it is received after 5pm on the day of the poll at the PCC election for which it is made.

(3) An application under paragraph 3(1) or 7(6) is to be refused if it is received by the registration officer after 5 pm on the eleventh day before the date of the poll at the PCC election for which it is made.

(4) A notice under paragraph 5(6) by an elector cancelling a proxy’s appointment is to be disregarded for the purposes of a particular PCC election if it is received by the registration officer after 5 pm on the eleventh day before the date of the poll at that election.

(5) In computing a period of days for the purposes of this paragraph—

(a)a Saturday or Sunday,

(b)Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday, or

(c)a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning,

is to be disregarded.

Grant or refusal of applications

17.—(1) Where the registration officer grants an application to vote by post, the officer must notify the applicant.

(2) Where the registration officer grants an application for the appointment of a proxy, the officer must confirm in writing to the elector that the proxy has been appointed, the proxy’s name and address, and the duration of the appointment.

(3) Where the registration officer refuses an application under Part 1 of this Schedule, the officer must notify the applicant, stating the reason for the refusal.

(4) Where the registration officer grants an application made under—

(a)paragraph 3(5)(a) by a person shown as voting by post in the record kept under paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 or paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004, or

(b)paragraph 7(6) by a person shown as voting by post in the record kept under paragraph 7(6) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 or paragraph 7(6) of Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004,

the officer must notify the applicant.

(5) The registration officer must, where practicable, notify the elector of the following, in each case stating the reason—

(a)where the appointment of a proxy is cancelled by the elector, that the appointment has been cancelled, or

(b)where the appointment otherwise ceases to be in force, that the appointment has ceased.

(6) Where, under paragraph 16, a registration officer refuses an application or disregards a notice for the purposes of any PCC election, the officer must notify the applicant of this.

Changes affecting proxy votes

Cancellation of proxy appointment

18.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where the appointment of a proxy—

(a)is cancelled by notice given to the registration officer under paragraph 5(6),

(b)otherwise ceases to be in force under paragraph 5(7).

(2) The registration officer must notify the person whose appointment as proxy has been cancelled, has expired or is no longer in force, unless the registration officer has previously been notified by that person that the person no longer wishes to act as proxy.

Evidence of entitlement to absent vote

Marked register for polling stations

19.  To indicate that an elector or the elector’s proxy is entitled to vote by post and is for that reason not entitled to vote in person, the letter “A” is to be placed against the entry of that elector in any copy of the register, or part of it, provided for a polling station.

Absent voting lists: supply of copies etc

20.—(1) Any person who, in accordance with any of the provisions listed in sub-paragraph (2), is entitled to be supplied with copies of the full register is also a person entitled to request that the registration officer supply the relevant part (within the meaning of the listed provisions) of a copy of any of the following information which the registration officer keeps—

(a)the current version of the information which would, in the event of a particular PCC election, be included in the postal voters list, the list of proxies or the proxy postal voters list;

(b)the current or final version of the postal voters list, the list of proxies or the proxy postal voters lists.

(2) The listed provisions are—

(a)paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 (supply of full register etc to police and crime commissioner and restrictions on use);

(b)paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 (supply of full register etc to certain candidates and restrictions on use);

(c)regulation 105 of the 2001 Regulations (supply of full register etc to local constituency parties and restrictions on use);

(d)regulation 106 of the 2001 Regulations (supply of full register etc to registered political parties and restrictions on use).

(3) A request under sub-paragraph (1) must be made in writing and must specify—

(a)the information (or the relevant parts of the information) requested,

(b)whether the request is made only in respect of the current lists or whether it includes a request for the supply of any final list, and

(c)whether a printed copy is requested or a copy in data form.

(4) In response to a request under sub-paragraph (1) that has been duly made, the registration officer must—

(a)as soon as practicable after receipt of the request, supply the current version of information requested;

(b)as soon as practicable after 5pm on the eleventh day before the day of the poll, supply a copy of any postal voters list or proxy postal voters list requested.

(5) As soon as practicable after 5pm on the sixth day before the day of the poll the registration officer must—

(a)make a copy of the postal voters list, the list of proxies or the proxy postal voters list available for inspection at the registration officer’s office in accordance with paragraph 21;

(b)send a copy of those lists to each relevant returning officer (within the meaning of paragraph 1 of Schedule 1); and

(c)supply a final copy of the postal voters list, the list of proxies or the proxy postal voters list in response to every request under sub-paragraph (1) that has been duly made.

(6) As soon as practicable after 5pm on the day of the poll, the registration officer must supply to every person who received a copy of the list of proxies under sub-paragraph (5)(c) a further copy of that list which is updated to include any additions to the list that were made in consequence of any application within paragraph 16(2)(a) or (b) which was granted before 5pm on the day of the poll.

(7) Any information or lists supplied under this paragraph are to be supplied free of charge.

(8) A person who obtains any information under this paragraph may use it only for—

(a)research purposes within the meaning of that term in section 33 of the Data Protection Act 1998(59); or

(b)electoral purposes,

and such use is also subject to the restrictions specified in paragraphs 23 and 24 or, where the request to the registration officer is made by reference to a provision listed in sub-paragraph (2), subject to any restrictions which would apply to the use of the full register under whichever of the listed provisions entitled the person to obtain the information.

(9) Any person who has obtained or is entitled to obtain a copy of information covered by sub-paragraph (1) may—

(a)supply a copy of the information to a processor for the purpose of processing the information, or

(b)procure that a processor processes and supplies to that person any copy of the information which the processor has obtained under this paragraph,

for use in respect of the purposes for which that person is entitled to obtain such information.

(10) A processor may not disclose information covered by sub-paragraph (1) except to the person who supplied it to the processor or to any other person, or an employee of such a person, who is entitled to obtain a copy of that information under this paragraph.

Absent voting lists: inspection

21.—(1) Any person is entitled to request that the registration officer make available for inspection a copy of any of the information specified in paragraph 20(1).

(2) A request under sub-paragraph (1) must be made in writing and must specify—

(a)the information (or relevant parts of the information) requested,

(b)whether the request is made only in respect of the current lists or whether it includes a request for the inspection of any final list,

(c)who will inspect the information,

(d)the date on which they wish to inspect the information, and

(e)whether they would prefer to inspect the information in printed or data form.

(3) The registration officer must make a copy of the information available for inspection under supervision as soon as practicable after the date of receipt of a request under sub-paragraph (1) that has been duly made.

(4) Where inspection takes place by providing a copy of the information on a computer screen or otherwise in data form, the registration officer shall ensure that the manner in, and equipment on, which that copy is provided do not permit any person consulting that copy to—

(a)search it by electronic means by reference to the name of any person, or

(b)copy or transmit any part of that copy by electronic, or any other means.

(5) A person who inspects a copy of information provided under sub-paragraph (3), whether in printed or in data form, may not—

(a)make copies of any part of it, or

(b)record any particulars in it,

otherwise than by means of hand-written notes.

(6) Subject to any direction by the Secretary of State under article 6, any duty on a registration officer to supply a copy or make information available for inspection under this paragraph imposes only a duty to provide that information in the form in which the registration officer holds it.

Supply and inspection of absent voting lists: general provisions

22.—(1) For the purposes of paragraphs 20 and 21—

(a)a “current copy” of records or lists is a copy of the records or lists as kept by the registration officer at 9 a.m. on the date it is supplied,

(b)“processor” means a person who provides a service which consists of putting information into a data form and any reference to a processor includes a reference to a processor’s employees, and

(c)any period of days is to be calculated in accordance with paragraph 16(5).

(2) The registration officer must ensure that, in supplying or disclosing information covered by paragraph 20(1)(a) in accordance with paragraph 20 or 21, the registration officer does not supply or disclose any record relating to—

(a)a person who has an anonymous entry, or

(b)the proxy of a person who has an anonymous entry.

Restrictions on supply and disclosure of absent voter records or lists

23.—(1) This paragraph applies to—

(a)the registration officer,

(b)any deputy registration officer, and

(c)any person appointed to assist a registration officer or who in the course of that person’s employment is assigned to assist any such officer in that officer’s registration duties.

(2) Where the registration officer is also the local returning officer at a PCC election (and thereby has access to the information covered by paragraph 20(1) without being supplied with a copy of it), this paragraph also applies to—

(a)the registration officer acting in the capacity of local returning officer, and

(b)any person appointed to assist the local returning officer or who in the course of that person’s employment is assigned to assist that officer in that officer’s duties in respect of the PCC election.

(3) No person to whom this paragraph applies may—

(a)supply to any person a copy of the information covered by paragraph 20(1), or

(b)disclose any of that information,

otherwise than in accordance with an enactment, including this Order.

(4) Nothing in sub-paragraph (3) applies to the supply or disclosure by a person to whom this paragraph applies to another such person in connection with that other person’s registration duties or for the purposes of an election or referendum.

Restriction on use of absent voter records or lists or the information contained in them

24.—(1) This paragraph applies to any person who has obtained access to the information covered by paragraph 20(1) by any means.

(2) No person to whom this paragraph applies may—

(a)supply a copy of the information or any part of that information,

(b)disclose any of that information, or

(c)make use of any such information,

other than for a permitted purpose specified in sub-paragraph (3).

(3) The permitted purposes are—

(a)research purposes within the meaning of that term in section 33 of the Data Protection Act 1998, or

(b)electoral purposes.

Supply and inspection of absent voting lists: offences

25.—(1) A person is guilty of an offence—

(a)if the person contravenes paragraph 20(8) or (10), 21(5), 23(3) or 24(2), or

(b)if the person is an appropriate supervisor of a person (“P”) who contravenes any of those provisions and the supervisor failed to take appropriate steps.

(2) P is not guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (1) if—

(a)P had an appropriate supervisor, and

(b)P has complied with all the requirements imposed on P by P’s appropriate supervisor.

(3) A person who is not P or an appropriate supervisor is not guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (1) if the person takes all reasonable steps to ensure that he or she complies with the provisions specified in sub-paragraph (1)(a).

(4) In sub-paragraphs (1)(b), (2) and (3)—

(a)an appropriate supervisor is a person who is a director of a company or concerned in the management of an organisation in which P is employed or under whose direction or control P is;

(b)appropriate steps are such steps as it was reasonable for the appropriate supervisor to take to secure the operation of procedures designed to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, the occurrence of a failure to comply with the provisions specified in sub-paragraph (1)(a).

(5) A person guilty of an offence as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

The personal identifiers record

26.—(1) The registration officer must maintain a record (“the personal identifiers record”), apart from the other records and lists which the officer is required to keep under Part 1 of this Schedule, of the signatures and dates of birth provided by persons whose applications under paragraph 3(1) or (2) or paragraph 7(4) were granted, until the expiry of twelve months from the date of the poll for the purposes of which the person’s application for an absent vote was granted under paragraph 3(1) or (2) or paragraph 7(4).

(2) The personal identifiers record must contain the following information in respect of each absent voter on the postal voters list, list of proxies or proxy postal voters list—

(a)name,

(b)date of birth, and

(c)signature, or a record of the waiver by the registration officer of the requirement for a signature.

(3) The registration officer may disclose information held in the personal identifiers records to—

(a)any candidate or agent attending proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers, in accordance with and for the purposes referred to in paragraph 50;

(b)any person attending proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers, who is entitled to do so by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the 2000 Act(60), but only to the extent required to permit them to observe the proceedings.

Applications requiring applicants’ signature

27.—(1) In order to be satisfied that an application complies with any requirements of this Schedule for the application to contain the applicant’s signature and a statement of the applicant’s date of birth, the registration officer may refer to—

(a)any signature and date of birth previously provided by the applicant to the registration officer or a returning officer, or

(b)any signature and date of birth previously provided by the applicant to the council by which the registration officer was appointed which the officer is authorised to inspect under regulation 35 of the 2001 Regulations for the purposes of the officer’s registration duties.

(2) The registration officer may take such steps as appear necessary in order to be satisfied as to whether the applicant is unable to provide a signature (or a consistent or distinctive signature) due to any disability or inability to read or write.

PART 3Issue and receipt of ballot papers

Interpretation

28.  In this Part of this Schedule—

“agent” includes the election agent and a person appointed to attend in the election agent’s place;

“ballot paper envelope” and “covering envelope” have the meaning given in paragraph 38;

“issue” includes the original or any subsequent issue;

“postal voters’ ballot box” means the ballot box referred to in paragraph 45(1)(a);

“receptacle for ballot paper envelopes” and other references to specified receptacles means the receptacles listed in paragraph 45(5);

“spoilt postal ballot paper” means a ballot paper referred to in paragraph 41;

“valid postal voting statement” means a postal voting statement which, in accordance with paragraph 50 or 51, the local returning officer is satisfied is duly completed.

Issue of postal ballot papers etc

Combination of polls

29.—(1) Where the poll at a PCC election is to be taken together under a relevant provision with the poll at one or more other elections or local referendums, the proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers in respect of each election or local referendum may, if the returning officers and counting officers concerned agree, be taken together.

(2) “Relevant provision” means the provisions of section 15(1) or (2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985, as they have effect in relation to PCC elections by virtue of article 13 of this Order.

Form of postal voting statement: poll taken alone or combined with mayoral election only

30.—(1) This paragraph specifies the form of the postal voting statement which is to be used for the purposes of rule 25 of the PCC elections rules.

(2) Form 2 or a form to like effect is to be used at a PCC election taken alone.

(3) Form 3 or a form to like effect is to be used where—

(a)the proceedings at a PCC election and a mayoral election are taken together and are not taken together with proceedings at any other election or referendum, and

(b)the proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers at both elections are taken together.

(4) In any other case where—

(a)the proceedings at a PCC election and another election or referendum are taken together, and

(b)the proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers at both elections are taken together,

the form of the postal voting statement which is to be used is the form of that statement which is required to be used at that other election or referendum.

(5) Form 4 or a form to like effect is to be used where—

(a)the proceedings at a PCC election and another election or referendum are taken together, but

(b)the proceedings the proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers are not taken together.

(6) In this paragraph—

(a)references to a numbered form are to the form of that number which is set out in Part 4 of this Schedule;

(b)“mayoral election” means—

(i)an election in England for the return of an elected mayor as defined by section 9H(1) of the Local Government Act 2000(61), or

(ii)an election in Wales for the return of an elected mayor as defined by section 39(1) of the Local Government Act 2000.

Persons entitled to be present at proceedings on issue of postal ballot papers

31.  Without prejudice to the provisions of section 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D or 6E of the 2000 Act, no person may be present at the proceedings on the issue of postal ballot papers other than—

(a)the police area returning officer,

(b)the local returning officer, and

(c)the clerks of either officer.

Persons entitled to be present at proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers

32.  Without prejudice to the provisions of section 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D or 6E of the 2000 Act, no person may be present at the proceedings on the receipt of postal ballot papers other than—

(a)the police area returning officer,

(b)the local returning officer,

(c)the clerks of either officer,

(d)a candidate,

(e)an agent (including an agent appointed under paragraph 33),

(f)a sub-agent, and

(g)where the proceedings on the receipt of postal ballot papers are taken together with those proceedings at another election or a local referendum, persons entitled to be present at the proceedings for any such other election or local referendum.

Agents of candidates who may attend proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers

33.—(1) Each candidate may appoint one or more agents to attend the proceedings on the receipt of the postal ballot papers up to the number authorised by the local returning officer in respect of each candidate and so long as the number authorised is the same in the case of each candidate.

(2) Notice in writing of the appointment stating the names and addresses of the persons appointed must be given by the candidate to the local returning officer before the time fixed for the opening of the postal voters’ ballot box.

(3) Agents may be appointed and notice of appointment given to the local returning officer by the candidate’s election agent instead of by the candidate.

(4) Where postal ballot papers for more than one election or local referendum are issued together under paragraph 29, the officer to whom notice must be given under sub-paragraph (2), (3) or (5) is the returning or counting officer who issues the ballot papers.

(5) If an agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, the candidate may appoint another agent and must forthwith give to the local returning officer notice in writing of the name and address of the agent appointed.

(6) In this Part of this Schedule references to agents are to be taken as references to agents whose appointments have been duly made and notified and, in the case of agents appointed under sub-paragraph (1), who are within the number authorised by the local returning officer.

