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The Voter Identification (Amendment of List of Specified Documents) (Local Elections) (Northern Ireland) Order 2026

Draft. This instrument was laid in draft and may differ from the one made. Look for the made version under its title.

Draft 2026, ISBN 9780348285642

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

Draft Order in Council laid before Parliament under section 84(4) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47), for approval by resolution of each House of Parliament.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Made ***

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the day of

Present,

The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council

In accordance with section 84(4) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998f1 a draft of this Order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

In accordance with section 7 (3) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000f2 the Electoral Commission has been consulted prior to this Order being laid before Parliament.

Accordingly, His Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred on Him by section 84(1) and (2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, is pleased, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, to order as follows.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1998 c. 47.

f2

2000 c. 41.

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement and extent
  2. 2Amendment of rule 34(6) of Local Elections Rules
  3. 3Amendments of Forms used in Local Elections
  4. Signature
  5. Schedule 1Form 6 (Elector’s official poll card)
  6. Schedule 2Form 7 (Proxy’s official poll card)
  7. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and extent

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Voter Identification (Amendment of List of Specified Documents) (Local Elections) (Northern Ireland) Order 2026.

(2)

This Order comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

(3)

This Order extends to Northern Ireland.

2Amendment of rule 34(6) of Local Elections Rules

(1)

Rule 34(6) of Schedule 5 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (Local Elections Rules: voting procedure and voter identification requirements)f1 is amended as follows.

(2)

After sub-paragraph (b) f2insert—

“(ba)

a passport or passport card issued by a country listed in Schedule 3 to the British Nationality Act 1981 (countries whose citizens are Commonwealth citizens)f3;”.

(3)

After sub-paragraph (m)f4 insert—

“(n)

an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card);

(o)

a badge of a form prescribed under section 21 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970f5 or section 14 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (Blue Badge Scheme)f6;

(p)

a Ministry of Defence Form 100 (HM Armed Forces Veteran Card).”.

3Amendments of Forms used in Local Elections

Schedule 5 (Local Election Rules) to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 is amended as follows—

(a)

for Form 6 (elector’s official poll card) in the Appendix of Formsf1 substitute the form in Schedule 1;

(b)

for Form 7 (proxy’s official poll card) in that Appendix substitute the form in Schedule 2.

Signature

Name

Clerk of the Privy Council

Schedule 1Form 6 (Elector’s official poll card)

The front of the elector's official poll card for local elections. It sets out voting information, the list of acceptable voter ID and election offences.
The back of the elector's official poll card for local elections. It sets out information on what to do if you cannot attend the polling station and contact details if you need help.

Schedule 2Form 7 (Proxy’s official poll card)

The front of the proxy poll card for local elections. It sets out voting information, a list of acceptable voter ID and election offences.
The back of the proxy's poll card for local elections. It sets out how to vote as a proxy, information on what to do if you cannot attend the polling station and contact details if you need any help.

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order in Council)

This Order makes changes to the list of the types of photographic identification that can be used by an individual wishing to vote in person at a polling station at Local Elections in Northern Ireland.

Article 2 amends the list set out in rule 34(6) of Schedule 5 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (c. 14 (N.I.)), adding the PASS card, the Blue Badge, the Veteran card and Commonwealth passports to the list.

Article 3 and the Schedules replace the Elector’s and Proxy’s poll cards to reflect the changes to the acceptable photographic voter identification.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.