Article 12 Recording and use of personal identifier information

After paragraph 12 of Schedule 3 (records and lists kept under articles 9, 10 and 12) insert–

“The personal identifiers record

12A

(1)

The registration officer shall maintain a record (“the personal identifiers record”), apart from the other records and lists which he is required to keep under articles 9, 10 and 12, of the signatures and dates of birth provided by persons whose applications under article 9(1) or (2), article 10(1) or (2), or article 12(4) were granted, until the expiry of twelve months from–

(a)

the date on which a person is removed from the record kept pursuant to article 9(4) or article 12(5); or

(b)

the date of the poll for the purposes of which the person’s application for an absent vote was granted under article 10(1) or (2) or article 12(4).

(2)

The personal identifiers record shall contain the following information in respect of each absent voter on the special list kept under article 10(5)(a), the list of proxies kept under article 10(5)(b) or the special list kept under article 12(7)–

(a)

his name;

(b)

his date of birth; and

(c)

his signature, or a record of the waiver by the registration officer of the requirement for a signature.

(3)

The constituency returning officer may disclose information held in the personal identifiers record to–

(a)

any candidate or agent attending proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers, in accordance with and for the purposes referred to in paragraph 20 of Schedule 4^f1;

(b)

any person attending proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers, who is entitled to do so by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000^f2, but only to the extent required to permit them to observe the proceedings.

Use of personal identifier information

12B

(1)

The registration officer must either–

(a)

provide the constituency returning officer for an election with a copy of the information contained in records kept by the registration officer in pursuance of articles 9(8), 10(8) and 12(12)^f3 in relation to electors at the election, or

(b)

give the constituency returning officer access to such information.

(2)

Information contained in records kept by a registration officer in pursuance of articles 9(8), 10(8) and 12(12) may be disclosed by him to–

(a)

any other registration officer if he thinks that to do so will assist the other registration officer in the performance of his duties, or

(b)

any other person exercising functions in relation to the preparation or conduct of legal proceedings under this Order.”.