(7) A candidate may do any act or thing which any agent of the candidate, if appointed, would have been authorised to do, or may assist such an agent in doing any such act or thing.

(8) Where in this Part of this Schedule any act or thing is required or authorised to be done in the presence of the candidates or their agents, the non-attendance of any such persons or person at the time and place appointed for the purpose does not, if the act or thing is otherwise duly done, invalidate the act or thing done.

Notification of requirement of secrecy

34.  The local returning officer must make such arrangements as the officer thinks fit to ensure that every person attending the proceedings in connection with the issue or receipt of postal ballot papers has been given a copy in writing of the provisions of sub-paragraphs (5) and (7) of article 22 (requirement of secrecy).

Time when postal ballot papers are to be issued

35.—(1) In the case of a person who—

(a)is for the time being shown in the record referred to in paragraph 3(4)(a) or (b) (person entitled to absent vote by post at other elections or referendums for indefinite or definite period), or

(b)is for the time being shown in the record referred to in paragraph 7(6)(a) or (b) (proxies entitled to vote by post at other elections or referendums for an indefinite or definite period),

no postal ballot paper or postal voting statement is to be issued until after 5 pm on the eleventh day before the date of the poll (computed in accordance with paragraph 16(5)).

(2) In the case of any other person, the postal ballot paper (and postal voting statement) is to be issued by the local returning officer as soon as practicable after the registration officer has granted the application to vote by post.

Procedure on issue of postal ballot paper

36.—(1) The number of the elector as stated in the register must be marked on the corresponding number list, next to the number and unique identifying mark of the ballot paper issued to that elector.

(2) A mark must be placed in the postal voters list or the proxy postal voters list against the number of the elector to denote that a ballot paper has been issued to the elector or the elector’s proxy, but without showing the particular ballot paper issued.

(3) The number of a postal ballot paper must be marked on the postal voting statement sent with that paper.

(4) Where postal ballot papers for more than one election or local referendum are issued together under paragraph 29—

(a)one mark must be placed in the postal voters list or the proxy postal voters list under sub-paragraph (2) to denote that ballot papers have been issued in respect of all those elections or local referendums except that, where postal ballot papers are not so issued, a different mark must be placed in the postal voters list or the proxy postal voters list to indicate the election or local referendum in respect of which the ballot paper was issued, and

(b)the number of each ballot paper must be marked on the postal voting statement under sub-paragraph (3).

(5) At a PCC election where the proceedings at that election and another election or a local referendum are taken together but the proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers are not, the colour of the postal ballot paper must also be marked on the postal voting statement sent with the ballot paper.

(6) Subject to sub-paragraph (7), the address to which the postal ballot paper, postal voting statement and the envelopes referred to in paragraph 38 are to be sent is—

(a)in the case of an elector, the address shown in the postal voters list;

(b)in the case of a proxy, the address shown in the proxy postal voters list.

(7) Where a person has an anonymous entry in the register, the items specified in sub-paragraph (6) must be sent (as the case may be) to the address to which postal ballot papers should be sent as mentioned paragraph 4(2) or 7(7).

Refusal to issue postal ballot paper

37.  Where a local returning officer is satisfied that two or more entries in the postal voters list, or the proxy postal voters list or in each of those lists relate to the same elector, the officer must not issue more than one ballot paper in respect of that elector at any one election.

Envelopes

38.—(1) Sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) prescribe the envelopes which must be issued to a postal voter in addition to the ballot paper and postal voting statement (which are issued under rule 25 of the PCC elections rules).

(2) There must be issued an envelope for the return of the postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, ballot papers and the postal voting statement (referred to as a “covering envelope”) which is to be marked with the letter “B”.

(3) There must also be issued a smaller envelope (referred to as a “ballot paper envelope”) which is to be marked with—

(a)the letter “A”,

(b)the words “ballot paper envelope”, and

(c)unless the envelope has a window through which the number on the ballot paper (or ballot papers) can be displayed, the number of the ballot paper or, as the case may be, ballot papers.

(4) Sub-paragraphs (5) and (6) apply where—

(a)by virtue of provisions applied by article 13, the poll at a PCC election is taken together with the polls at an another election or local referendum, but

(b)the proceedings on the issue and receipt of ballot papers are not taken together under paragraph 29.

(5) The envelopes referred to in sub-paragraph (2) must also be marked “Covering envelope for the [insert colour of ballot paper] coloured ballot paper”.

(6) On the envelopes referred to in in sub-paragraph (3), after the words “Ballot paper envelope”, the words “for the [insert colour of ballot paper] coloured ballot paper”.

Sealing up of completed corresponding number lists and security of special lists

39.—(1) As soon as practicable after the issue of each batch of postal ballot papers, the local returning officer must make up into a packet the completed corresponding number lists of those ballot papers which have been issued and must seal the packet.

(2) Until the time referred to in paragraph 48(11), the local returning officer must take proper precautions for the security of the marked copy of the postal voters list and the proxy postal voters list.

Delivery of postal ballot papers

40.—(1) For the purposes of delivering postal ballot papers, the local returning officer may use—

(a)a postal operator within the meaning of Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011(62),

(b)a commercial delivery firm, or

(c)clerks appointed under rule 27 of the PCC elections rules.

(2) Where the services of a universal postal service provider or commercial delivery firm are to be used, envelopes addressed to postal voters must be counted and delivered by the local returning officer with such form of receipt to be endorsed by that provider or firm as may be arranged.

(3) Postage must be prepaid on envelopes addressed to the postal voters (except where sub-paragraph (1)(c) applies).

(4) Return postage must be prepaid on all covering envelopes where the address provided by the postal voter for the receipt of the postal ballot paper is within the United Kingdom.

Spoilt postal ballot papers

41.—(1) Where a postal voter (“PV”) has inadvertently dealt with PV’s postal ballot paper or postal voting statement in such a manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper (referred to as “a spoilt ballot paper”) or, as the case may be, a postal voting statement (referred to as “a spoilt postal voting statement”), PV may return (either by hand or by post) to the local returning officer the spoilt ballot paper or, as the case may be, the spoilt postal voting statement.

(2) Where PV exercises the entitlement conferred by sub-paragraph (1), PV must also return—

(a)the postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, the postal voting statement, whether spoilt or not,

(b)where the postal ballot papers for more than one election or local referendum have been issued together under paragraph 29, all other ballot papers so issued, whether spoilt or not, and

(c)the envelopes supplied for the return of the documents mentioned in paragraph 38.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), on receipt of the documents referred to in sub-paragraph (1) (and, where applicable, sub-paragraph (2)), the local returning officer must issue another postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, ballot papers except where those documents are received after 5 pm on the day of the poll.

(4) Where the local returning officer receives the documents referred to in sub-paragraph (1) (and, where applicable sub-paragraph (2)), after 5 pm on the day before the day of the poll, the local returning officer must only issue another postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, ballot papers if PV returned the documents by hand.

(5) The following provisions apply to the issue of a replacement postal ballot paper under sub-paragraph (3)—

(a)paragraph 36 (except sub-paragraph (2)),

(b)paragraphs 38 and 39, and

(c)subject to sub-paragraph (8), paragraph 40.

(6) Any postal ballot paper or postal voting statement, whether spoilt or not, returned in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) or (2) must be immediately cancelled.

(7) The local returning officer, as soon as practicable after cancelling those documents, must make up those documents in a separate packet and must seal the packet; and if on any subsequent occasion documents are cancelled as mentioned above, the sealed packet must be opened and the additional cancelled documents included in it and the packet must again be made up and sealed.

(8) Where PV applies in person—

(a)by 5 pm on the day before the day of the poll, the local returning officer may hand a replacement postal ballot paper to PV, or

(b)after 5 pm on the day before the day of the poll, the local returning officer may only hand a replacement postal ballot paper to PV,

instead of delivering it in accordance with paragraph 40.

(9) The local returning officer must enter in a list kept for the purpose (“the list of spoilt postal ballot papers”)—

(a)the name and number of the elector as stated in the register (or the electoral number alone in the case of an elector who has an anonymous entry),

(b)the number of any postal ballot paper issued under this paragraph, and

(c)where PV is a proxy, PV’s name and address.

Lost postal ballot papers

42.—(1) Where a postal voter claims either to have lost or not to have received—

(a)the postal ballot paper, or

(b)the postal voting statement, or

(c)one or more of the envelopes supplied for their return,

by the fourth day before the day of the poll, the postal voter may apply (whether or not in person) to the local returning officer for a replacement ballot paper.

(2) Such an application must include evidence of the postal voter’s identity.

(3) Where a postal voter exercises the entitlement conferred by sub-paragraph (1), the postal voter must return—

(a)the documents referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(a) to (c) , and

(b)where the postal ballot papers for more than one election or local referendum have been issued together under paragraph 29, all other ballot papers so issued,

which the postal voter has received and which have not been lost.

(4) Any postal ballot paper or postal voting statement returned in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) must be immediately cancelled.

(5) The local returning officer, as soon as practicable after cancelling those documents, must make up those documents in a separate packet and must seal the packet; and if on any subsequent occasion documents are cancelled as mentioned above, the sealed packet must be opened and the additional cancelled documents included in it and the packet must be again made up and sealed.

(6) Subject to sub-paragraph (7), where the application is received by the local returning officer before 5 pm on the day of the poll and the local returning officer—

(a)is satisfied as to the postal voter’s identity, and

(b)has no reason to doubt that the postal voter has either lost or has not received the original postal ballot paper or the postal voting statement or one or more of the envelopes provided for their return,

the local returning officer must issue another postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, ballot papers.

(7) Where the application is received by the local returning officer after 5 pm on the day before the day of the poll, the officer must only issue another postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, ballot papers if the postal voter applies in person.

(8) The local returning officer must enter in a list kept for the purpose (“the list of lost postal ballot papers”)—

(a)the name and number of the elector as stated in the register (or the electoral number alone in the case of an elector who has an anonymous entry),

(b)the number of any postal ballot paper issued under this paragraph, and

(c)where the postal voter is a proxy, the proxy’s name and address.

(9) The following provisions apply to the issue of a replacement postal ballot paper under sub-paragraph (6)—

(a)paragraph 36 (except sub-paragraph (2)),

(b)paragraphs 38 and 39, and

(c)subject to sub-paragraph (10), paragraph 40.

(10) Where a postal voter applies in person—

(a)by 5 pm on the day before the day of the poll, the local returning officer may hand a replacement postal ballot paper to the postal voter, or

(b)after 5 pm on the day before the day of the poll, the local returning officer may only hand a replacement postal ballot paper to the postal voter,

instead of delivering it in accordance with paragraph 40.

Receipt of postal ballot papers etc

Alternative means of returning postal ballot paper or postal voting statement

43.—(1) For the purposes of rule 49(2) of the PCC elections rules, the manner in which a postal ballot paper or postal voting statement at a PCC election for any police area may be returned to a polling station is by hand.

(2) For those purposes, the manner in which such a paper or statement may be returned to the local returning officer, is by hand or by post.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), the presiding officer of the polling station must deliver, or cause to be delivered, any postal ballot paper or postal voting statement returned to that station to the local returning officer in the same manner and at the same time as the presiding officer delivers, or causes to be delivered, the packets referred to in rule 47(1) of the PCC elections rules.

(4) The local returning officer may collect, or cause to be collected, any postal ballot paper or postal voting statement which by virtue of sub-paragraph (3) the presiding officer of a polling station would otherwise be required to deliver or cause to be delivered to the local returning officer.

(5) Where the local returning officer collects, or causes to be collected, any postal ballot paper or postal voting statement in accordance with sub-paragraph (4) the presiding officer must first make it (or them) up into a packet (or packets) sealed with the presiding officer’s own seal and the seals of such polling agents as are present and desire to affix their seals.

Notice of opening of postal ballot paper envelopes

44.—(1) The local returning officer must give to each candidate not less than 48 hours’ notice in writing of each occasion on which a postal voters’ ballot box and the envelopes contained in it is to be opened.

(2) Such a notice must specify—

(a)the time and place at which such an opening is to take place, and

(b)the number of agents a candidate may appoint under paragraph 33 to attend each opening.

Postal ballot boxes and receptacles

45.—(1) The local returning officer must provide a separate ballot box for the reception of—

(a)the covering envelopes when returned by the postal voters (“postal voters’ ballot box”), and

(b)postal ballot papers (“postal ballot box”).

(2) Each such ballot box must be marked “postal voters’ ballot box” or “postal ballot box” (as the case may be) and marked with—

(a)the name of both the police area and the voting area in relation to which it is to be used at the PCC election, and

(b)where the proceedings at that election and another election or a local referendum are taken together, the name of the parliamentary constituency, local counting area, voting area or, as the case may be, the relevant local authority for which the election or local referendum is held.

(3) The postal ballot box must be shown to those agents present on the occasion of opening the first postal voters’ ballot box as being empty.

(4) The local returning officer must then lock the ballot box (if it has a lock) and apply the officer’s seal in such manner as to prevent its being opened without breaking the seal; any of the agents present who wish to add their seals may then do likewise.

(5) The local returning officer must provide the following receptacles—

(a)the receptacle for rejected votes,

(b)the receptacle for postal voting statements,

(c)the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes,

(d)the receptacle for rejected ballot paper envelopes,

(e)the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), and

(f)the receptacle for postal voting statements (verification procedure).

(6) The local returning officer must take proper precautions for the safe custody of every ballot box and receptacle referred to in this paragraph.

Receipt of covering envelope

46.—(1) The local returning officer must, immediately on receipt (whether by hand or by post) of a covering envelope (or an envelope which is stated to include a postal vote) before the close of the poll, place it unopened in a postal voters’ ballot box.

(2) Where an envelope, other than a covering envelope issued by the local returning officer—

(a)has been opened, and

(b)contains a ballot paper envelope, postal voting statement or ballot paper,

the first-mentioned envelope, together with its contents, must be placed in a postal voters’ ballot box.

Opening of postal voters’ ballot box

47.—(1) Each postal voters’ ballot box must be opened by the local returning officer in the presence of the agents.

(2) So long as the local returning officer ensures that there is at least one sealed postal voters’ ballot box for the reception of covering envelopes up to the time of the close of the poll, the other postal voters’ ballot boxes may previously be opened by the officer.

(3) The last postal voters’ ballot box and the postal ballot box must be opened at the verification of the ballot paper accounts under rule 49 of the PCC elections rules.

Opening of covering envelopes

48.—(1) When a postal voters’ ballot box is opened, the local returning officer must count and record the number of covering envelopes (including any envelope which is stated to include a postal vote and any envelope described in paragraph 46(2)).

(2) The local returning officer must set aside for personal identifier verification in accordance with paragraph 51 a percentage, not less than 20%, of the envelopes recorded on that occasion.

(3) The local returning officer must open separately each covering envelope (including an envelope described in paragraph 46(2)).

(4) The procedures in paragraph 50 or, as the case may be, 51 apply where a covering envelope (including an envelope to which paragraph 46(2) applies) contains both—

(a)a postal voting statement, and

(b)a ballot paper envelope, or if there is no ballot paper envelope, a ballot paper (or ballot papers).

(5) Where the covering envelope does not contain the postal voting statement separately, the local returning officer must open the ballot paper envelope to ascertain whether the postal voting statement is inside.

(6) Where a covering envelope does not contain both—

(a)a postal voting statement (whether separately or not), and

(b)a ballot paper envelope or, if there is no ballot paper envelope, a ballot paper (or ballot papers),

the local returning officer must mark the covering envelope “provisionally rejected”, attach its contents (if any) and place it in the receptacle for rejected votes.

(7) Where—

(a)an envelope contains the postal voting statement of an elector with an anonymous entry, and

(b)sub-paragraph (6) does not apply,

the local returning officer must set aside that envelope and its contents for personal identifier verification in accordance with paragraph 51.

(8) In carrying out the procedures in this paragraph and paragraphs 50 to 56, the local returning officer—

(a)must keep the ballot papers face downwards and must take proper precautions for preventing any person from seeing the votes made on the ballot papers, and

(b)must not be permitted to view the corresponding number list used at the issue of postal ballot papers.

(9) Where an envelope opened in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) contains a postal voting statement, the local returning officer must place a mark in the marked copy of the postal voters list or proxy postal voters list in a place corresponding to the number of the elector to denote that a postal vote has been returned.

