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Electoral Administration Act 2006 in Northern Ireland

2006 c. 22 · Enacted 11 July 2006 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 4 July 2025.

C1C2An Act to make provision in relation to the registration of electors and the keeping of electoral registration information; standing for election; the administration and conduct of elections and referendums; and the regulation of political parties.

[11th July 2006]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C3C4C5C6C7C8

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act: power to amend conferred (25.7.2006) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), ss. 1(2)(a), 31(1)

C2

Act applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (27.3.2007) by The Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1024), reg. 3(2)(3)(e)(4), Sch. 2

C3

Act: certain functions made exercisable concurrently (18.8.2010) by Lord President of the Council Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1837), arts. 1(2), 3

C4

Act functions transferred (22.6.2015) by The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1376), arts. 1(2), 3(1), Schs. 1 (with art. 9)

C5

Act functions transferred (9.11.2016) by The Transfer of Functions (Elections, Referendums, Third Sector and Information) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/997), arts. 1(2), 3(1), Sch. 1(n) (with arts. 3(2), 6, 12)

C6

Act applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (31.1.2017) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/67), art. 3(2)-(4), Sch. 2 (as amended (7.2.2024) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/131), reg. 12(7))

C7

Act functions transferred (E.W.) (24.5.2018) by The Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/644), arts. 1(1), 45, Sch. 1 para. 5

C8

Act: functions cease to be exercisable concurrently (8.12.2021) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1265), arts. 1(2), 9, Sch. 1(j) (with arts. 11, 12)

