SCHEDULES

C4C5C6C7C8C11C12C13SCHEDULE 1

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C4

Parliamentary election rules modified (N.I.) (prosp.) by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 10, Sch. 1 paras. 8–23

C5

Paras. 3–7 of Pt. II of Sch. 1 to Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42) have effect (N.I.) (prosp.) by virtue of s. 10 of, and Sch. 1 para. 2 to, that Act as additional rules in Sch. 1 to this Act

C6

Sch. 1 applied with modifications (S.) by S.I. 1986/2213, Rules 2, 5

Sch. 1 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (28.4.1999) by 1985 c. 50, s. 15(1)(2) (as applied (with modifications) (28.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/1214, reg. 8, Sch. 3) (which S.I. was revoked (23.3.2004) by S.I. 2004/293, reg. 126)

C7

Sch. 1 modified (E.W.) by S.I. 1986/1081, regs. 2, 97, 98, 100 (which S.I. was revoked (23.3.2004) by S.I. 2004/294, reg. 3)

C8

Sch. 1 extended (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art. 6(1)-(4)

C11

Sch. 1 modified (N.I.) (10.4.2001) by Elections Act 2001 (c. 7), s. 4, Sch. (as amended (16.12.2010) by S.I. 2010/2977, arts. 2(2), 6; (15.9.2014) by S.I. 2014/1116, arts. 1(1), 9; and (4.4.2024) by S.I. 2024/382, art. 1(2), Sch. 5 (with art. 1(3)))

Part V Disposal of Documents

Orders for production of documents

C1C2C3C9C10C1456

1

An order—

a

for the inspection or production of any rejected ballot papers in the custody of the F1relevant registration officer , or

b

for the opening of a sealed packet of F2the completed corresponding number lists or of certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll or the inspection of any counted ballot papers in his custody,

may be made—

i

by the House of Commons; or

ii

if 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 an election petition, by the High Court or F8the county court.

F111A

An order—

a

for the opening of the sealed packet containing a completed ballot paper refusal list, or

b

for the inspection or production of that list,

may be made by the High Court or the county court if satisfied by evidence on oath that the order is required for the purpose of an election petition relating to an election in England and Wales or Scotland.

2

An order for the opening of a sealed packet of F3the completed corresponding number lists or of certificates or for the inspection of any counted ballot papers in the F4relevant registration officer's custody may be made by an election court.

3

An order under this rule may be made subject to such conditions as to—

a

persons,

b

time,

c

place and mode of inspection,

d

production or opening,

as the House of Commons or court making the order may think expedient; but in making and carrying into effect an order for the opening of a packet of F5the completed corresponding number lists or of certificates or for the inspection of counted ballot papers, care shall be taken that the way in which the vote of any particular elector has been given shall not be disclosed until it has been proved—

i

that his vote was given; and

ii

that the vote has been declared by a competent court to be invalid.

4

An appeal lies to the High Court from any order of F9the county court under this rule.

5

Any power given under this rule—

a

to the High Court or, except in Northern Ireland, to F10the county court, may be exercised by any judge of the court otherwise than in open court; and

b

in Northern Ireland to a county court, may be exercised in such manner as may be provided by rules of court.

6

Where an order is made for the production by the F1relevant registration officer of any document in his possession relating to any specified election—

a

the production by him or his agent of the document ordered in such manner as may be directed by that order shall be conclusive evidence that the document relates to the specified election; and

b

any endorsement on any packet of ballot papers so produced shall be prima facie evidence that the ballot papers are what they are stated to be by the endorsement.

F67

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,

shall be prima facie evidence that the elector whose vote was given by that ballot paper was the person whose entry in the register of electors (or on a notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of this Act) at the time of the election contained the same number as the number written as mentioned in sub-paragraph (b).

8

Save as by this rule provided, no person shall be allowed to inspect any rejected or counted ballot papers in the possession of the F1relevant registration officer or to open any sealed packets of F7the completed corresponding number lists or of certificates.