(10) A mark made under sub-paragraph (9) must be distinguishable from and not obscure the mark made under paragraph 36(2).

(11) As soon as practicable after the last covering envelope has been opened, the local returning officer must make up into a packet the copy of the marked postal voters list and proxy postal voters list that have been marked in accordance with sub-paragraph (9) and must seal such a packet.

Confirming receipt of postal voting statements

49.—(1) An elector or a proxy voter who is shown in the postal voters list or proxy postal voters list may make a request, at any time between the first issue of postal ballot papers under paragraph 35 and the close of the poll, that the local returning officer confirm—

(a)whether a mark is shown in the marked copy of the postal voters list or proxy postal voters list in a place corresponding to the number of the elector to denote that a postal vote has been returned, and

(b)whether the number of the ballot paper issued to the elector or the elector’s proxy has been recorded on either of the lists kept by the local returning officer under sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of paragraph 55.

(2) A request under sub-paragraph (1) must—

(a)be made by any method specified by the local returning officer, and

(b)include any evidence of the voter’s identity requested by that officer.

(3) Where a request is received in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) the local returning officer must satisfy himself or herself that the request has been made by the elector or their proxy and, if satisfied that it was, provide confirmation of the matters under sub-paragraph (1).

Procedure in relation to postal voting statements

50.—(1) This paragraph applies to any postal voting statement contained in an envelope that has not been set aside for personal identifier verification in accordance with paragraph 48(2) or (7).

(2) The local returning officer must satisfy himself or herself that the postal voting statement is duly completed.

(3) Where the local returning officer is not satisfied that the postal voting statement is duly completed, the officer must mark the statement “rejected”, attach to it the ballot paper envelope, or if there is no such envelope, the ballot paper (or ballot papers), and, subject to sub-paragraph (4), place it in the receptacle for rejected votes.

(4) Before placing the statement in the receptacle for rejected votes, the local returning officer—

(a)must show it to the agents, and

(b)if any of them object to the officer’s decision, must add the words “rejection objected to”.

(5) The local returning officer must then examine the number (or numbers) on the postal voting statement against the number (or numbers) on the ballot paper envelope and, where they are the same, the officer must place the statement and the ballot paper envelope respectively in the receptacle for postal voting statements and the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes.

(6) Where—

(a)the number (or numbers) on a valid postal voting statement is not the same as the number (or numbers) on the ballot paper envelope, or

(b)that envelope has no number on it (or only one number when the postal voting statement has more than one),

the local returning officer must open the envelope.

(7) Sub-paragraph (8) applies where—

(a)there is a valid postal voting statement but no ballot paper envelope,

(b)the ballot paper envelope has been opened under sub-paragraph (6), or

(c)the ballot paper envelope has been opened under paragraph 48(5).

(8) In the circumstances described in sub-paragraph (7), the local returning officer must place—

(a)in the postal ballot box, any ballot paper the number on which is the same as the number (or one of the numbers) on the valid postal voting statement;

(b)in the receptacle for rejected votes, any other ballot paper, with the valid postal voting statement attached and marked “provisionally rejected”;

(c)in the receptacle for rejected votes, any valid postal voting statement marked “provisionally rejected” where—

(i)there is no ballot paper, or

(ii)in the case of a statement on which the number of more than one ballot paper appears, there is not a sufficient number of ballot papers and, in such a case, the local returning officer must mark the statement to indicate which ballot paper is missing;

(d)in the receptacle for postal voting statements, any valid statement not disposed of under paragraph (b) or (c).

Procedure in relation to postal voting statements: personal identifier verification

51.—(1) This paragraph applies to any postal voting statement contained in an envelope that is set aside for personal identifier verification in accordance with paragraph 48(2) or (7).

(2) The local returning officer must satisfy himself or herself that the postal voting statement is duly completed and as part of that process must compare the date of birth and the signature on the postal voting statement against the date of birth and signature contained in the personal identifier record relating to the person to whom the postal ballot paper was addressed.

(3) Where the local returning officer is not satisfied that the postal voting statement is duly completed, the officer must mark the statement “rejected”, attach to it the ballot paper envelope, or if there is no such envelope, the ballot paper, and, subject to sub-paragraph (4), place it in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure).

(4) Before placing a postal voting statement in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), the local returning officer must show it to the agents and must permit them to view the entries in the personal identifiers record which relate to the person to whom the postal ballot paper was addressed, and if any of them object to the officer’s decision, the officer must add the words “rejection objected to”.

(5) The local returning officer must then examine the number (or numbers) on the postal voting statement against the number (or numbers) on the ballot paper envelope and, where they are the same, the officer must place the statement and the ballot paper envelope respectively in the receptacle for postal voting statements (verification procedure) and the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes.

(6) Where—

(a)the number on a valid postal voting statement is not the same as the number on the ballot paper envelope, or

(b)that envelope has no number on it (or only one number when the postal voting statement has more than one),

the local returning officer must open the envelope.

(7) Sub-paragraph (8) applies where—

(a)there is a valid postal voting statement but no ballot paper envelope,

(b)the ballot paper envelope has been opened under sub-paragraph (6), or

(c)the ballot paper envelope has been opened under paragraph 48(5).

(8) In the circumstances described in sub-paragraph (7), the local returning officer must place—

(a)in the postal ballot box, any ballot paper the number on which is the same as the number on the valid postal voting statement;

(b)in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), any other ballot paper, with the valid postal voting statement attached and marked “provisionally rejected”;

(c)in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), any valid postal voting statement marked “provisionally rejected” where—

(i)there is no ballot paper, or

(ii)in the case of a statement on which the number of more than one ballot paper appears, there is not a sufficient number of ballot papers and, in such a case, the local returning officer must mark the statement to indicate which ballot paper is missing;

(d)in the receptacle for postal voting statements (verification procedure), any valid statement not disposed of under paragraph (b) or (c).

Postal voting statements: additional personal identifier verification

52.—(1) A local returning officer may on any occasion at which a postal voters’ ballot box is opened in accordance with paragraph 47 undertake verification of the personal identifiers on any postal voting statement that has on a prior occasion been placed in the receptacle for postal voting statements.

(2) Where a local returning officer undertakes additional verification of personal identifiers, the officer must—

(a)remove as many postal voting statements from the receptacle for postal voting statements as the officer wishes to subject to additional verification, and

(b)compare the date of birth and the signature on each such postal voting statement against the date of birth and signature contained in the personal identifiers record relating to the person to whom the postal ballot paper was addressed.

(3) Where the local returning officer is no longer satisfied that the postal voting statement has been duly completed the officer must mark the statement “rejected” and before placing the postal voting statement in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), the officer must—

(a)show it to the agents and must permit them to view the entries in the personal identifiers record which relate to the person to whom the postal ballot paper was addressed, and if any of them object to the officer’s decision, the officer must add the words “rejection objected to”;

(b)open any postal ballot box and retrieve the ballot paper corresponding to the ballot paper number on the postal voting statement;

(c)show the ballot paper number on the retrieved ballot paper to the agents; and

(d)attach the ballot paper to the postal voting statement.

(4) Following the removal of a postal ballot paper from a postal ballot box the local returning officer must lock the postal ballot box (if it has a lock) and reseal it in the presence of the agents.

(5) Whilst retrieving a ballot paper in accordance with sub-paragraph (3), the local returning officer and the officer’s staff—

(a)must keep the ballot papers face downwards and take proper precautions for preventing any person seeing the votes made on the ballot papers, and

(b)must not be permitted to view the corresponding number list used at the issue of postal ballot papers.

Opening of ballot paper envelopes

53.—(1) The local returning officer must open separately each ballot paper envelope placed in the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes.

(2) The local returning officer must—

(a)place in the postal ballot box any ballot paper the number on which is the same as the number (or one of the numbers) on the ballot paper envelope,

(b)place in the receptacle for rejected votes any other ballot paper which must be marked “provisionally rejected” and to which the ballot paper envelope is to be attached, and

(c)place in the receptacle for rejected ballot paper envelopes any ballot paper envelope which must be marked “provisionally rejected” because it does not contain either a ballot paper or, where more than one number appears on the ballot paper envelope, a sufficient number of ballot papers (and indicating in each case the missing ballot papers).

Retrieval of cancelled postal ballot papers

54.—(1) Where it appears to the local returning officer that a cancelled postal ballot paper has been placed—

(a)in a postal voters’ ballot box,

(b)in the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes, or

(c)in a postal ballot box,

the officer must proceed as follows.

(2) The local returning officer must, on at least one occasion on which a postal voters ballot box is opened in accordance with paragraph 47, also open any postal ballot box and the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes and—

(a)retrieve the cancelled ballot paper,

(b)show the ballot paper number on the cancelled ballot paper to the agents,

(c)retrieve the postal voting statement that relates to a cancelled ballot paper from the receptacle for postal voting statements,

(d)attach any cancelled postal ballot paper to the postal voting statement to which it relates,

(e)place the cancelled documents in a separate packet and deal with that packet in the manner provided for by paragraph 41(7), and

(f)unless the postal ballot box has been opened for the purposes of the counting of votes under rule 52 of the PCC elections rules, re-lock (if it has a lock) and re-seal the postal ballot box in the presence of the agents.

(3) Whilst retrieving a cancelled ballot paper in accordance with sub-paragraph (2), the local returning officer and the officer’s staff—

(a)must keep the ballot papers face downwards and must take proper precautions for preventing any person seeing the votes made on the ballot papers, and

(b)must not be permitted to view the corresponding number list used at the issue of postal ballot papers.

Lists of rejected postal ballot papers

55.—(1) In respect of any election, the local returning officer must keep two separate lists of rejected postal ballot papers.

(2) In the first list, the officer must record the ballot paper number of any postal ballot paper for which no valid postal voting statement was received with it.

(3) In the second list, the officer must record the ballot paper number of any postal ballot paper which is entered on a valid postal voting statement where that ballot paper is not received with the postal voting statement.

Checking of lists of rejected ballot papers

56.—(1) Where the local returning officer receives a valid postal voting statement without the postal ballot paper (or papers or, as the case may be, all of the papers) to which it relates, the officer may, at any time prior to the close of the poll, check the list kept under paragraph 55(2) to see whether the number (or numbers) of a postal ballot paper to which the statement relates is entered in that list.

(2) Where the local returning officer receives a postal ballot paper without the postal voting statement to which it relates, the officer may, at any time prior to the close of the poll, check the list kept under paragraph 55(3) to see whether the number of that ballot paper is entered in that list.

(3) The local returning officer must conduct the checks required by sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) as soon as practicable after the receipt of the packets from every polling station in, as the case may be, the voting area, parliamentary constituency, local counting area, electoral area or local authority area.

(4) Where the ballot paper number in the list matches that number on a valid postal voting statement or, as the case may be, the postal ballot paper, the local returning officer must retrieve that statement or paper.

(5) The local returning officer must then take the appropriate steps under this Part of this Schedule as though any document earlier marked “provisionally rejected” had not been so marked and must amend the document accordingly.

Sealing of packets

57.—(1) As soon as practicable after the completion of the procedure under paragraph 56(3) and (4), the local returning officer must make up into separate packets the contents of—

(a)the receptacle of rejected votes,

(b)the receptacle of postal voting statements,

(c)the receptacle of rejected ballot paper envelopes,

(d)the lists of spoilt and lost postal ballot papers,

(e)the receptacle of rejected votes (verification procedure), and

(f)the receptacle of postal voting statements (verification procedure),

and must seal up such packets.

(2) Any document in those packets marked “provisionally rejected” is to be deemed to be marked “rejected”.

Abandoned poll

58.—(1) Where a poll is abandoned or countermanded after postal ballot papers have been issued, by reason of the death of a candidate, the local returning officer—

(a)must not take any step or further step to open covering envelopes or deal with the contents in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Schedule, and

(b)must, notwithstanding paragraphs 48 to 53, treat all unopened covering envelopes and the contents of those that have been opened as if they were counted ballot papers.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply where ballot papers for more than one election have been issued together under paragraph 29.

Forwarding of documents

59.—(1) The local returning officer must forward to the relevant registration officer at the same time as the local returning officer forwards the documents mentioned in rule 66 of the PCC elections rules—

(a)any packets referred to in paragraphs 39, 41(7), 42(5), 48(11) and 57 (subject to paragraph 58), endorsing on each packet a description of its contents, the date of the election to which it relates and the name of the police area for which the election was held and the name of the voting area for which the local returning officer acts, and

(b)a completed statement of the number of postal ballot papers issued, which is to be in Form 5 set out in Part 4 of this Schedule or a form to like effect.

(2) Where, under a relevant provision (within the meaning of paragraph 29(2)), the poll at a PCC election is taken together with the poll at one or more other elections or local referendums, a separate statement in the form described in sub-paragraph (1)(b) must be completed for each election or local referendum.

(3) Where—

(a)any covering envelopes are received by the local returning officer after the close of the poll (apart from those delivered in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 43(3)),

(b)any envelopes addressed to postal voters are returned as undelivered too late to be readdressed, or

(c)any spoilt postal ballot papers are returned too late to enable other postal ballot papers to be issued,

the local returning officer must put them unopened in a separate packet, seal up such packet and endorse and forward it at a subsequent date in the manner described in sub-paragraph (1).

(4) Rules 67 and 68 of the PCC elections rules apply to any packet or document forwarded under this paragraph.

(5) A copy of the statement referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b) must be provided by the local returning officer to the Secretary of State and the Commission in the period which starts 10 days after the day of the poll and ends 15 days after that day.

(6) For the purposes of computing the period referred to in sub-paragraph (5)—

(a)a Saturday or Sunday,

(b)Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday, or

(c)a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning,

is to be disregarded.

(7) In sub-paragraph (3)(c), “spoilt postal ballot paper” has the meaning given in paragraph 41.

PART 4Forms referred to in Parts 1 to 3 of this Schedule

Forms

60.  These are the forms referred to in Parts 1 to 3 of this Schedule(63).

Article 12

SCHEDULE 3Rules for the conduct of PCC elections where poll not taken together with poll at another election

PART 1Rules for all PCC elections

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Timetable

1.  Subject to rule 2, the proceedings at the PCC election are to be conducted in accordance with the following Table.

Modification of timetable for the ordinary election in 2012

2.  For the purposes of the ordinary election of police and crime commissioners in 2012, the first entry in the Table in rule 1 is to have effect as if for the words in column 2 there were substituted—

“Not later than the 28th day before the day of the election”.

Computation of time

3.  In computing any period of time for the purposes of rules 1 and 2—

(a)a Saturday or Sunday,

(b)Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday, or

(c)a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning,

is to be disregarded, and any such day is not to be treated as a day for the purpose of any proceedings up to the completion of the poll nor is the police area returning officer or local returning officer obliged to proceed with the counting of the votes on such a day.

PART 2Stages common to contested and uncontested elections

NOTICE OF ELECTION

Notice of PCC election

4.—(1) Each police area returning officer must give public notice of the PCC election stating—

(a)the place and times at which nomination papers are to be delivered, and

(b)the date of the poll in the event of a contest,

and the notice must state that forms of nomination papers may be obtained at that place and those times.

(2) The notice of election must also state the arrangements which apply for making the payment required by rule 9 by means of the electronic transfer of funds.

(3) The notice of election must state the date by which—

(a)applications to vote by post or by proxy, and

(b)other applications and notices about postal or proxy voting,

must reach the registration officer in order that they may be effective for the election.

(4) The police area returning officer must send a copy of the notice of election to the local returning officer for each voting area wholly or partly comprised in the police area.

(5) As soon as practicable after receipt of the copy of the notice of the PCC election, the local returning officer must give public notice of it at a place within the voting area for which the officer acts.

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES

Nomination of candidates

5.—(1) Each candidate must be nominated by a separate nomination paper, in Form 6 in Part 8 of this Schedule delivered to the police area returning officer at the place fixed for the purpose—

(a)by the candidate in person, or

(b)by the proposer or seconder of the candidate, or

(c)by the candidate’s election agent on the candidate’s behalf if the agent’s name and address have been previously given to the returning officer as required by article 26 or are so given at the time the nomination paper is delivered.

(2) The nomination paper must state the candidate’s—

(a)full names, and

(b)if desired, description,

and the surname must be placed first in the list of names.

