- a relevant order or direction
means—
- act
includes an omission (and references to the doing of an act are to be read accordingly).
- appropriate officer
means—
- appropriate registration officer
means— (a) the registration officer for the constituency in which the election is being held, or (b) where the election is being held in a constituency for which there is more than one registration officer, any of those officers;
- Assembly constituency
has the same meaning as in the 1999 Act (see section 2(4) and (5) of that Act);
- authorised person
means a person (other than a barrister or solicitor) who, for the purposes of the Legal Services Act 2007, is an authorised person in relation to an activity which constitutes the exercise of a right of audience (within the meaning of that Act).
- Authority election
means— (a) any election of the Mayor of London;
- bank holiday
means— but at a general election sub-paragraph (b) and not sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph applies in relation to any proceedings—
- broadcasting authority
means the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Office of Communications or Sianel Pedwar Cymru;
- by the appropriate method
means—
- candidate
has the same meaning as in Part II of this Act and the saving in section 117(1) above applies in relation to this Part as in relation to Part II;
- civil penalty
includes any interest or additional penalty.
- clerk of the authority
means in relation to the City, the town clerk of the City, • “electoral area” means in relation to a ward election, the ward, and in relation to any other municipal election in the City, the City.
- Clerk of the Crown
means Clerk of the Crown in Chancery;
- Common Council
means the Common Council of the City;
- common hall register
means the list prepared under section 4 of the City of London Ballot Act 1887.
- convicted person
means any person found guilty of an offence (whether under the law of the United Kingdom or not), including a person found guilty by a court of a service offence within the meaning of the Armed Forces Act 2006, but not including a person dealt with by committal or other summary process for contempt of court;
- corporate office
includes each of those offices, • “local government area” includes the City, • “clerk of the authority” means in relation to the City, the town clerk of the City, • “electoral area” means in relation to a ward election, the ward, and in relation to any other municipal election in the City, the City.
- costs
includes charges and expenses;
- date of the allowance of an authorised excuse
has the meaning assigned to it by section 86(8) above or paragraph 7 of Schedule 4 to this Act, as the case may be;
- declaration as to election expenses
means a declaration made under section 82 above or, as the case may be, paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to this Act;
- defined expenses
means expenses in connection with—
- determine
means determine in accordance with regulations (if any).
- determines
means determines in accordance with regulations;
- devolved election proxy appointment
means the appointment of a person as a proxy to vote for another person at local government elections in Wales or Scotland, where the appointment was made before a date specified in the regulations on an application under paragraph 6(7) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000;
- disputed claim
has the meaning given by section 79(1) above as extended by section 80 above;
- dwelling
includes any part of a building where that part is occupied separately as a dwelling;
- election
means a parliamentary election, an Authority election or an election under the local government Act;
- election court
means— (a) In relation to a parliamentary election petition, the judges presiding at the trial;
- election in Scotland
means— (a) an election for membership of the Scottish Parliament, or (b) a local government election in Scotland;
- election in Wales
means— (a) an election of Assembly members, or (b) a local government election in Wales;
- election of a constituency member of the London Assembly
means— (a) any such election at an ordinary election;
- election of the Mayor of London
means— (a) any such election at an ordinary election;
- election petition
means a petition presented in pursuance of Part III of this Act;
- election report
means a report under section 5(1) or (2A) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in relation to the parliamentary election in question.
- elective office
means any office to which a local government election is held in England or Wales;
- electoral area
means (a) in England, any electoral division or ward or, in the case of a parish in which there are no wards, the parish, for which the election of councillors is held under the local government Act;
- electors
means persons who are electors in relation to an election to which any of the postal voting documents handed in by the person relates.
- electronic communication
has the meaning given in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000;
- enactment
includes subordinate legislation;
- extraordinary general election
means a general election for membership of the Scottish Parliament held under section 3 of the 1998 Act;
- forecast
includes estimate;
- forged document
means a false document made to resemble a specified document.
- gift
includes a bequest or any other form of testamentary disposition.
- Guernsey immigration rules
means the rules made in respect of the Bailiwick of Guernsey under sections 1(4) and 3(2) of the 1971 Act as extended to that Bailiwick;
- immigration rules
has the same meaning as in the 1971 Act;
- Intervening year
means a year other than—
- Isle of Man immigration rules
means the rules made in respect of the Isle of Man under section 3(2) of the 1971 Act as extended to the Isle of Man;
- Jersey immigration rules
means the rules contained in the directions made in respect of the Bailiwick of Jersey under sections 1(4A) and 3(2) of the 1971 Act as extended to that Bailiwick.
