Changes to Electoral law

The Electoral Administration Act

On Tuesday 11th July 2006, The Electoral Administration Act 2006 received Royal Assent. The complete Act can be found on the Office of Public Sector Information website.

The Act addresses four key areas:

• Improving Access and Engagement.
• Improving Confidence.
• Extending Openness and Transparency in Party Financing.
• Maintaining Professional Delivery of Elections.

Recent changes to electoral law have produced some key changes to registration and voting practices.  The key changes to take effect as a result of the new regulations and rules are as follows:

• Polling hours are extended to 7am-10pm
• The last day for applications to vote by post has moved from 6 to 11 working days before polling day.
• People with existing postal votes set up to their registered address now need to give a reason if they want their postal vote sent to a different address for a particular election.
• All postal vote applications and their outcome will be confirmed in writing to the elector.
• The Electoral Registration Officer will have the power to check the signature on a postal vote application against any other signature they hold for the applicant.
• The deadline for new applications to vote by proxy remains at 6 working days before polling day but ‘emergency’ proxy votes for reasons of physical incapacity can be made up to 5pm on the day of poll if supported by a qualified person.
• Replacement postal voting papers can be issued up to 5pm on the day of poll, including the declaration of identity as well as the ballot paper.
• A member of the Returning Officers staff can collect postal votes handed in to polling stations throughout polling day.
• Postal voting statistics for local elections will be collected and sent to the Secretary of State and the Electoral Commission within 10-15 days from the day of the poll.

Statutory Instruments

To view the relevant Statutory Instruments please follow the links below:

• Representation of the People (England and Wales)(Amendment) Regulations 2006
• The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006
• The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities)(England & Wales) Rules 2006