(3) If a candidate commonly uses—

(a)a surname which is different from any other surname the candidate has, or

(b)a forename which is different from any other forename the candidate has,

the nomination paper may state the commonly used surname or forename in addition to the other name.

(4) A candidate’s description (if any) can only be—

(a)one authorised as mentioned in rule 6(1) or (3), or

(b)the word “Independent”.

(5) The nomination paper must be accompanied by a form (in these rules referred to as “the home address form”) which states the candidate’s—

(a)full names, and

(b)home address in full.

(6) Provision in paragraph (1) above about the delivery of the nomination paper applies also to the home address form.

(7) The home address form—

(a)may contain a statement made and signed by the candidate that he or she requires the home address not to be made public, and

(b)if it does so, must contain a statement confirming that the candidate is registered in the register of electors for an electoral area in respect of an address within the police area.

(8) Where a nomination paper in respect of a person is delivered after the delivery of an earlier nomination paper in respect of the same person, the later paper supersedes the earlier one.

Nomination papers: name of registered political party

6.—(1) A nomination paper may not include a description of a candidate which is likely to lead electors to associate the candidate with a registered political party unless—

(a)the party is a qualifying party in relation to the police area, and

(b)the use of the description is authorised by a certificate that is—

(i)issued by or on behalf of the registered nominating officer of the party, and

(ii)received by the police area returning officer before the last time for the delivery of nomination papers set out in the Table in rule 1.

(2) In paragraph (1) an authorised description must be—

(a)the name of the party registered under section 28 of the 2000 Act(64), or

(b)a description of the party registered under section 28A of that Act(65).

(3) A nomination paper may not include a description of a candidate which is likely to lead electors to associate the candidate with two or more registered political parties unless—

(a)the parties are each qualifying parties in relation to the police area,

(b)the description is a registered description, and

(c)the use of the description is authorised by a certificate that is—

(i)issued by or on behalf of the registered nominating officer of each of the parties, and

(ii)received by the police area returning officer before the last time for the delivery of nomination papers set out in the Table in rule 1.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3), “registered description” means a joint description registered for use by the parties under section 28B of 2000 Act(66).

(5) A person is guilty of a corrupt practice if the person fraudulently purports to be authorised to issue a certificate under paragraph (1) or (3) on behalf of a registered political party’s nominating officer.

(6) For the purposes of the application of this rule in relation to a PCC election—

(a)“registered political party” means a party which was registered under Part 2 of the 2000 Act on the day (“the relevant day”) which is two days before the last day for the delivery of nomination papers at that PCC election, and

(b)a registered political party is a qualifying party in relation to a police area in England or Wales if the party was on the relevant day registered in respect of England or Wales (as the case may be) in the Great Britain register maintained under that Part of that Act.

(7) For the purposes of paragraph (6)(a), any day specified in rule 3 is to be disregarded.

Subscription of nomination paper

7.—(1) The nomination paper must be subscribed by 2 electors as proposer and seconder, and by 98 other electors as assenting to the nomination.

(2) Where a nomination paper has the signatures of more than the required number of persons as proposing, seconding or assenting to the nomination of a candidate, the signature or signatures (up to the required number) that appear first on the paper in each category are to be taken into account to the exclusion of any others in that category.

(3) The nomination paper must give the electoral number of each person subscribing it.

(4) The police area returning officer—

(a)must supply any elector with as many forms of nomination paper and forms of consent to nomination as may be required at the place and during the time for delivery of nomination papers, and

(b)must at any elector’s request prepare a nomination paper for signature,

but it is not necessary for a nomination or consent to nomination to be on a form that was supplied by the police area returning officer.

(5) In this rule “elector”—

(a)means a person who, on the last day for the publication of notice of the PCC election, is registered in the register of electors in respect of an address that is within the police area in question, and

(b)includes a person then shown in the register as below voting age if (but only if) it appears from the register that the person will be of voting age on the day fixed for the poll.

(6) But in this rule, “elector” does not include a person who has an anonymous entry in the register.

Consent to nomination

8.  A person is not validly nominated unless that person’s consent to nomination—

(a)is given in writing on or within the period of 31 days before the last day for the delivery of nomination papers,

(b)is in Form 7 set out in Part 8 of this Schedule or a form to like effect

(c)is attested by one witness, and

(d)is delivered at the place and within the time for the delivery of nomination papers.

Deposit

9.—(1) A person is not validly nominated unless the sum of £5,000 is deposited by or on behalf of the person with the police area returning officer at the place and during the time for delivery of nomination papers.

(2) The deposit may be made either—

(a)by the deposit of any legal tender, or

(b)by means of a banker’s draft, or

(c)with the police area returning officer’s consent, in any other manner (including by means of a debit or credit card or the electronic transfer of funds),

but the police area returning officer may refuse to accept a deposit sought to be made by means of a banker’s draft if the officer does not know that the drawer carries on a business as a banker in the United Kingdom.

(3) Where the deposit is made on behalf of a candidate, the person making the deposit must at the time it is made give the person’s name and address to the police area returning officer (unless those details have previously been supplied to the officer under article 26 (appointment of election agent)).

Place for delivery of nomination papers and right to attend nomination

10.—(1) The police area returning officer must fix the place in the police area at which nomination papers are to be delivered to the officer, and must attend there during the time for their delivery and for the making of objections to them.

(2) Except for the purpose of delivering a nomination paper or of assisting the police area returning officer, no other person is entitled to attend the proceedings during the time for delivery of nomination papers or for making objections to them unless that person is—

(a)a person standing nominated as a candidate, or

(b)the election agent, proposer or seconder of such a person, or

(c)a person who is entitled to attend by virtue of section 6A or 6B of the 2000 Act(67).

(3) Where a candidate is the candidate’s own election agent, the candidate may name one other person and that person is entitled to attend in place of the election agent.

(4) Where a person stands nominated by more than one nomination paper, only the persons subscribing as proposer and seconder—

(a)to such one of those papers as the candidate may select, or

(b)in default of such a selection, to that one of those papers which is first delivered,

are entitled to attend as the person’s proposer and seconder.

(5) The right to attend conferred by this rule includes the right—

(a)to inspect, and

(b)to object to the validity of,

any nomination paper and associated home address form.

(6) Paragraph (5) does not apply to a person mentioned in paragraph (2)(c).

(7) One other person chosen by each candidate is entitled to be present at the delivery of the candidate’s nomination, and may afterwards (so long as the candidate stands nominated) attend the proceedings referred to in paragraph (2) but without the right referred to in paragraph (5).

(8) The police area returning officer must not permit a home address form to be inspected otherwise than in accordance with this rule, or for some other purpose authorised by law.

Decisions as to validity of nomination papers

11.—(1) Where a nomination paper and the candidate’s consent to it and the home address form are delivered and a deposit is made in accordance with these rules, the candidate is deemed to stand nominated unless and until—

(a)the police area returning officer decides that the nomination paper is invalid, or

(b)the police area returning officer decides that the home address form does not comply with rule 5(5) or (7), or

(c)proof is given to the police area returning officer’s satisfaction of the candidate’s death, or

(d)the candidate withdraws.

(2) The police area returning officer is entitled to hold a nomination paper invalid only on one of the following grounds—

(a)that the particulars of the candidate or the persons subscribing the paper are not as required by law;

(b)that the paper is not subscribed as so required.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the police area returning officer must, as soon as practicable after each nomination paper has been delivered, examine it and decide whether the candidate has been validly nominated.

(4) If in the police area returning officer’s opinion a nomination paper breaks rule 6(1) or (3), the officer must give a decision to that effect.

(5) Any decision under paragraph (4) must be given—

(a)as soon as practicable after the delivery of the nomination paper, and

(b)in any event, before the end of the period of 24 hours starting with the close of the period for delivery of nomination papers set out in the Table in rule 1.

(6) Where the police area returning officer decides that a nomination paper is invalid, the officer must—

(a)endorse on the paper the fact that the nomination is invalid and the reasons for the decision, and

(b)sign the paper.

(7) The police area returning officer’s decision that a nomination paper is valid is final and may not be questioned in any proceeding whatsoever.

(8) Subject to paragraph (7), nothing in this rule prevents the validity of a nomination being questioned on a PCC election petition.

Correction of minor errors

12.—(1) At any time before the publication under rule 13 of the statement of persons nominated, a police area returning officer may correct minor errors in a nomination paper or a home address form.

(2) Errors that may be corrected include—

(a)errors as to a person’s electoral number;

(b)obvious errors of spelling in relation to the details of a candidate;

(c)in the home address form, errors as to the information mentioned in rule 5(7)(b).

(3) Anything done by a police area returning officer in pursuance of this rule may not be questioned in any proceeding other than proceedings on a PCC election petition.

(4) A police area returning officer must have regard to any guidance issued by the Commission for the purposes of this rule.

Publication of statement of persons nominated

13.—(1) The police area returning officer must prepare a statement showing—

(a)the persons who have been and stand nominated, and

(b)any other persons who have been nominated together with the reason why they no longer stand nominated.

(2) The statement must show the names, addresses and descriptions of the persons nominated as given in their nomination papers and the home address forms.

(3) If a person’s nomination paper gives a commonly used surname or forename in addition to another name, the statement must show the person’s commonly used surname or forename (as the case may be) instead of any other name.

(4) Paragraph (3) does not apply if the police area returning officer thinks—

(a)that the use of the person’s commonly used name is likely to mislead or confuse electors, or

(b)that the commonly used name is obscene or offensive.

(5) If paragraph (4) applies, the police area returning officer must give notice in writing to the candidate of the reasons for refusing to allow the use of a commonly used name.

(6) The statement of persons nominated must show the persons standing nominated arranged alphabetically in the order of their surnames, and if there are two or more of them with the same surname, of their other names.

(7) In relation to a nominated person in whose case the home address form (or, if the person is nominated by more than one nomination paper, any of the home address forms) contains—

(a)the statement mentioned in rule 5(7)(a), and

(b)the information mentioned in rule 5(7)(b),

the reference in paragraph (2) to the person’s address shall be read as a reference to the information mentioned in rule 5(7)(b).

(8) Where—

(a)two or more of the names shown on the statement are the same or so similar as to be likely to cause confusion,

(b)paragraph (7) applies in relation to each of the persons in question, and

(c)the information mentioned in rule 5(7)(b) is the same for each of them,

the police area returning officer may cause any of their particulars to be shown on the statement with such amendments or additions as the officer thinks appropriate in order to reduce the likelihood of confusion.

(9) Where it is practicable to do so before the publication of the statement, the police area returning officer must consult any person whose particulars are to be amended or added to under paragraph (8).

(10) The police area returning officer must give notice in writing to any person whose particulars are amended or added to under paragraph (8).

(11) Anything done by a police area returning officer in pursuance of paragraph (8) must not be questioned in any proceedings other than proceedings on a PCC election petition.

(12) A police area returning officer must have regard to any guidance issued by the Commission for the purposes of paragraph (8).

(13) The police area returning officer—

(a)must give public notice of the statement prepared under this rule, and

(b)must send a copy of it to the Commission.

Local publication of statement under rule 13

14.—(1) Immediately following publication of the statement of persons nominated, the police area returning officer must forward a copy of it to the local returning officer for each voting area wholly or partly comprised in the police area.

(2) As soon as practicable after receipt of the copy of the statement, the local returning officer must give public notice of it at a place within the voting area for which the officer acts.

Withdrawal of candidates

15.—(1) A candidate may withdraw from being a candidate by notice of withdrawal—

(a)signed by the candidate and attested by one witness, and

(b)delivered to the police area returning officer at the place for delivery of nomination papers.

(2) Where a candidate (“A”) is outside the United Kingdom, a notice of withdrawal which is accompanied by a written declaration of A’s absence from the United Kingdom is of the same effect as a notice signed by A if both the notice and the declaration are signed by A’s proposer.

Nomination in more than one police area

16.—(1) A candidate who is validly nominated for more than one police area must withdraw from being a candidate in all those police areas except one.

(2) Any such candidate who does not withdraw is deemed to have withdrawn from being a candidate in all police areas.

METHOD OF ELECTION

Method of election: contested and uncontested election

17.  If, after any withdrawals under rule 15 or 16—

(a)three or more candidates remain validly nominated, a poll must be taken in accordance with Parts 3 and 4 of these rules;

(b)only two candidates remain validly nominated, a poll must be taken in accordance with Part 3;

(c)only one candidate remains validly nominated, that person must be declared to be elected in accordance with Part 5.

PART 3Contested PCC elections

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Poll to be taken by ballot

18.  The votes at the poll must be given by ballot.

The ballot papers

19.—(1) The ballot of every voter must consist of a ballot paper which—

(a)in the case of an election with three or more candidates, must be in Form 8A set out in Part 8 of this Schedule;

(b)in the case of an election with two candidates only, must be in Form 8B set out in Part 8 of this Schedule,

and which is printed according to the directions specified in that Part.

(2) The persons remaining validly nominated for the police area after any withdrawals (and no other persons) are entitled to have their names shown on the ballot paper.

(3) Each ballot paper must—

(a)contain the names and other particulars of the candidates as shown in the statement of persons nominated,

(b)be capable of being folded up, and

(c)have a number and other unique identifying mark printed on the back.

(4) If a request is made by or on behalf of a candidate whose description is authorised under rule 6(1) or (3) by a registered party, the ballot paper must contain the party’s registered emblem (or one of its registered emblems) adjacent to the candidate’s particulars.

(5) A request under paragraph (4) must—

(a)be made in writing to the police area returning officer, and

(b)be received by the officer before the last time for the delivery of nomination papers set out in the Table in rule 1.

(6) The order of the names in the ballot paper must be the same as in the statement of persons nominated (see rule 13).

Corresponding number list

20.—(1) The local returning officer must prepare a list containing the numbers and other unique identifying marks of all of the ballot papers which are to be issued by the officer in pursuance of rule 25 or provided by the officer in pursuance of rule 29(1).

(2) The corresponding number list to be prepared for the purpose of rule 25(1) (postal ballot papers) and of paragraph 36(1) of Schedule 2 (procedure on issue of postal ballot paper) must be in Form 9 set out in Part 8 of this Schedule or a form to like effect.

(3) The corresponding number list to be prepared for the purpose of rule 29(3)(d) (equipment of polling stations) and of rule 39(2)(b) (voting procedure) must be in Form 10 set out in Part 8 of this Schedule or a form to like effect.

The official mark

21.—(1) Every ballot paper must contain an appropriate security marking (the official mark).

(2) The official mark must be kept secret.

(3) An interval of not less than five years must intervene between the use of the same official mark at PCC elections for the same police area.

(4) A police area returning officer or local returning officer may use a different official mark for different purposes at the same PCC election.

Prohibition of disclosure of vote

22.  In any legal proceeding to question a PCC election, no person who has voted at the election may be required to state for whom he or she has voted.

Use of schools and public rooms

23.—(1) The local returning officer may use, free of charge, for the purpose of taking the poll or counting the votes—

(a)a room in a school maintained or assisted by—

(i)in relation to England, a county council in England, a metropolitan district council, a non-metropolitan district council for an area for which there is no county council or the Council of the Isles of Scilly, or

(ii)in relation to Wales, a county council or a county borough council in Wales;

(b)a room in a school in respect of which grants are made out of moneys provided by Parliament to the person or body of persons responsible for the management of the school;

(c)a room the expense of maintaining which is met by—

(i)in relation to England, a county council in England, a district council, a parish council or the Council of the Isles of Scilly, or

(ii)in relation to Wales, a county council or a county borough council in Wales or a community council.

(2) The local returning officer must make good—

(a)any damage done to any such room, and

(b)defray any expense incurred by the persons having control over any such room,

by reason of its being used for that purpose.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BEFORE THE POLL

Notice of poll

24.—(1) The police area returning officer must give public notice of the poll stating—

(a)the day and hours fixed for the poll, and

(b)the particulars of each candidate remaining validly nominated.

(2) The order of the names in the notice of the poll must be the same as in the statement of persons nominated(68).

(3) No later than the time of publication of the notice of the poll, the local returning officer must give public notice of—

(a)the situation of each polling station in the voting area for which the officer acts, and

(b)the description of voters entitled to vote there.

(4) As soon as practicable after giving the notice required by paragraph (3), the local returning officer must send a copy of it to each of the election agents.

