Search Legislation

Political Parties and Elections Act 2009

Section 30: Voluntary provision of identifying information

145.Section 30 contains provisions requiring registration officers, after 1 July 2010, to take steps to collect identifying information from electors for the purpose of improving the accuracy of the electoral register. At this stage it will not be compulsory for electors to provide such information.

146.Subsection (1) specifies that the identifying information to be collected is the elector’s signature, date of birth and National Insurance (“NI”) number (or an indication that the person does not have a NI number). Under subsection (2), where a person is prevented from providing a signature because of a disability or inability to read they can instead give an indication confirm that that is the case.

147.Subsection (3) determines the role of registration officers in obtaining this information as part of their responsibility to maintain the registers. A registration officer is required to take steps to obtain identifying information from eligible electors under their duty to take all necessary steps to register eligible electors and when conducting an annual household canvass, including determining applications for registration.

148.Subsection (4) states what compulsory steps should be taken by the registration officer as a result of subsection (3). In taking those steps it must be explained that there is no compulsion on the elector to provide the requested information. Furthermore, the reasons for collecting the information should be explained: namely that identifying information can help to improve the accuracy of the registers.

149.Subsection (5) requires that a record be kept by the registration officer showing the information that has been collected during the process of maintaining registers, conducting canvasses and determining applications for registration.

150.Subsection (6) gives a timeframe for the application of these duties: registration officers will not be required to collect identifying information before 1 July 2010.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Impact Assessments

Impact Assessments generally accompany all UK Government interventions of a regulatory nature that affect the private sector, civil society organisations and public services. They apply regardless of whether the regulation originates from a domestic or international source and can accompany primary (Acts etc) and secondary legislation (SIs). An Impact Assessment allows those with an interest in the policy area to understand:

  • Why the government is proposing to intervene;
  • The main options the government is considering, and which one is preferred;
  • How and to what extent new policies may impact on them; and,
  • The estimated costs and benefits of proposed measures.