Explanatory note

This Order amends the local elections rules in Schedule 5 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 to make provision equivalent to that which the amendments in Schedule 2 to the Registration of Political Parties Act 1998 made to the parliamentary elections rules in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2). The rules apply to local elections in Northern Ireland.

The amendments give returning officers the power to reject nomination papers which include a description which is likely to lead voters to associate the candidate with a registered political party unless the description is authorised by or on behalf of the registered nominating officer of that party. They also provide for the inclusion of emblems of registered parties on ballot papers.