Postal ballot papers

25.—(1) The local returning officer must, in accordance with Part 3 of Schedule 2, issue to those entitled to vote by post—

(a)a ballot paper, and

(b)a postal voting statement in the appropriate form prescribed by paragraph 30 of Schedule 2,

together with envelopes for their return that comply with the requirements of paragraph 38 of Schedule 2.

(2) The local returning officer must also issue to those entitled to vote by post whatever information the officer thinks appropriate about how to obtain—

(a)translations into languages other than English of any directions to or guidance for voters sent with the ballot paper;

(b)a translation into Braille of such directions or guidance;

(c)graphical representations of such directions or guidance;

(d)the directions or guidance in any other form (including any audible form).

(3) In the case of a ballot paper issued to a person at an address in the United Kingdom, the local returning officer must ensure that the return of the ballot paper and postal voting statement is free of charge to the voter.

Provision of polling stations

26.—(1) The local returning officer must provide a sufficient number of polling stations and, subject to the following provisions of this rule, must allot the electors to the polling stations in whatever manner the officer thinks most convenient.

(2) One or more polling stations may be provided in the same room.

(3) The polling station to which electors from any parliamentary polling district wholly or partly within the voting area are allotted must, in the absence of special circumstances, be in the parliamentary polling place for that district unless that place is outside the voting area.

(4) The local returning officer must provide each polling station with however many compartments are necessary in which the voters can mark their votes screened from observation.

Appointment of presiding officers and polling clerks

27.—(1) The local returning officer must appoint and pay—

(a)a presiding officer to attend at each polling station, and

(b)however many clerks are necessary for the purposes of the election.

(2) The local returning officer must not appoint any person who has been employed by or on behalf of a candidate in the PCC election.

(3) The local returning officer may, if the officer thinks fit, preside at a polling station.

(4) In a case within paragraph (3), the provisions of these rules relating to the presiding officer apply to the local returning officer so presiding, with the necessary modifications as to things to be done by the local returning officer to the presiding officer or by the presiding officer to the local returning officer.

(5) A presiding officer may do, by the clerks appointed to assist the presiding officer, any act (including the asking of questions) which the presiding officer is required or authorised by these rules to do at a polling station except order the arrest, exclusion or removal of any person from the polling station.

Issue of official poll cards

28.—(1) The local returning officer must as soon as practicable after the publication of the notice of the PCC election send to electors and their proxies an official poll card as follows—

(a)an official poll card sent to an elector must be in Form 11 set out in Part 8 of this Schedule or a form to like effect;

(b)an official postal poll card sent to an elector must be in Form 12 set out in Part 8 of this Schedule or a form to like effect;

(c)an official poll card sent to the proxy of an elector must be in Form 13 set out in Part 8 of this Schedule or a form to like effect;

(d)an official postal poll card sent to the proxy of an elector must be in Form 14 set out in Part 8 of this Schedule or a form to like effect.

(2) An official poll card may be adapted in order to comply with any requirements as to delivery and may also contain such additional information as the local returning officer thinks appropriate.

(3) An elector’s official poll card must be sent or delivered to his or her qualifying address, and a proxy’s to his or her address as shown in the list of proxies.

(4) Rule 7(5) applies for the interpretation of this rule.

Equipment of polling stations

29.—(1) The local returning officer must provide each presiding officer with however many ballot boxes and ballot papers the local returning officer thinks are necessary.

(2) Every ballot box must be so constructed that the ballot papers can be put in it, but cannot be withdrawn from it, without the box being unlocked or, where the box has no lock, the seal being broken.

(3) The local returning officer must provide each polling station with—

(a)materials to enable voters to mark the ballot papers;

(b)copies of the register of electors used for the PCC election which contains the entries relating to the electors allotted to the station (or, in the case of a register only part of which contains those entries, that part);

(c)the parts of any special lists prepared for the PCC election corresponding to each register or part of a register provided under sub-paragraph (b);

(d)a list prepared under rule 20 which contains the numbers (but not the other unique identifying marks) corresponding to those on the ballot papers provided to the presiding officer of the polling station.

(4) The reference in paragraph (3)(b) to the copies of the register of electors includes a reference to copies of any notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act(69) in respect of alterations to the register.

(5) The local returning officer must also provide each polling station with—

(a)at least one large version of the ballot paper for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted which complies with article 85(6) and which must be displayed inside the polling station;

(b)an enlarged hand-held sample copy of the ballot paper for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted which must be clearly marked as a specimen provided only for the guidance of voters;

(c)a device for enabling voters who are blind or partially sighted to vote without any need for assistance from the presiding officer or any companion (within the meaning of rule 41).

(6) The device mentioned in paragraph (5)(c) must—

(a)allow a ballot paper to be inserted into and removed from, or attached to and detached from the device, easily and without damage to the paper,

(b)hold the ballot paper firmly in place during use, and

(c)provide suitable means for the voter—

(i)to identify the spaces on the ballot paper on which the voter may mark his or her vote,

(ii)to identify the candidate to which each such space refers, and

(iii)to mark his or her vote on the space the voter has chosen.

(7) The local returning officer must also provide each polling station with the notices for the guidance of voters that are provided to the local returning officer under rule 30(1) and—

(a)the notices referred to in rule 30(1)(a) must be exhibited in every voting compartment, and

(b)the notices referred to in rule 30(1)(b) must be exhibited outside the polling station and in the communal areas inside it.

(8) Where information about the supplementary vote system is provided to the local returning officer under rule 30(3), the local returning officer must also provide each polling station with that information.

(9) Any information provided to a polling station under paragraph (8) must be exhibited there.

(10) Where proof has been given to the police area returning officer’s satisfaction of the death of a candidate, the police area returning officer must request each local returning officer for a voting area wholly or partly comprised in the police area to provide each presiding officer with a sufficient number of notices to this effect for display in every compartment of every polling station.

Notices for the guidance of voters

30.—(1) The police area returning officer must prepare and provide each local returning officer with—

(a)notices for the guidance of voters in Form 15 set out in Part 8 of this Schedule which are for exhibition in voting compartments at polling stations, and

(b)notices for the guidance of voters in Form 16 set out in Part 8 of this Schedule which are for exhibition outside and in the communal areas inside polling stations.

(2) The police area returning officer may also provide versions of a notice in such other form described in article 85(2) or (3) as the police area returning officer thinks appropriate and, if the local returning officer agrees, these may also be exhibited inside and outside the polling station.

(3) Where the Commission publishes information about the supplementary vote system to be used at PCC elections, the police area returning officer may provide each local returning officer with a copy of that information for exhibition at a polling station.

Appointment of polling and counting agents

31.—(1) Before the commencement of the poll, each candidate may appoint—

(a)polling agents to attend at polling stations for the purpose of detecting personation, and

(b)counting agents to attend at the counting of the votes.

(2) For each count, one (but no more than one) counting agent may be designated as a person authorised to require a re-count under rule 54.

(3) A designation under paragraph (2) must be made at the same time as the person’s appointment as a counting agent.

(4) Not more than—

(a)four polling agents, or

(b)such greater number as the local returning officer may by notice allow,

are permitted to attend at any particular polling station.

(5) If the number of polling agents appointed to attend at a particular polling station exceeds the permitted number—

(a)the local returning officer must determine by lot which agents are permitted to attend, and

(b)only the agents so determined are to be deemed as duly appointed.

(6) The local returning officer may limit the number of counting agents so long as—

(a)the number is the same in the case of each candidate, and

(b)the number allowed to a candidate is not (except in special circumstances) less than the number obtained by dividing the number of clerks employed on the counting by the number of candidates.

(7) A candidate who appoints a polling agent or a counting agent must give the local returning officer notice of the appointment no later than the 5th day before the day of the poll.

(8) If a polling or counting agent dies, or becomes incapable of acting, the candidate may appoint another agent and must forthwith give the local returning officer notice of the appointment.

(9) A notice under paragraph (7) or (8) must—

(a)be in writing, and

(b)give the name and address of the agent appointed.

(10) Any appointment authorised by this rule may be made and the notice of appointment given by the candidate’s election agent, instead of by the candidate.

(11) In the following provisions of these rules references to polling agents and counting agents are to be read as references to agents—

(a)whose appointments have been duly made and notified, and

(b)where the number of agents is restricted, who are within the permitted numbers.

(12) Any notice required to be given to a counting agent by the local returning officer may be delivered at, or sent by post to, the address stated in the notice of appointment.

(13) A candidate may do anything, or assist a polling agent or counting agent in doing anything, which such an agent is authorised to do on appointment by the candidate.

(14) A candidate’s election agent may do or assist in doing anything which a polling or counting agent appointed by the candidate is authorised to do; and anything required or authorised by these rules to be done in the presence of the polling or counting agents may be done in the presence of a candidate’s election agent instead of the polling agent or counting agent.

(15) Where by these rules anything is required or authorised to be done in the presence of the polling or counting agents, the non-attendance of any agent or agents at the time and place appointed for the purpose does not invalidate the thing (if the thing is otherwise duly done).

Notification of requirement of secrecy

32.  The local returning officer must make whatever arrangements the officer thinks are appropriate to ensure that—

(a)every person attending at a polling station (otherwise than for the purpose of voting or assisting a voter with disabilities to vote or as a constable on duty there) has been given a copy in writing of the provisions of article 22(1), (4) and (7), and

(b)every person attending at the verification of ballot paper accounts or the counting of the votes (other than any constable on duty there) has been given a copy in writing of the provisions of article 22(2), (3) and (7).

Return of postal ballot papers

33.—(1) Where—

(a)a postal vote has been returned in respect of a person who is entered in the postal voters list, or

(b)a proxy postal vote has been returned in respect of a proxy who is entered in the proxy postal voters list,

the local returning officer must mark the list in the manner specified in paragraph 48 of Schedule 2.

(2) Rule 49(2) does not apply for the purpose of determining whether, for the purposes of this rule, a postal vote or a proxy postal vote is returned.

THE POLL

Admission to polling stations

34.—(1) The presiding officer must exclude from the polling station everyone except—

(a)voters,

(b)persons under the age of 18 who accompany voters to the polling station,

(c)the police area returning officer and the local returning officer,

(d)the candidates and their election agents,

(e)the polling agents appointed to attend at the polling station,

(f)the clerks appointed to attend at the polling station,

(g)persons who are entitled to attend by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the 2000 Act(70),

(h)the constables on duty, and

(i)the companions of voters with disabilities.

(2) The presiding officer must 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.

(3) Not more than one polling agent may be admitted at the same time to a polling station on behalf of the same candidate.

(4) A constable or a person employed by a local returning officer may be admitted to vote in person elsewhere than at the polling station allotted under these rules only on production and surrender of a certificate (in these rules referred to as “a certificate as to employment on duty on the day of the poll”) that—

(a)confirms that the person is a constable, or as the case be, is employed by a local returning officer,

(b)is in Form 17 set out in Part 8 of this Schedule or a form to like effect, and

(c)is signed by an officer of police of or above the rank of inspector or, as the case may be, by the local returning officer.

(5) A certificate surrendered under this rule must forthwith be cancelled.

Keeping of order in polling station

35.—(1) It is the presiding officer’s duty to keep order at the officer’s polling station.

(2) If a person engages in misconduct in a polling station, or fails to obey the presiding officer’s lawful orders, the person may immediately, by the presiding officer’s order, be removed from the polling station—

(a)by a constable in or near that station, or

(b)by any other person authorised in writing by the local returning officer to discharge this function.

(3) A person so removed may not, without the presiding officer’s permission, re-enter the polling station during the day.

(4) A person so removed may, if charged with the commission in the polling station of an offence, be dealt with as a person taken into custody by a constable for an offence without a warrant.

(5) The powers conferred by this rule may not be exercised so as to prevent a voter who is otherwise entitled to vote at a polling station from having an opportunity to vote at that station.

Sealing of ballot boxes

36.—(1) Immediately before the commencement of the poll, the presiding officer must show anyone present in the polling station that the ballot box is empty.

(2) The presiding officer must then—

(a)lock the box (if it has a lock) and place his or her seal on it in a manner that prevents it from being opened without breaking the seal, and

(b)place the box in his or her view for the receipt of ballot papers, and keep it so locked (if it has a lock) and sealed.

Questions to be put to voters

37.—(1) At the time of the application (but not afterwards), the questions specified in the second column of the following table—

(a)may be put by the presiding officer to a person applying for a ballot paper who is mentioned in the first column, and

(b)must be put if the letter “R” appears after the question and the candidate or an election or polling agent requires the question to be put:

(2) In the case of an elector in respect of whom a notice has been issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, references in the table to reading from the register are to be read as references to reading from that notice.

(3) A ballot paper must not be delivered to any person required to answer any of the above questions unless the person has answered each question satisfactorily.

(4) Except as authorised by this rule, no inquiry is permitted as to the right of any person to vote.

Challenge of voter

38.  A person must not be prevented from voting by reason only that—

(a)a candidate or the candidate’s election or polling agent declares that there is reasonable cause to believe that the person has committed an offence of personation, or

(b)the person is arrested on suspicion of committing or of being about to commit an offence of personation.

Voting procedure

39.—(1) A ballot paper must be delivered to a voter who applies for one subject to any provision of these rules to the contrary.

(2) Immediately before delivery—

(a)the number and (unless paragraph (3) applies) name of the elector as stated in the copy of the register of electors must be called out,

(b)the number of the elector must be marked on the list mentioned in rule 29(3)(d) beside the number of the ballot paper to be issued to the elector,

(c)a mark must be placed in the register of electors against the number of the elector to note that a ballot paper has been received but without showing the particular ballot paper which has been received, and

(d)in the case of a person applying for a ballot paper as proxy, a mark must also be placed against the person’s name in the list of proxies.

(3) An elector who has an anonymous entry must show the presiding officer his or her official poll card and only the number is to be called out in pursuance of paragraph (2)(a).

(4) In the case of an elector who is added to the register in pursuance of a notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, paragraph (2) is modified as follows—

(a)the reference in sub-paragraph (a) to the copy of the register of electors is to be read as a copy of the notice;

(b)the reference in sub-paragraph (c) to a mark being placed in the register of electors is to be read as a mark being made on the copy of the notice.

(5) Immediately after receiving the ballot paper, the voter must—

(a)proceed into one of the compartments in the polling station and there secretly mark the paper and fold it up so as to conceal the vote, and

(b)then show to the presiding officer the back of the paper, so as to disclose the number and other unique identifying mark, and put the ballot paper so folded up into the ballot box in the presiding officer’s presence.

(6) The voter must vote without undue delay, and must leave the polling station as soon as he or she has put the ballot paper into the ballot box.

Votes marked by the presiding officer

40.—(1) This rule applies where a voter applies to the presiding officer to mark the voter’s ballot paper and the voter—

(a)is incapacitated by blindness or other disability from voting in the manner directed by these rules, or

(b)declares orally that he or she is unable to read.

(2) The presiding officer must, in the presence of the polling agents—

(a)cause the voter’s vote to be marked on a ballot paper in the manner directed by the voter, and

(b)cause the ballot paper to be placed in the ballot box.

(3) The name of every voter whose vote is marked in pursuance of this rule must be entered on a list (in these rules called “the list of votes marked by the presiding officer”), together with—

(a)the voter’s number on the register of electors, and

(b)the reason for the vote being marked in pursuance of this rule.

(4) In the case of a person voting as proxy for an elector, the number to be entered together with the voter’s name is the elector’s number.

(5) In the case of a person in respect of whom a notice has been issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, the reference in paragraph (3)(a) to the voter’s number on the register of electors is to be read as a reference to the number relating to the voter on the notice.

Voting by persons with disabilities

41.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where a voter applies to the presiding officer, on the ground of blindness or other disability or inability to read, to be allowed to vote with the assistance of an accompanying person (in these rules referred to as the “companion”).

(2) The presiding officer must grant the application if—

(a)the voter makes an oral or written declaration that he or she is so incapacitated by blindness or other disability, or by an inability to read, as to be unable to vote without assistance,

(b)the presiding officer is satisfied that the voter is so incapacitated, and

(c)the presiding officer is satisfied by a written declaration made by the companion (in these rules referred to as “the declaration made by the companion of a voter with disabilities”) that the companion—

(i)is a person qualified to assist the voter, and

(ii)has not previously assisted more than one voter with disabilities to vote in the PCC election.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(c), a person is qualified to assist a voter with disabilities to vote if the person—

(a)is entitled to vote as an elector at the PCC election, or

(b)is the father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, civil partner, son or daughter of the voter and has attained the age of 18 years.

