C1C2C3C5C4C6C7C8C9 Part I Parliamentary and Local Government Franchise and its Exercise

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Registration of parliamentary and local government electors

C1013CZAF1Provision of false information: application for F2electoral identity document, anonymous elector’s document or electoral identity card

F31

A person commits an offence if the person provides false information in connection with—

a

an application under section 13BD for an electoral identity document,

b

an application under section 13BE for an anonymous elector’s document, or

c

an application under section 13C for an electoral identity card.

2

In relation to a signature, “false information” for the purposes of subsection (1) means a signature which—

a

is not the usual signature of, or

b

was written by a person other than,

the person whose signature it purports to be.

3

A person does not commit an offence under subsection (1) if the person did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the information was false.

4

Where sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue with respect to the defence under subsection (3), the court must assume that the defence is satisfied unless the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that it is not.

F45

A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—

a

on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine (or both);

b

on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);

c

on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (or both).

6

In relation to an offence committed before section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force, the reference in subsection (5)(a) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to six months.