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The Voter Identification (Amendment of List of Specified Documents) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 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 9780348285628

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 Regulations laid before Parliament under section 201(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2) for approval by resolution of each House of Parliament.

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE, NORTHERN IRELAND

Made ***

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2)

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by rules 28(3) and 37(1F) of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (“the 1983 Act”)f1.

In accordance with section 7 (1) and (2) (e) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000f2 the Electoral Commission has been consulted prior to the making of these Regulations.

In accordance with section 201 (2) of the 1983 Actf3 a draft of these Regulations has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1983 c. 2. Rule 28(3) was amended by paragraph 70 of Schedule 1 to the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22). Rule 37(1F) was inserted by section 1 of the Elections (Northern Ireland) Act 1985 (c. 2). Rule 28(3) confers a power to prescribe which, by virtue of section 202(1) of the Act, means prescribed by regulations.

f2

2000 c. 41.

f3

Section 201(2) was amended by paragraph 69 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50).

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement and extent
  2. 2Amendment of rule 37(1E) of the Parliamentary Elections Rules
  3. 3Amendment of Forms used in parliamentary elections
  4. Signature
  5. Schedule 1Form A (Elector’s official poll card)
  6. Schedule 2Form B (Proxy’s official poll card)
  7. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and extent

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Voter Identification (Amendment of List of Specified Documents) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026.

(2)

These Regulations come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

(3)

These Regulations extend to Northern Ireland.

2Amendment of rule 37(1E) of the Parliamentary Elections Rules

(1)

Rule 37(1E) of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (Parliamentary Elections Rules: voting procedure and voter identification requirements: Northern Ireland)f1 is amended as follows.

(2)

After sub-paragraph (b) insert—

“(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)f2;”.

(3)

After sub-paragraph (n)f3 insert—

“(o)

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

(p)

a badge of a form prescribed under section 21 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970f4 or section 14 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (Blue Badge Scheme)f5;

(q)

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

3Amendment of Forms used in parliamentary elections

Schedule 3 (Forms) to the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008f1 is amended as follows—

(a)

for Form A (elector’s official poll card) substitute the form in Schedule 1;

(b)

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

Signature

Name

Minister

Northern Ireland Office

Date

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

The front of the elector's official poll card for Parliamentary 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 Parliamentary 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 B (Proxy’s official poll card)

The front of the proxy poll card for Parliamentary elections. It sets out voting information, a list of acceptable voter ID and election offences.
The back of the proxy's poll card for Parliamentary 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 Regulations)

These Regulations make a change to the list of the types of photographic identification that can be used by a person wishing to vote in person at a polling station at UK Parliamentary elections in Northern Ireland. The changes to the UK Parliamentary election rules also apply to elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly by virtue of article 3 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/2599).

Regulation 2 adds the PASS card, the Blue Badge, the Veteran card and Commonwealth passports to the list of acceptable identification in rule 37(1E) of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2).

Regulation 3 and the Schedules replace the Poll Cards for the UK Parliamentary Elections (the same forms are used for Northern Ireland Assembly elections) to reflect the changes to acceptable 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.