(4) The declaration made by the companion—

(a)must be in Form 18 set out in Part 8 of this Schedule,

(b)must be made before the presiding officer at the time when the voter applies to vote with the assistance of the companion, and

(c)must forthwith be given to the presiding officer,

and the presiding officer must attest and retain the declaration.

(5) No fee or other payment may be charged in respect of the declaration.

(6) If the presiding officer grants an application under this rule, anything which is by these rules required to be done to or by the voter in connection with the giving of his or her vote may be done to, or with the assistance of, the companion.

(7) The name of every voter whose vote is given in accordance with this rule must be entered on a list (in these rules referred to as “the list of voters with disabilities assisted by companions”) together with—

(a)the voter’s number on the register of electors, and

(b)the name and address of the companion.

(8) In the case of a person voting as proxy for an elector, the number to be entered together with the voter’s name is the elector’s number.

(9) In the case of a person in respect of whom a notice has been issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, the reference in paragraph (7)(a) to the voter’s number on the register of electors is to be read as a reference to the number relating to the voter on the notice.

(10) For the purposes of these rules, a person is a voter with disabilities if the person has made a declaration under paragraph (2)(a).

Tendered ballot papers: circumstances where available

42.—(1) In the following cases a person is entitled to mark a ballot paper (a “tendered ballot paper”) in the same manner as any other voter if, in cases 1 to 6, the person satisfactorily answers the questions permitted by law to be asked at the poll.

Rule 43 makes further provision about tendered ballot papers.

(2) Case 1 is that—

(a)a person applies for a ballot paper,

(b)the person claims—

(i)to be a particular elector named on the register, and

(ii)not to be named in the postal voters list or the list of proxies, and

(c)another person has already voted in person either as that elector or as proxy for that elector.

(3) Case 2 is that—

(a)a person applies for a ballot paper,

(b)the person claims to be—

(i)a particular person named in the list of proxies as proxy for an elector, and

(ii)not entitled to vote by post as proxy, and

(c)another person has already voted in person either as that elector or as proxy for that elector.

(4) Case 3 is that—

(a)a person applies for a ballot paper,

(b)the person claims to be a particular elector named on the register,

(c)the person is also named in the postal voters list, and

(d)the person claims not to have made an application to vote by post.

(5) Case 4 is that—

(a)a person applies for a ballot paper,

(b)the person claims to be a particular person named as a proxy in the list of proxies,

(c)the person is also named in the proxy postal voters list, and

(d)the person claims not to have made an application to vote by post as proxy.

(6) Case 5 is that, before the close of the poll but after the last time at which a person may apply for a replacement postal ballot paper—

(a)a person claims to be a particular elector named on the register and also named in the postal voters list, and

(b)the person claims to have lost or not received the postal ballot paper.

(7) Case 6 is that, before the close of the poll but after the last time at which a person may apply for a replacement postal ballot paper—

(a)a person claims to be a particular person named as a proxy in the list of proxies and also named in the proxy postal voters list, and

(b)the person claims to have lost or not received the postal ballot paper.

(8) In the case of an elector who has an anonymous entry, the references in this rule to a person named on a register or list are to be read as references to a person whose number appears on the register or list (as the case may be).

(9) In the case of a person in respect of whom a notice has been issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, the references in this rule to a person named on the register are to be read as references to a person in respect of whom such a notice has been issued.

Tendered ballot papers: general provisions

43.—(1) Tendered ballot papers must be a different colour from the other ballot papers.

(2) Tendered ballot papers must be given to the presiding officer instead of being put into the ballot box.

(3) On receiving a tendered ballot paper from a voter the presiding officer must endorse it with the voter’s name and number on the register of electors.

(4) The presiding officer must set tendered ballot papers aside in a separate packet.

(5) The name and number on the register of electors of every voter whose vote is marked in pursuance of rule 42 must be entered on a list (in these rules referred to as the “tendered votes list”).

(6) In the case of a person voting as proxy for an elector, the number to be endorsed or entered together with the voter’s name is the elector’s number.

(7) In the case of an elector who has an anonymous entry, the references in paragraphs (3) and (5) to the name of the voter are to be ignored.

(8) In the case of a person in respect of whom a notice has been issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, the references in paragraphs (3) and (5) to the voter’s number on the register of electors are to be read as references to the number relating to the voter on the notice.

Spoilt ballot papers

44.—(1) This rule applies if a voter has inadvertently dealt with his or her ballot paper in a manner which means that it cannot conveniently be used as a ballot paper and—

(a)the voter delivers the ballot paper (in these rules referred to as “a spoilt ballot paper”) to the presiding officer, and

(b)proves the fact of the inadvertence to the satisfaction of the officer.

(2) The voter may obtain a replacement ballot paper and the spoilt ballot paper must be cancelled immediately.

Correction of errors on the day of the poll

45.  The presiding officer must keep a list of persons to whom ballot papers are delivered in consequence of an alteration to the register made by virtue of section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act that takes effect on the day of the poll.

Adjournment of poll in case of riot

46.—(1) Where the proceedings at a polling station are interrupted or obstructed by riot or open violence, the presiding officer must adjourn the proceedings till the following day and must give notice to the local returning officer as soon as practicable.

(2) Where the poll is adjourned at a polling station—

(a)the hours of polling on the day to which it is adjourned must be the same as for the original day, and

(b)references in these rules to the close of the poll are to be read accordingly.

(3) As soon as practicable after receiving notice of the adjournment of a poll, the local returning officer must inform the police area returning officer of that fact and of the cause of its adjournment.

Procedure on close of poll

47.—(1) As soon as practicable after the close of the poll, the presiding officer must, in the presence of the polling agents, make up into separate packets—

(a)each ballot box in use at the station, sealed so as to prevent the introduction of additional ballot papers and unopened, but with the key (if any) attached;

(b)the unused and spoilt ballot papers placed together;

(c)the tendered ballot papers;

(d)the marked copies of the registers of electors (including any marked copy notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act) and of the list of proxies;

(e)the lists prepared under rule 20, including the parts that were completed in accordance with rule 39(2)(b) (together referred to in these rules as “the completed corresponding number lists”);

(f)the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll;

(g)the tendered votes list, the list of voters with disabilities assisted by companions, the list of votes marked by the presiding officer, a statement of the number of voters whose votes are so marked by the presiding officer under the heads “disability” and “unable to read”, the list maintained under rule 45, and the declarations made by the companions of voters with disabilities.

(2) The marked copies of the registers of electors (including any marked copy notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act) and of the list of proxies must be in one packet and must not be in the same packet as the completed corresponding number lists or the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll.

(3) The packets must be sealed with—

(a)the presiding officer’s seal, and

(b)the seals of any polling agents who want to affix their seals.

(4) The presiding officer must deliver the packets, or cause them to be delivered, to the local returning officer to be taken charge of by that officer.

(5) If the packets are not delivered by the presiding officer personally to the local returning officer, their delivery must be in accordance with arrangements approved by the local returning officer.

(6) The packets must be accompanied by a statement (in these rules referred to as “the ballot paper account”) made by the presiding officer showing the number of ballot papers entrusted to him or her, and accounting for them under the following heads—

(a)ballot papers issued and not otherwise accounted for,

(b)unused ballot papers,

(c)spoilt ballot papers, and

(d)tendered ballot papers.

COUNTING OF VOTES

Verification of ballot paper accounts

Attendance at verification

48.—(1) The local returning officer must make arrangements for the verification of the ballot paper accounts in the presence of the counting agents as soon as practicable after the close of the poll.

(2) The local returning officer must give the counting agents notice in writing of the time and place at which the verification of the ballot paper accounts will begin.

(3) A person may be present at the verification of the ballot paper accounts only if—

(a)the person is within paragraph (4), or

(b)the person is permitted by the local returning officer to attend.

(4) The persons within this paragraph are—

(a)the police area returning officer and the local returning officer;

(b)the clerks of either officer;

(c)the candidates and one other person chosen by each of them;

(d)the election agents;

(e)the counting agents;

(f)persons who are entitled to attend by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the 2000 Act.

(5) The local returning officer may give a person permission under paragraph (3)(b) only if the local returning officer is satisfied that the person’s attendance will not impede the efficient verification of the ballot paper accounts.

(6) The local returning officer must give the counting agents all such reasonable facilities for overseeing the proceedings, and all such information with respect to them, as the local returning officer can give them consistently with the orderly conduct of the proceedings and the discharge of the local returning officer’s duties.

Procedure at verification of ballot paper accounts

49.—(1) The local returning officer must, in the presence of the counting agents—

(a)open the ballot boxes from each polling station and count and record the number of ballot papers in each box;

(b)verify each ballot paper account;

(c)count such of the postal ballot papers as have been duly returned and record the number counted.

(2) A postal ballot paper is not to be taken to be duly returned unless—

(a)it is returned in the manner specified in paragraph 43(1) or (2) of Schedule 2 and, before the close of the poll, it reached the local returning officer or a polling station in the voting area for which the officer acts,

(b)the postal voting statement, duly signed, is also returned in the manner specified in paragraph 43(1) or (2) of Schedule 2 and, before the close of the poll, it reached the local returning officer or a polling station in the voting area for which the officer acts,

(c)the postal voting statement also states the date of birth of the elector or proxy (as the case may be), and

(d)in a case where an elector’s or proxy’s date of birth and signature are to be verified in accordance with paragraph 51 or 52 of Schedule 2, the local returning officer verifies the date of birth and signature of the elector or proxy (as the case may be).

(3) The local returning officer, while counting and recording the number of ballot papers, must keep the ballot papers with their faces upwards and take all proper precautions for preventing anyone from seeing the numbers or other unique identifying marks printed on the back of the papers.

(4) Unless otherwise directed by the police area returning officer, the local returning officer must determine the hours during which the procedure under this rule is to be carried out and must take proper precautions for the security of the ballot papers and documents.

(5) The local returning officer must—

(a)verify each ballot paper account by comparing it with the number of ballot papers recorded by the local returning officer, and the unused and spoilt ballot papers in the local returning officer’s possession and the tendered votes list (opening and resealing the packets containing the unused and spoilt ballot papers and the tendered votes list);

(b)draw up a statement as to the result of the verification.

(6) Once the statement is drawn up the local returning officer must inform the police area returning officer of the contents of the statement.

(7) Any counting agent present at the verification may copy the statement.

Additional steps: verification and count carried out at different places

50.—(1) This rule applies where the votes at a PCC election are to be counted at a place other than that at which the procedures for the verification of the ballot paper accounts are carried out.

(2) The local returning officer must on completing the procedure under rule 49—

(a)make up into packets the ballot papers and the postal ballot papers for the PCC election and seal them up into containers endorsing on each the description of the voting area and the police area to which those ballot papers relate; and

(b)deliver or cause to be delivered to the place at which the counting of the votes is to be carried out—

(i)those containers together with a list of them and of the contents of each, and

(ii)the ballot paper accounts together with a copy of the statement as to the result of their verification.

(3) If the packets are not delivered by the local returning officer personally, their delivery must be in accordance with arrangements approved by the police area returning officer.

(4) The police area returning officer may give a local returning officer for any voting area wholly or partly comprised in the police area directions which, once the packets have been delivered to the place where the votes at the PCC election are to be counted, require the local returning officer to take specified steps for the carrying out of further specified verification procedures in relation to the ballot papers and other documents relating to the PCC election.

(5) In paragraph (4), “specified” means specified by the police area returning officer in directions given under that paragraph.

The first count

Attendance at the first count

51.—(1) The local returning officer must make arrangements for counting the votes in the presence of the counting agents as soon as practicable after the close of the poll.

(2) The local returning officer must give the counting agents notice in writing of the time and place at which the counting of votes will begin.

(3) A person may be present at the counting of the votes given in a voting area only if—

(a)the person is within paragraph (4), or

(b)the person is permitted by the local returning officer to attend,

but, where the votes given in two or more voting areas are to be counted at the same place, the persons who may be present at that place are those who would be entitled to be present at the count for each voting area.

(4) The persons within this paragraph are—

(a)the police area returning officer and the local returning officer;

(b)the clerks of either officer;

(c)the candidates and one other person chosen by each of them;

(d)the election agents;

(e)the counting agents;

(f)persons who are entitled to attend by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the 2000 Act.

(5) The local returning officer may give a person permission under paragraph (3)(b) only if the local returning officer—

(a)is satisfied that the person’s attendance will not impede the efficient counting of the votes, and

(b)has consulted the election agents or thought it impracticable to do so.

(6) The local returning officer must give the counting agents all such reasonable facilities for overseeing the proceedings, and all such information with respect to them, as the local returning officer can give them consistently with the orderly conduct of the proceedings and the discharge of the local returning officer’s duties.

(7) In particular where the votes are counted by sorting the ballot papers according to the candidate for whom the vote is given and then counting the number of ballot papers for each candidate, the counting agents must be allowed to satisfy themselves that the ballot papers are correctly sorted.

The first count

52.—(1) Where the containers referred to in rule 50 are delivered to the place where the counting of votes is to be carried out, the local returning officer must open in the presence of the counting agents all the packets of ballot papers other than those containing unused, spoilt or tendered ballot papers.

(2) The local returning officer must not count the votes given on any ballot papers until—

(a)in the case of postal ballot papers, they have been mixed with the ballot papers from at least one ballot box;

(b)in the case of ballot papers from a ballot box, they have been mixed with the ballot papers from at least one other ballot box.

(3) The local returning officer must then—

(a)where the election is contested by three or more candidates, count the number of first preference votes given for each candidate;

(b)where the election is contested by only two candidates, count the votes given for each candidate.

(4) The local returning officer must not count any tendered ballot paper.

(5) The local returning officer, while counting the votes, must keep the ballot papers with their faces upwards and take all proper precautions for preventing anyone from seeing the numbers or other unique identifying marks printed on the back of the papers.

(6) The local returning officer must so far as practicable proceed continuously with the counting of votes, allowing only time for refreshment, except that the local returning officer may exclude the whole or any part of the period between 7 pm and 9 am on the next day.

(7) During the time so excluded the local returning officer must—

(a)place the ballot papers and other documents relating to the PCC election under the local returning officer’s seal and the seals of any of the counting agents who want to affix their seals, and

(b)otherwise take proper precautions for the security of the papers and documents.

Rejected ballot papers

53.—(1) Any ballot paper—

(a)which does not bear the official mark;

(b)on which more than one first preference vote is given;

(c)on which anything is written or marked by which the voter can be identified (except the printed number and other unique identifying mark on the back);

(d)which is unmarked;

(e)which is void for uncertainty as to the first preference vote,

is, subject to paragraph (2), void and not to be counted.

(2) A ballot paper on which the vote is marked—

(a)elsewhere than in the proper place, or

(b)otherwise than by means of a cross, or

(c)by more than one mark,

is not for that reason void if condition A or condition B is met.

(3) Condition A is that—

(a)three or more candidates remain validly nominated,

(b)an intention that a first preference vote be given for not more than one of the candidates clearly appears, and

(c)the way the paper is marked does not itself identify the voter and it is not shown that the voter can be identified from it.

(4) Condition B is that—

(a)paragraph (3)(a) does not apply,

(b)an intention that a vote is for one only of the candidates clearly appears, and

(c)the way the paper is marked does not itself identify the voter and it is not shown that the voter can be identified from it.

(5) A ballot paper—

(a)which is not otherwise void, and

(b)on which not more than one first preference vote is marked (whether or not a second preference vote is marked),

is valid as respects that first preference vote and must be counted accordingly.

(6) The local returning officer must endorse the word “rejected” on any ballot paper which under this rule is not be to counted and must add to the endorsement the words “rejection objected to” if any objection is made to the officer’s decision by a counting agent.

(7) The local returning officer must draw up a statement showing the number of rejected ballot papers under the several heads of—

(a)want of an official mark;

(b)voting for more than one candidate as to the first preference vote;

(c)writing or mark by which the voter could be identified;

(d)unmarked as to the first preference vote;

(e)void for uncertainty.

(8) In the case of an election where only two candidates remain validly nominated, this rule is to have effect as if—

(a)in paragraph (1)(b), for “first preference vote” there were substituted “vote”;

(b)in paragraphs (1)(e) and (7)(b) and (d), the words “as to the first preference vote” were omitted;

(c)paragraph (5) were omitted.

