The Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020

Submission of canvass form

4.—(1) A canvass form must be submitted in writing and be dated.

(2) The submitted form must contain a declaration by the relevant person that, by submitting the form or instructing another person to submit it on the relevant person’s behalf, the relevant person confirms that—

(a) the relevant person is the person named in the form;

(b) the information provided in the form and any declaration accompanying it is true;

(c) if applicable, paragraph (3) has been complied with, and

(d) where, under paragraph (4), the relevant person instructs a person to submit it on their behalf, the person submitting it is over 18 years and has submitted it in the relevant person’s presence.

(3) Where a relevant person is unable to read, the relevant person must arrange for the declaration mentioned in paragraph (2) to be read out to the relevant person before the form is submitted.

(4) Where the form is to be submitted through the UK digital service and the relevant person is unable to submit it owing to a disability, the relevant person may instruct a person of 18 years or over to submit it on behalf of the relevant person in the relevant person’s presence.

(5) Regulation 5 (communication of applications, notices etc.)(1) of the 2008 Regulations applies to a canvass form as if it were an application required by the 2008 Regulations to be submitted in writing.

(6) Regulation 6 (electronic signatures and related certificates)(2) of the 2008 Regulations applies to a canvass form as if it were an application and the requirement that it be submitted with a signature (where applicable) were a requirement of the 2008 Regulations.

(1)

Regulation 5 was amended by S.I. 2018/699.

(2)

Regulation 6 was amended by S.I. 2018/699. Section 10(4A)(a) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 provides that the information to be obtained by use of a canvass form shall include the signature of each person whom the form is completed in relation to. Section 10(4BZA) disapplies that requirement for forms submitted through the UK digital service. Section 10(4B) provides that the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland may dispense with the requirement where the officer is satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable for that person to sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of blindness, disability or inability to read.