- judicial office
includes the office of justice of the peace;
- legal incapacity
includes (in addition, where applicable, to any incapacity by virtue of any subsisting provision of the common law) any disqualification imposed by this Act or any other Act;
- legal process
means a claim form, application notice, writ, summons or other process;
- Licensing Acts
means the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (as that Order may from time to time have effect);
- local authority
means the Greater London Authority, a county council a county borough council,,... a district council, a London borough council... or a parish or community council;
- local government Act
means the Local Government Act 1972...;
- local government area
means Greater London,a county county borough,, London borough..., district, parish or community;
- local government election
means (a) the election of councillors for any electoral area;
- meeting room
means any room which it is the practice to let for public meetings;
- mental hospital
means any establishment (or part of an establishment) maintained wholly or mainly for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from any form of mental disorder;
- merchant seaman
means any person not having a service qualification whose employment or the greater part of it is carried out on board seagoing ships, and includes any such person while temporarily without employment.
- ordinary local election
has the meaning given in section 43(1C).
- parliamentary election petition
means an election petition questioning a parliamentary election or return;
- parliamentary elections rules
means the parliamentary elections rules in Schedule 1 to this Act;
- payment
includes any pecuniary or other reward;
- penal institution
means an institution to which the Prison Act 1952, the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1952 or the Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 applies;
- person
includes (without prejudice to the provisions of the Interpretation Act 1978) an association corporate or unincorporate;
- postal operator
has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011 (see section 27(3) to (5) of that Act);
- postal services
has the meaning given by section 27 of the Postal Services Act 2011.
- postal voting document
means a postal ballot paper, postal voting statement, declaration of identity or envelope that has been issued to a person for the purpose of enabling the person to vote by post at a relevant election;
- prescribed
includes of a prescribed description.
- print
means print by whatever means, and “printer” shall be construed accordingly;
- processing
has the same meaning as in Parts 5 to 7 of the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(4) and (14) of that Act).
- property
includes any description of property, and references to the provision of property accordingly include the supply of goods.
- publication
means a publication made available in whatever form and by whatever means (whether or not to the public at large or any section of the public).
- publish
means make available to the public at large, or any section of the public, in whatever form and by whatever means;
- published
means made available to the public at large or to any section of the public, in whatever form and by whatever means;
- qualifying application for registration
means an application for registration that—
- qualifying Commonwealth citizen
means a Commonwealth citizen who either— (a) is not a person who requires leave under the Immigration Act 1971 to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or (b) is such a person but for the time being has (or is, by virtue of any enactment, to be treated as having) any description of such leave;
- qualifying country
means a country— (a) that was a member State immediately before IP completion day, other than the Republic of Ireland, (b) that was part of a member State immediately before IP completion day, other than the Republic of Ireland, or (c) that is formed entirely of two or more former countries, both or all of which were member States immediately before IP completion day, other than the Republic of Ireland;
- qualifying EU citizen
means a person who—
- qualifying foreign citizen
means a person who— ((a)) is not a Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a relevant citizen of the Union, and ((b)) either— ((i)) is not a person who requires leave under the Immigration Act 1971 to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or ((ii)) is such a person but for the time being has (or is, by virtue of any enactment, to be treated as having) any description of such leave. • “simple majority system” has the meaning given by section 6(1) of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021;
- qualifying foreign national
means a person of any nationality who— ((a)) is not a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, and ((b)) either— ((i)) is not a person who requires leave under the Immigration Act 1971 to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or ((ii)) is such a person but for the time being has (or is, by virtue of any enactment, to be treated as having) any description of such leave, • “registered political party” means a party registered under Part II of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;
- Recommendation
means a written recommendation to the Secretary of State.
- Register
means a register maintained by the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland under section 9.
- registered political party
means a party registered under Part II of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;
- registration area
means—
- rejected
means rejected in accordance with regulations made by virtue of this paragraph;
- relevant absent voting application
has the same meaning as in paragraph 1A.
- relevant area
means—
- relevant citizen of the Union
means such a citizen who is not a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland;
- relevant concessionary travel pass
means a concessionary travel pass listed in the second column of the following table— passes funded by the Government of the United Kingdom an Older Person’s Bus Pass a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass an Oyster 60+ card a Freedom Pass...... passes funded by the Welsh Government a 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card a Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card passes issued under the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme a Senior SmartPass a Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass a War Disablement SmartPass or War Disabled SmartPass a 60+ SmartPass a Half Fare SmartPass
- relevant declaration
means—
- relevant devolved absent voting application
means an application (including a partially completed application) under paragraph 3, 4 or 6 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 in relation to a local government election, or local government elections, in Scotland or Wales;
- relevant election
means—
- relevant officer
means— (a) where a postal voting document is handed in at a polling station— (a) the person presiding at the polling station, or (b) a clerk at the polling station;
- relevant period
means the period beginning with 11th March in a year in which an ordinary local election falls to be held and ending with the day which immediately precedes the first Thursday in May in that year, and references to the time when a local election falls or does not fall to be held are to be construed in accordance with section 5(1C) of the 1994 Act.