Re-count

54.—(1) A person within paragraph (3) who is present on completion of the counting (or any re-count) of the votes in a voting area may require that the votes be re-counted or again re-counted.

(2) The local returning officer may refuse to have the votes re-counted if in the local returning officer’s opinion the requirement is unreasonable.

(3) The persons within this paragraph are—

(a)the candidates;

(b)the election agents;

(c)the counting agents who, in relation to the count or re-count, are authorised under rule 31(2).

(4) No step is to be taken on the completion of the counting (or any re-count) of votes until the persons within paragraph (3) who are present at its completion have been given a reasonable opportunity to exercise the right conferred by this rule.

Direction to conduct a re-count

55.—(1) The police area returning officer may direct a local returning officer to have the votes re-counted.

(2) The police area returning officer may give a direction under paragraph (1) only if the police area returning officer has reason to doubt the accuracy of the counting of the votes in the voting area for which the local returning officer acts.

(3) A local returning officer who is given a direction under paragraph (1) must—

(a)begin the re-count as soon as practicable, and

(b)if the officer does not begin the re-count immediately, notify the counting agents of the time and place at which it will take place.

Decisions on ballot papers

56.  The decision on any question arising in respect of a ballot paper which is made by the local returning officer is final, but may be subject to review on a PCC election petition.

Procedure at conclusion of the first count

57.—(1) As soon as practicable after the conclusion of the count (including any re-count), the local returning officer must draw up a statement showing—

(a)the total number of ballot papers used,

(b)the total number of rejected ballot papers,

(c)at an election contested by three or more candidates—

(i)the total number of first preference votes given, and

(ii)the number of first preference votes given for each candidate;

(d)at an election contested by only two candidates, the number of votes given for each candidate.

(2) As soon as practicable after the statement is drawn up under paragraph (1), the local returning officer must inform the police area returning officer of its contents.

(3) As soon as practicable after being authorised to do so by the police area returning officer, the local returning officer must—

(a)inform such of the candidates and their election agents as are then present of the contents of—

(i)the statement prepared in accordance with paragraph (1), and

(ii)the statement prepared in accordance with rule 53(7), and

(b)give public notice of the contents of those statements.

The central calculation

Attendance at the central calculation

58.—(1) The police area returning officer—

(a)must make arrangements for the making of the calculation under rule 59 in the presence of the election agents, and

(b)must give to those agents notice in writing of the time and place at which the calculation will begin.

(2) No person other than—

(a)the police area returning officer and the officer’s clerks;

(b)the local returning officers and a clerk chosen by each of them;

(c)the candidates and one person chosen by each of them;

(d)the election agents;

(e)persons who are entitled to attend by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the 2000 Act,

may be present at a calculation, unless permitted by the police area returning officer to attend.

(3) A person not entitled to attend a calculation must not be permitted to do so by the police area returning officer unless the officer—

(a)is satisfied that the efficiency of the calculation will not be impeded, and

(b)has either consulted the election agents or thought it impracticable to do so.

The first calculation and resolution of equality

59.—(1) As soon as the police area returning officer has received the information required by rule 57 from every local returning officer, the police area returning officer must—

(a)in relation to an election contested by three or more candidates, ascertain the total of the first preference votes given in the police area to each candidate;

(b)in relation to an election contested by only two candidates, ascertain the total number of votes given in the police area to each candidate.

(2) As soon as the police area returning officer has ascertained the result of the calculation, the officer must inform such of the election agents as are then present of the relevant figures and must give them a reasonable opportunity to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the calculation.

(3) A person informed of the relevant figures under paragraph (2) may require the police area returning officer to make a calculation again but the officer may refuse to do so if in the officer’s opinion the request is unreasonable.

(4) In paragraphs (2) and (3), “the relevant figures” means—

(a)in the case of an election contested by three or more candidates—

(i)the number of first preference votes given in the police area for each candidate, and

(ii)the calculation undertaken by the police area returning officer for the purpose of ascertaining whether a candidate is to be returned in accordance with paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 to the 2011 Act (candidate with overall majority of first preference votes);

(b)in the case of an election contested by only two candidates, the total number of votes given in the police area for each candidate.

(5) Where an election is contested by three or more candidates—

(a)if paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 to the 2011 Act applies (candidate with overall majority of first preference votes), the declaration of the person to be returned to the office of police and crime commissioner for the police area must be made in accordance with rule 62;

(b)if paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 9 to the 2011 Act applies (no candidate with overall majority of first preference votes), the police area returning officer must proceed with the second calculation in accordance with Part 4 of these Rules.

(6) Where an election is contested by only two candidates and the total number of votes given for each of them is unequal, the person to be returned to the office of police and crime commissioner for the police area is the candidate to whom the majority of the votes is given.

(7) Where an election is contested by only two candidates and the total number of votes given for each of them is equal, the person to be returned to the office of police and crime commissioner for the police area is the person whom the police area returning officer decides, in accordance with paragraph 4(8) of Schedule 9 to the 2011 Act, is to be returned to that office.

(8) In a case to which paragraph (6) or (7) applies, the declaration of the person to be returned to the office of police and crime commissioner for the police area must be made in accordance with rule 62.

PART 4Further provision: three or more candidates

Counting of second preference votes

60.—(1) As soon as the police area returning officer has determined that paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 9 to the 2011 Act applies, the police area returning officer must direct every local returning officer to count the second preference votes for the candidates who are not eliminated from the contest.

(2) A local returning officer who is given a direction under paragraph (1) must—

(a)notify the counting agents for candidates not eliminated from the contest of the time and place at which the count of second preference votes will take place,

(b)count the number of second preference votes given in the voting area for each of the candidates remaining in the contest(71) by votes which did not give a first preference vote to any of those candidates,

(c)draw up a statement of the number of second preference votes given to each remaining candidate,

(d)as soon as practicable after the statement is drawn up under sub-paragraph (c), inform the police area returning officer of its contents, and

(e)as soon as practicable after being authorised to do so by the police area returning officer—

(i)inform such of the candidates and their election agents as are then present of the contents of the statement prepared in accordance with sub-paragraph (c) and the statement prepared in accordance with rule 53(5) (as applied by paragraph (4) of this rule), and

(ii)give public notice of the contents of those statements.

(3) A ballot paper—

(a)which is not otherwise void, and

(b)on which not more than one second preference vote is marked,

is valid as respects that second preference vote and must be counted accordingly if (and only if) a valid first preference vote has been marked.

(4) The following provisions have effect in relation to the counting of the second preference votes as they have effect in relation to the counting of votes under rule 52—

(a)rule 51(3) to (7),

(b)rule 52(4) to (6),

(c)rule 53(1), (2), (4) and (5),

(d)rule 54,

(e)rule 55, and

(f)rule 56.

(5) In their application by virtue of paragraph (4), those provisions have effect as if—

(a)references to candidates were to candidates not eliminated from the contest,

(b)references to election agents or counting agents were to election agents or counting agents appointed by such candidates, and

(c)references to first preference votes were to second preference votes.

(6) A local returning officer may not be required to re-examine any decision taken under rule 56.

The second calculation and resolution of equality

61.—(1) Once the police area returning officer has received from each local returning officer the statement required by rule 60(2)(c), the police area returning officer must comply with paragraph 4(5) and (6) of Schedule 9 to the 2011 Act.

(2) As soon as the police area returning officer has ascertained the result of the second calculation, the officer must provide such of the election agents for those candidates who remain in the contest as are then present with a copy of the relevant figures and must give them a reasonable opportunity to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the calculation.

(3) A person informed of the relevant figures under paragraph (2) may require the police area returning officer to make a calculation again but the officer may refuse to do so if in the officer’s opinion the request is unreasonable.

(4) In paragraphs (2) and (3), “the relevant figures” means—

(a)the number of second preference votes given in the police area for each of the candidates remaining in the contest, and

(b)the calculation undertaken by the police area returning officer for the purpose of ascertaining the total number of first and second preference votes given to each of those candidates.

(5) If, after the second calculation, the total number of votes given for two or more candidates is equal, the person to be returned the office of police and crime commissioner for the police area is the person whom the police area returning officer decides, in accordance with paragraph 4(8) of Schedule 9 to the 2011 Act, is to be returned to that office.

(6) Rule 58(2) and (3) has effect in relation to the calculation to be made under this rule as it has effect in relation to the calculation made under rule 59 but as if the reference to candidates was to candidates not eliminated from the contest and the reference to election agents or counting agents was to election agents or counting agents appointed by such candidates.

PART 5Final proceedings in contested and uncontested elections

Declaration of result

62.—(1) In a contested election, the police area returning officer must declare to be elected as police and crime commissioner for the police area the candidate who—

(a)in accordance with section 57(2) of the 2011 Act (elections with only two candidates) is to be returned as the commissioner;

(b)in accordance with Schedule 9 to the 2011 Act (elections with three or more candidates) is to be returned as the commissioner.

(2) The police area returning officer must give public notice of—

(a)the name of the person declared to be elected and the person’s authorised description, if any, under rule 6(1) or (3),

(b)the total number of first preference votes given for each candidate,

(c)the number of rejected ballot papers under each head shown in the statement of rejected ballot papers (rule 53(5)), and

(d)if second preference votes were counted—

(i)the total number of second preference votes given for each of the candidates remaining in the contest after the count of the first preference votes, and

(ii)the number of ballot papers rejected for the purposes of the count of second preference votes on the ground that they were unmarked or void for uncertainty as to the second preference vote.

(3) In an uncontested election, the police area returning officer must as soon as practicable after the latest time for the delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature—

(a)declare to be elected the candidate remaining validly nominated, and

(b)give public notice of the name of the person declared to be elected and the person’s authorised description, if any, under rule 6(1) or (3).

(4) The police area returning officer must send a copy of the notice given under paragraph (2) or (3) to—

(a)the Secretary of State, and

(b)the local returning officer.

(5) As soon as practicable after receipt of the copy of the notice under paragraph (4)(b), the local returning officer must give public notice of it at a place within the voting area for which the officer acts.

Return or forfeiture of candidate’s deposit

63.—(1) Unless forfeited in accordance with paragraph (5), the deposit made under rule 9 must either be returned to the person making it or to his or her personal representative.

(2) Subject to paragraph (4), the deposit must be returned not later than the next day after that on which the result of the election is declared.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)—

(a)a day is to be disregarded if it would be disregarded under rule 3 in computing any period of time for the purpose of a PCC election, and

(b)the deposit is to be treated as being returned on a day if a cheque for the amount of the deposit is posted on that day.

(4) If—

(a)the candidate is not shown as standing nominated in the statement of persons nominated, or

(b)proof of the candidate’s death has been given to the police area returning officer,

the deposit must be returned as soon as practicable after the publication of that statement or after the candidate’s death (as the case may be).

(5) Where a poll is taken and, after the first calculation under rule 59, the candidate is found not to have polled more than 5 per cent. of the total number of first preference votes polled by all the candidates, the candidate’s deposit is forfeited to Her Majesty.

Destruction of home address forms

64.  The police area returning officer must destroy each candidate’s home address form—

(a)on the next working day following the 21st day after the police area returning officer has declared the name of the person elected to the office of police and crime commissioner, or

(b)if a PCC election petition questioning the election is presented before that day, on the next working day following the conclusion of proceedings on the petition or on appeal from such proceedings.

PART 6Disposal of documents

Sealing up of ballot papers

65.—(1) On the completion of the counting at a contested election the local returning officer must seal up in separate packets—

(a)the counted ballot papers, and

(b)the rejected ballot papers.

(2) The local returning officer may not open the sealed packets of—

(a)tendered ballot papers,

(b)the completed corresponding number lists,

(c)certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll, or

(d)marked copies of the registers of electors (including any marked copy notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act) and lists of proxies.

Delivery of documents

66.—(1) The local returning officer must—

(a)endorse on each of the sealed packets a description of its contents, the date of the PCC election to which they relate and the name of the police area for which the election was held, and

(b)forward the documents specified in paragraph (2) to the relevant registration officer.

(2) The documents referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a)the packets of ballot papers in the local returning officer’s possession;

(b)the ballot paper accounts and the statements of—

(i)rejected ballot papers, and

(ii)the result of the verification of the ballot paper accounts;

(c)the tendered votes lists, the lists of voters with disabilities assisted by companions, the lists of votes marked by the presiding officer and the related statements, the lists maintained under rule 45 and the declarations made by the companions of voters with disabilities;

(d)the packets of the completed corresponding number lists;

(e)the packets of certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll;

(f)the packets containing marked copies of the registers (including any marked copy notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act) and marked copies of the postal voters list, of the lists of proxies and of the proxy postal voters list;

(g)the documents to be forwarded under paragraph 59 of Schedule 2.

Orders for production of documents

67.—(1) An order—

(a)for the inspection or production of any rejected ballot papers in the custody of the relevant registration officer,

(b)for the opening of a sealed packet of completed corresponding number lists or of certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll, or

(c)for the inspection of any counted ballot papers in the custody of the relevant registration officer,

may be made by a county court if the court is satisfied by evidence on oath that the order is required for the purpose of instituting or maintaining a prosecution for an offence in relation to ballot papers or for the purpose of a PCC election petition.

(2) An election court may make an order—

(a)for the opening of a sealed packet of completed corresponding number lists or of certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll, or

(b)for the inspection of any counted ballot papers in the custody of the relevant registration officer.

(3) An order under this rule may be made subject to whatever conditions the court thinks expedient as to—

(a)persons,

(b)time,

(c)place and mode of inspection, or

(d)production or opening.

(4) In making and carrying into effect an order for the opening of a packet of completed corresponding number lists or certificates or for the inspection of counted ballot papers, care must be taken to avoid disclosing the way in which the vote of any particular voter has been given until it has been proved—

(a)that the vote was given, and

(b)that the vote has been declared by a competent court to be invalid.

(5) An appeal lies to the High Court from any order of a county court under this rule.

(6) A power given under this rule to a court may be exercised by any judge of the court otherwise than in open court.

(7) Where an order is made for the production by the relevant registration officer of any document in the registration officer’s possession relating to any specified PCC election—

(a)the production by the registration officer or the registration officer’s agent of the document ordered in the manner directed by the order is conclusive evidence that the document relates to the specified election;

(b)any endorsement on any packet of ballot papers so produced is prima facie evidence that the ballot papers are what they are stated to be by the endorsement.

(8) The production from proper custody of—

(a)a ballot paper purporting to have been used at any election, and

(b)a completed corresponding number list with a number marked in writing beside the number of the ballot paper,

is prima facie evidence that the elector whose vote was given by that ballot paper was the person whose entry on the register of electors (or on a notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act at the time of the election) contained the same number as the number written as mentioned in sub-paragraph (b).

(9) Unless authorised by this rule, nobody may—

(a)inspect any rejected or counted ballot papers in the possession of the relevant registration officer, or

(b)open any sealed packets of completed corresponding number lists or certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll.

Retention of documents by relevant registration officer

68.—(1) A registration officer must retain for one year all documents relating to a PCC election which are—

(a)specified in rule 66(2), and

(b)forwarded to the registration officer in pursuance of these rules,

and then, unless otherwise directed by an order of a county court, a Crown Court, a magistrates’ court or an election court, must have them destroyed.

(2) While the documents are retained under paragraph (1) they must be open to public inspection.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to—

(a)ballot papers;

(b)the completed corresponding number lists;

(c)certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll.

(4) The relevant registration officer must, on request, supply copies of or extracts from the marked copies of—

(a)the register of electors (including notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act),

(b)the postal voters list,

(c)the list of proxies and

(d)the proxy postal voters list,

to any person who, in accordance with Schedule 10, is entitled to be supplied with them.

(5) Schedule 10 contains other provision about the inspection of, and access to, documents retained under this rule.

PART 7Death of candidate

Countermand or abandonment of poll on death of a candidate

69.—(1) If at a contested election proof is given to the police area returning officer’s satisfaction before the result of the election is declared that one of the persons named or to be named as a candidate in the ballot papers has died, then the police area returning officer must—

(a)countermand notice of the poll, or

(b)if polling has begun, direct that the poll be abandoned,

and notify the appropriate officer for the police area in accordance with article 79.