- Relevant person
means a person who—
- relevant persons
means persons who find it difficult or impossible to vote in the manner directed by rule 37 because of—
- relevant provision
means—
- relevant register
means the register of parliamentary electors for the MP's constituency,
- relevant registration application
means an application (including a partially completed application) for registration in, or alteration of— and includes a form (or partially completed form) in connection with a canvass under section 10;
- relevant registration officer
means—
- relevant service declaration
means—
- relevant treaty
means a treaty containing provision relating to eligibility to vote and to stand as a candidate at elections;
- relevant voter
means a voter who is blind, has another disability, or is unable to read.
- representation
means a representation made in accordance with prescribed requirements to the effect that the register contains a clerical error.
- residence
means residence for the purposes of section 4 above;
- residence scheme immigration rules
means— (a) residence scheme immigration rules within the meaning of Part 3 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (see section 17(1) of that Act), (b) Appendix EU to the Guernsey immigration rules, (c) Appendix EU to the Isle of Man immigration rules, or (d) Appendix EU(J) to the Jersey immigration rules;
- resident
means resident for the purposes of section 4 above. • “the UK digital service” has the same meaning as in section 10ZF, and references to a form or application submitted through the UK digital service shall be construed in accordance with subsection (4) of that section.
- return as to election expenses
means a return made under section 81 above or, as the case maybe, paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to this Act;
- Return of permitted expenditure
means a return—
- room
includes a hall, gallery or gymnasium.
- secure accommodation
means accommodation in the United Kingdom provided for the purpose of lawfully restricting the liberty of persons under the age of 18, other than a penal institution within the meaning given in section 3(2)(b).
- service declaration
means a declaration made by a person under and in accordance with section 15;
- service voter
means a person who has made a service declaration and is registered or entitled to be registered in pursuance of it;
- simple majority system
has the meaning given by section 6(1) of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021;
- Speaker
includes Deputy Speaker and, where the office of Speaker is vacant, Clerk of the House of Commons, or any other officer for the time being performing the duties of Clerk of the House of Commons.
- sub-agent
has the meaning given by section 68(1) above;
- the 1971 Act
means the Immigration Act 1971;
- the 1999 Act
means the Greater London Authority Act 1999;
- The 2000 Act
means the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
- The appropriate day
means—
- the appropriate government department
means, in relation to members of the forces, the Ministry of Defence, and in relation to any other person means the government department under which he is employed in the employment giving the service qualification.
- the City
means the City of London;
- The Commission
means the Electoral Commission established by section 1 of that Act.
- the court
means that court or Auditor.
- the cut-off day
means the 3rd working day before the beginning of the signing period,
- the data protection legislation
has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(9) of that Act);
- the Islands
means the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man;
- the multiple voting provisions
means subsections (2)(a)(i), (2A)(a) to (c), (3)(a)(i) and (3A)(a) to (c).
- the permitted sum
means— and expenses shall 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 subsection (1ZZB)(a) fall within subsection (1) above.
- the postal voters list
means— (a) in relation to England and Wales and Scotland, the list of persons kept in pursuance of paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (persons whose applications to vote by post have been granted);
- the proxy postal voters list
means— (a) in relation to England and Wales and Scotland, the list of persons kept in pursuance of paragraph 7(8) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (persons whose applications to vote by post as proxy have been granted);
- the register of electors
means the register of parliamentary electors, or (as the case may be) local government electors, for the constituency or electoral area in question as it has effect on the last day for publication of notice of the election.
- the relevant date
means 30 June 2021;
- the relevant paragraph of rule 37
means—
- the relevant paragraphs of rule 37
means—
- the relevant time
means—
- The required information
means the following (as appearing in the register or other records of the Chief Electoral Officer)—
- the UK digital service
has the meaning given by paragraph 3ZA(7), and a reference to a relevant devolved absent voting application submitted through the UK digital service is a reference to such an application submitted using that service as an intermediary.
- the voter identification requirements
means paragraphs (1A) to (1T) of rule 37 of the parliamentary elections rules (voting procedure) as it extends to England and Wales and to Scotland (including those paragraphs as applied by rule 38, 39 or 40 of those rules).
- treaty
has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (see section 25 of that Act).
- United Kingdom passport
means a passport issued by—
- universal postal service provider
means a universal service provider (within the meaning of Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011);
- voter
means a person voting at an election and includes a person voting as proxy and, except in the parliamentary elections rules, and the rules under section 36, 36A and 42 above, a person voting by proxy, and “vote” (whether noun or verb) shall be construed accordingly, except that in those rules any reference to an elector voting or an elector’s vote shall include a reference to an elector voting by proxy or an elector’s vote given by proxy.