(2) Subject to paragraph (4), where the poll is abandoned by reason of a candidate’s death—

(a)no further ballot papers are to be issued, and

(b)the presiding officer at any polling station must take the like steps (so far as not already taken) for the delivery to the local returning officer of ballot boxes and ballot papers and other documents as the presiding officer is required to take on the close of the poll in due course.

(3) The local returning officer must dispose of ballot papers and other documents in the officer’s possession as the officer is required to do on the completion in due course of the counting of the votes, subject to paragraphs (4) and (5).

(4) It is not necessary for any ballot paper account to be prepared or verified.

(5) The local returning officer must seal up all the ballot papers (whether the votes on them have been counted or not) and it is not necessary to seal up counted and rejected ballot papers in separate packets.

(6) The provisions of this Order as to the inspection, production, retention and destruction of ballot papers and other documents relating to a poll at a PCC election apply to any documents relating to a poll abandoned by reason of a candidate’s death subject to the modifications in paragraphs (7) and (8).

(7) Ballot papers on which the votes were neither counted nor rejected must be treated as counted ballot papers.

(8) No order may be made for—

(a)the inspection or production of any ballot papers, or

(b)the opening of a sealed packet of completed corresponding number lists or certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll,

unless the order is made by a court with reference to a prosecution.

PART 8Forms referred to in Parts 1 to 7 of this Schedule

Forms

70.  These are the forms referred to in Parts 1 to 7 of this Schedule(72).

Article 13

SCHEDULE 4Combination of polls

PART 1Application to PCC elections of existing provisions in Acts

Representation of the People Act 1985

1.—(1) Section 15 of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (combination of polls at parliamentary, European Parliamentary and local elections)(73) applies for the purposes of PCC elections.

(2) In its application by virtue of this paragraph, that section has effect as if it provided—

“Combination of polls at parliamentary, European Parliamentary, local elections, mayoral elections, referendums and elections of police and crime commissioners

15.—(1) Where the polls at—

(a)a parliamentary general election and a European Parliamentary general election;

(b)an ordinary local government election and a parliamentary general election;

(c)an ordinary local government election and a European Parliamentary general election;

(d)an ordinary election in England or Wales of police and crime commissioners and one or more of the following—

(i)a parliamentary general election,

(ii)a European Parliamentary general election,

(iii)an ordinary local government election in England or Wales,

(iv)an election in England for the return of an elected mayor as defined by section 9H(1) of the Local Government Act 2000(74),

(v)an election in Wales for the return of an elected mayor as defined by section 39(1) of the Local Government Act 2000,

are to be taken on the same date, they shall be taken together.

(2) Where the polls at elections for related areas are to be taken on the same date but are not required by subsection (1) above or section 36 of the principal Act to be taken together, they may nevertheless be so taken if the returning officer for each election thinks fit.

(3) In subsection (2) above and subsection (4) below, a reference to elections—

(a)includes—

(i)European Parliament elections,

(ii)ordinary elections in England or Wales of police and crime commissioners,

(iii)elections for police areas in England or Wales held under section 51 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (election to fill vacancy in office of police and crime commissioner),

(iv)a referendum in England under Part 1A of the Local Government Act 2000(75),

(v)a referendum in Wales under Part 2 of the Local Government Act 2000,

(vi)a referendum in England or Wales under Chapter 4ZA of Part 1 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992(76), but

(b)does not include elections under the local government Act which are not local government elections.

(3A) For the purposes of subsection (2) above—

(a)two areas are related if one is coterminous with or situated wholly or partly within the other, and

(b)the reference to the returning officer for an election includes the counting officer for a referendum listed in subsection (3)(a)(iv), (v) or (vi) above.

(4) Where the polls at any elections are combined under this section the cost of taking the combined polls (excluding any cost solely attributable to one election) and any cost attributable to their combination shall be apportioned equally among the elections.”

PART 2Amendment of existing provisions in secondary legislation

The European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004

2.—(1) The European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004(77) are amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 40(1) of Schedule 2 (interpretation of Part 4 of that Schedule), in the definition of “relevant election or referendum”, after paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca)an election of a police and crime commissioner in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011;”.

(3) In paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 3 (definitions for the purposes of modifications of the European Parliamentary elections rules set out in Schedule 1 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004)(78)—

(a)after “any provision of the European Parliamentary Elections rules modified by this Schedule—” insert—

““police and crime commissioner election” means an election of a police and crime commissioner in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011;”;

(b)in the definition of “relevant election or referendum”, after paragraph (d) insert—

“(e)a police and crime commissioner election,”.

The Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) Regulations 2004

3.  The Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) Regulations 2004(79) are amended in accordance with paragraphs 4 to 9.

4.  In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a)after the definition of “2002 Act” insert—

““2011 Act” means the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011;”;

(b)after the definition of “mayoral election” insert—

““PCC election” means an election of a police and crime commissioner in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act;”.

5.—(1) Regulation 4 (returning officers and polling stations) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraphs (1)(a), (2)(a), (3)(a) and (4)(a), for “local government area or voting area” substitute “local government area, voting area or police area”.

(3) In paragraphs (5)(a) and (6)(a) for “the electoral region or local government area” substitute “the electoral region, local government area or police area”.

(4) For paragraph (7), substitute —

“(7) Where none of the above paragraphs applies and the poll at an ordinary parish or community council election is taken together with the poll at another election under a relevant enactment—

(a)those functions of the returning officer at the other election which are specified in regulation 5 shall be discharged by the returning officer at the parish or community council election for such part of the electoral region or police area as is situated in the area of the parish or community council; and

(b)only polling stations used for the parish or community council election shall be used for the poll at the other election.”

(5) After paragraph (7) insert—

“(7A) Where none of the above paragraphs applies and the poll at a PCC election is taken together with the poll at a European Parliamentary election under a relevant enactment—

(a)those functions of the returning officer at the European Parliamentary election which are specified in regulation 5 shall be discharged by the returning officer at the PCC election for such part of the electoral region as is situated in the police area; and

(b)only polling stations used for the PCC election shall be used for the European Parliamentary election.”

(6) In paragraph (8), for “(including by virtue of section 15(2) and (3) as applied by regulations made under sections 44 and 105 or 45 and 105 of the 2000 Act)” substitute “(including by virtue of section 15(2) and (3) as applied by orders or regulations made under any of the listed provisions)”.

(7) In paragraph (9), for “paragraphs (1) to (7) above” substitute “paragraphs (1) to (7A) above”.

(8) In paragraph (10)—

(a)after the definition of “county council election” insert—

““the listed provisions” means—

“police area” means a police area listed in Schedule 1 to the Police Act 1996 (police areas outside London);”;

(b)in the definition of “relevant enactment”, for the words from “and includes” to the end substitute “and includes a reference to each section as applied in orders or regulations made under any of the listed provisions;”.

(9) In paragraph (11), after sub-paragraph (b) insert—

“(c)the returning officer at a PCC election, shall be construed as including a reference to the police area returning officer.”

6.—(1) Regulation 5 (functions at combined polls) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1), after sub-paragraph (e) insert—

“(f)at a PCC election, by those rules in an Order made under sections 58 and 154 of the 2011 Act which correspond to the rules specified in paragraph (2);”.

(3) In paragraph (3)—

(a)omit “and” at the end of sub-paragraph (a);

(b)after sub-paragraph (b) insert—

“; and

(c)the provisions in an Order made under sections 58 and 154 of the 2011 Act which correspond to that regulation and that Part.”

7.  In regulation 6(5) (modification of provisions about expenses in the 1983 Act)—

(a)omit “and” at the end of sub-paragraph (a);

(b)after sub-paragraph (a) insert—

“(ab)any provision in Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act which corresponds to that provision; and”;

(c)in sub-paragraph (b), for the words from “regulations made under” to the end substitute “orders or regulations made under any of the listed provisions.”

8.  In regulation 8 (modification of parliamentary elections rules)—

(a)omit “or” at the end of sub-paragraph (a);

(b)after sub-paragraph (b) insert—

“or

(c)the poll at a mayoral election, referendum or PCC election in accordance with orders or regulations made under any of the listed provisions.”

9.  In paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 (definitions for the purposes of modifications of the parliamentary elections rules set out in Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act)(80)—

(a)after the definition of “mayoral election” insert—

““police and crime commissioner election” means an election of a police and crime commissioner in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act;”.

(b)in the definition of “relevant election or referendum”, after paragraph (d) insert—

“(e)a police and crime commissioner election,”.

The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006

10.—(1) The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006(81) are amended as follows.

(2) In rule 2 (interpretation)—

(a)in paragraph (1), after the definition of “petition organiser” insert—

““police and crime commissioner election” means an election of a police and crime commissioner in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act;”;

(b)in paragraph (2), after paragraph (e) of the definition of “relevant election or referendum” insert—

“(f)a police and crime commissioner election,”.

The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006

11.—(1) The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006(82) are amended as follows.

(2) In rule 2 (interpretation)—

(a)in paragraph (1), after the definition of “petition organiser” insert—

““police and crime commissioner election” means an election of a police and crime commissioner in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act;”;

(b)in paragraph (2), in the definition of “relevant election or referendum”, after paragraph (e) insert—

“(f)a police and crime commissioner election,”.

The Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007

12.—(1) The Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007(83) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a)after the definition of “local government election” insert—

““police and crime commissioner election” means an election of a police and crime commissioner in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act;”;

(b)in the definition of “relevant election or referendum”, after paragraph (e) insert—

“(f)a police and crime commissioner election,”.

(3) In Form 7(1) of the Appendix to Schedule 3, in the form of postal voting statement for use where there is a joint issue and receipt of ballot papers, after paragraph 6 insert—

“6A. [*When you are voting in a police and crime commissioner election ([insert colour of ballot paper] ballot paper), mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of the name of the candidate of your choice. [Vote for ONE candidate only]* [Vote ONCE (X) in Column One for your First Choice and ONCE (X) in Column Two for your Second Choice.]*]”.

PART 3Modifications to PCC elections rules

13.—(1) The PCC election rules are modified in accordance with paragraphs 14 to 45.

(2) In this Part of this Schedule and in any provision of the PCC elections rules modified by this Part—

“combined polls” means the polls to be taken together by virtue of provisions applied by article 13;

“relevant election or referendum” means an election or local referendum the poll for which is, by virtue of provisions applied by article 13, to be taken together with the poll for a PCC election;

“the relevant returning or counting officer” means the returning or counting officer discharging functions under regulation 5 of the Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) Regulations 2004, as that regulation has effect in relation to PCC elections by virtue of provisions applied by article 13.

(3) In relation to a referendum under Part 1A of the Local Government Act 2000(84), expressions used in this Part of this Schedule are to be read as follows—

“counting agent” means a counting observer as defined by regulation 2(1) of the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2012;

“counting officer” means a person referred to in regulation 9 of those Regulations;

“polling agent” means a polling observer as defined by regulation 2(1) of those Regulations;

“elector” means voter as defined by rule 2(1) of the Local Government Act Referendums (Combination of Polls) Rules contained in Schedule 5 to those Regulations.

(4) In relation to a referendum under Chapter 4ZA of Part 1 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992(85), expressions used in this Part of this Schedule are to be read as follows—

“counting agent” means a counting observer as defined by regulation 2(1) of the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) Regulations 2012;

“counting officer” means a person referred to in regulation 15 of those Regulations;

“polling agent” means a polling observer as defined by regulation 2(1) of those Regulations;

“elector” means voter as defined by rule 2(1) of the Local Government Finance Act Referendums (Combination of Polls) Rules contained in Schedule 5 to those Regulations.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Computation of time

14.  In rule 3, after “nor is” insert “the relevant returning or counting officer or”.

CONTESTED PCC ELECTIONS: GENERAL PROVISIONS

The ballot papers

15.  In rule 19(3)—

(a)omit “ and” at the end of sub-paragraph (b); and

(b)at the end of sub-paragraph (c) insert—

“and

Corresponding number lists: proceedings on issue and receipt of ballot papers combined

16.  After rule 19 insert—

“Corresponding number lists: proceedings on issue and receipt of ballot papers combined

19A.—(1) This rule applies where proceedings on the issue and receipt of ballot papers at combined polls are taken together by virtue of paragraph 29 of Schedule 2 to this Order and regulation 65 of the 2001 Regulations.

(2) The relevant returning or counting officer must prepare a list containing the numbers and other unique identifying marks of all of the ballot papers which are to be issued by the officer in pursuance of rule 25 or provided by the officer in pursuance of rule 29(1).

(3) The corresponding number list to be prepared for the purpose of rule 24(1) (postal ballot papers) and of paragraph 37(1) of Schedule 2 (procedure on issue of postal ballot paper) must be in Form 19 set out in Part 4 of Schedule 4 to this Order or a form to like effect.

(4) The corresponding number list to be prepared for the purpose of rule 29(3)(d) (equipment of polling stations) and of rule 39(2)(b) (voting procedure) must be in Form 20 set out in Part 4 of Schedule 4 to this Order or a form to like effect.”

Corresponding number lists: proceedings on issue and receipt of ballot papers not combined

17.—(1) Rule 20 is modified as follows.

(2) For the title substitute “Corresponding number lists: proceedings on issue and receipt of ballot papers not combined”.

(3) Before paragraph (1) insert—

“(A1) This rule applies where proceedings on the issue and receipt of ballot papers are not taken together by virtue of paragraph 29 of Schedule 2 to this Order and regulation 65 of the 2001 Regulations.”

Use of schools and public rooms

18.  For rule 23 substitute—

“23.—(1) The local returning officer and the relevant returning or counting officer may use, free of charge, for relevant purposes—

(a)a room in a school maintained or assisted by—

(i)in relation to England, a county council in England, a metropolitan district council, a non-metropolitan district council for an area for which there is no county council or the Council of the Isles of Scilly, or

(ii)in relation to Wales, a county council or a county borough council in Wales;

(b)a room in a school in respect of which grants are made out of moneys provided by Parliament to the person or body of persons responsible for the management of the school;

(c)a room the expense of maintaining which is met by—

(i)in relation to England, a county council in England, a district council, a parish council or the Council of the Isles of Scilly, or

(ii)in relation to Wales, a county council or a county borough council in Wales or a community council.

(2) That officer must make good—

(a)any damage done to any such room, and

(b)defray any expense incurred by the persons having control over any such room,

by reason of its being used for the relevant purpose.

(3) In paragraphs (1) and (2) “relevant purposes” means—

(a)in the case of the local returning officer, the counting of votes, and

(b)in the case of the relevant returning or counting officer, the taking of the poll and the discharging of the functions under rule 49.”

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BEFOR0E THE POLL

Notice of poll

19.  In rule 24, for paragraph (3) substitute—

“(3) No later than the time of publication of the notice of poll, the relevant returning or counting officer must give public notice of—

(a)the situation of each polling station;

(b)the description of voters entitled to vote there.

(3A) A notice published under paragraph (3) must, in addition—

(a)state that the poll for the PCC election is to be taken together with the poll for each relevant election or referendum;

(b)specify—

(i)the parliamentary constituency, local counting area, voting area or, as the case may be, the relevant local authority for which the election is held, and

(ii)in the case of an election to fill a casual vacancy, the electoral area for which the election is held;

(c)where polls for two or more elections are to be taken together in part only of the voting area, specify that part.”

Postal ballot papers

20.  In rule 25, after paragraph (3) insert—

“(4) Where proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers are taken together in respect of combined polls, references in this rule to “local returning officer” are to be read as references to “relevant returning or counting officer”.”

Provision of polling stations

21.  In rule 26, in paragraphs (1) and (4), for “local returning officer” (in each place) substitute “relevant returning or counting officer”.

Appointment of presiding officers and polling clerks

22.  In rule 27, in paragraphs (1) to (4), for “local returning officer” (in each place) substitute “relevant returning or counting officer”.

Issue of official poll cards

23.  In rule 28, after paragraph (4) insert—

“(5) If the local returning officer and the returning officer or counting officer for each relevant election or referendum thinks fit, an official poll card issued under this rule may be combined with an official poll card issued at each relevant election or referendum.

(6) Where official poll cards are combined under paragraph (5), the form to be used is the form of the official poll card which is required to be used at the relevant election or referendum with such adaptations as are necessary to enable it to be used in relation to the PCC election.”