Contents

  1. Part 1: Co-ordinated on-line record of electors
  2. 1Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE schemes: establishment Repealed
  3. 2Use of Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE information Repealed
  4. 3Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE scheme grants Repealed
  5. 3AEstablishment of corporation sole to be Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE keeper Repealed
  6. 4Electoral Commission Repealed
  7. 5Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE schemes: supplemental Repealed
  8. 6Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE schemes: procedure Repealed
  9. 7Amendment of the 1983 Act Repealed
  10. 8Interpretation of Part Repealed
  11. Part 2: Registration of electors
  12. 12Determinations by registration officers and objections
  13. 13Registration of voters with service qualification
  14. Part 3: Anti-fraud measures
  15. 14Absent voting: personal identifiers
  16. 15Offences as to false registration information
  17. Part 4: Review of polling places
  18. 16Review of polling places
  19. Part 5: Standing for election
  20. 17Minimum age
  21. 18Certain Commonwealth citizens
  22. 19Nomination procedures
  23. Part 6: Conduct of elections etc.
  24. Election timetables
  25. 20Omission of references to Maundy Thursday
  26. Nomination
  27. 21Use of candidates' common names
  28. 22Candidate not to stand in more than one constituency
  29. 23Offences as to false statements in nomination papers
  30. Death of candidate
  31. 24Death of candidate
  32. Election expenses
  33. 25Amount of expenses which may be incurred by third party
  34. 26Return as to election expenses
  35. 27Meaning of election expenses for purposes of the 1983 Act
  36. Observation of elections etc.
  37. 28Discretion to report on certain elections
  38. 29Observation of proceedings and working practices
  39. Ballot papers
  40. 30Ballot paper design
  41. 31Replacement of counterfoils
  42. 32Photographs on ballot papers: piloting
  43. 33Evaluation of pilots under section 32
  44. 34Revision of electoral provisions in the light of pilot schemes
  45. Voting in person
  46. 35Certain voters entitled to vote in person
  47. Certain electoral documents
  48. 36Translations etc. of certain documents
  49. 37Documents relating to postal voting
  50. Circumstances in which votes may be tendered
  51. 38Tendered votes
  52. Offences related to voting
  53. 39Undue influence
  54. 40Offences relating to applications for postal and proxy votes
  55. Access to election documents
  56. 41Control of documents after parliamentary election
  57. 42Access to other election documents
  58. 43Access to other election documents: contravention of regulations
  59. 44Access to other election documents: supplementary
  60. 45Marked postal voters list
  61. Correction of procedural errors
  62. 46Returning officers: correction of procedural errors
  63. Miscellaneous amendments
  64. 47Miscellaneous amendments of the 1983 Act
  65. Part 7: Regulation of parties
  66. Registration of parties
  67. 48Registered names of parties
  68. 49Political party descriptions
  69. 50Confirmation of registered particulars
  70. 51Removal from register of registered parties
  71. 52Time for registration of parties fielding candidates
  72. Accounting requirements
  73. 53Requirements as to statements of account
  74. 54Time for delivery of unaudited accounts to Electoral Commission
  75. Control of donations
  76. 55Policy development grants to be donations
  77. 56Exemption from requirement to prepare quarterly donation reports
  78. 57Repeal of section 68 of the 2000 Act
  79. 58Register of donations to include details of nature of donation
  80. 59Reporting donations to holders of certain elective offices
  81. 60Northern Ireland: disapplication of Part 4 of the 2000 Act Repealed
  82. Regulation of loans etc.
  83. 61Regulation of loans etc.
  84. 62Regulation of loans: power to make provision for candidates, third parties , referendums and recall petitions
  85. 63Regulation of loans etc: Northern Ireland
  86. Campaign expenditure
  87. 64Campaign expenditure: standing for more than one party
  88. 65Time limit for claims in respect of campaign expenditure
  89. Referendum and election material
  90. 66Details to appear on referendum and election material
  91. Part 8: Miscellaneous
  92. Election services
  93. 68Funding of services and expenses of returning officers
  94. Encouraging electoral participation
  95. 69Encouraging electoral participation
  96. Criminal proceedings
  97. 70Time limit for prosecutions
  98. 71Restriction on powers of arrest by persons other than constables
  99. Pre-consolidation amendments
  100. 72Pre-consolidation amendments
  101. Legal incapacity to vote
  102. 73Abolition of common law incapacity: mental state
  103. Part 9: General
  104. 74Miscellaneous amendments and repeals
  105. 74AFunctions of the Minister for the Cabinet Office Repealed
  106. 75Financial provision
  107. 76Interpretation
  108. 77Commencement
  109. 78Extent
  110. 79Short title
  111. Schedule 1: Amendments
  112. The Juries Act 1974 (c. 23)
  113. 1Paragraph 1
  114. The 1983 Act
  115. 2Paragraph 2
  116. 3Paragraph 3
  117. 4Paragraph 4
  118. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  119. 6Paragraph 6
  120. 7Paragraph 7
  121. 8Paragraph 8
  122. 9Paragraph 9
  123. 10Paragraph 10
  124. 11Paragraph 11
  125. 12Paragraph 12
  126. 13Paragraph 13
  127. 14Paragraph 14
  128. 15Paragraph 15
  129. 16Paragraph 16
  130. The Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50)
  131. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  132. The Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29)
  133. 18Paragraph 18
  134. The Representation of the People Act 2000 (c. 2)
  135. 19Paragraph 19
  136. 20Paragraph 20
  137. 21Paragraph 21
  138. 22Paragraph 22
  139. 23Paragraph 23
  140. The 2000 Act
  141. 24Paragraph 24
  142. 25Paragraph 25
  143. 26Paragraph 26
  144. 27Paragraph 27
  145. 28Paragraph 28
  146. 29Paragraph 29
  147. 30Paragraph 30
  148. 31Paragraph 31
  149. 32Paragraph 32
  150. 33Paragraph 33
  151. 34Paragraph 34
  152. 35Paragraph 35
  153. 36Paragraph 36
  154. 37Paragraph 37
  155. 38Paragraph 38
  156. 39Paragraph 39
  157. 40Paragraph 40
  158. Part 3: Standing for election
  159. European Parliament
  160. 41Paragraph 41 Repealed
  161. Greater London Authority
  162. 42Paragraph 42
  163. Local authorities in England and Wales
  164. 43Paragraph 43
  165. National Assembly for Wales
  166. 44Paragraph 44
  167. Scottish Parliament
  168. 45Paragraph 45
  169. Local authorities in Scotland
  170. 46Paragraph 46
  171. Councillors in Northern Ireland
  172. 47Paragraph 47
  173. Part 4: Omission of references to Maundy Thursday
  174. The Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (C. 14)
  175. 48Paragraph 48
  176. The 1983 Act
  177. 49Paragraph 49
  178. 50Paragraph 50
  179. 51Paragraph 51
  180. 52Paragraph 52
  181. The Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50)
  182. 53Paragraph 53
  183. The 2000 Act
  184. 54Paragraph 54
  185. Part 5: Conduct of elections
  186. The Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962
  187. 55Paragraph 55
  188. Attendance at election proceedings
  189. 56Paragraph 56
  190. 57Paragraph 57
  191. 58Paragraph 58
  192. Identifying marks and security markings on ballot papers etc.
  193. 59Paragraph 59
  194. 60Paragraph 60
  195. 61Paragraph 61
  196. 62Paragraph 62
  197. Tendered votes in certain circumstances
  198. 63Paragraph 63
  199. 64Paragraph 64
  200. Assistance for persons with disabilities
  201. 65Paragraph 65
  202. 66Paragraph 66
  203. 67Paragraph 67
  204. 68Paragraph 68
  205. The 1983 Act
  206. 69Paragraph 69
  207. Official poll cards
  208. 70Paragraph 70
  209. Election expenses
  210. 71Paragraph 71
  211. Postal voting statement
  212. 72Paragraph 72
  213. 73Paragraph 73
  214. Questions to be put to voters
  215. 74Paragraph 74
  216. 75Paragraph 75
  217. Assistance for persons with disabilities
  218. 76Paragraph 76
  219. 77Paragraph 77
  220. 78Paragraph 78
  221. 79Paragraph 79
  222. 80Paragraph 80
  223. Tendered ballot papers
  224. 81Paragraph 81
  225. Attendance at election proceedings
  226. 82Paragraph 82
  227. 83Paragraph 83
  228. 84Paragraph 84
  229. 85Paragraph 85
  230. Identifying marks and security markings on ballot papers etc.
  231. 86Paragraph 86
  232. 87Paragraph 87
  233. 88Paragraph 88
  234. 89Paragraph 89
  235. 90Paragraph 90
  236. 91Paragraph 91
  237. 92Paragraph 92
  238. 93Paragraph 93
  239. Cancellation of postal ballot papers
  240. 94Paragraph 94
  241. Control of documents after parliamentary election: Northern Ireland
  242. 95Paragraph 95
  243. Local government elections in Scotland
  244. 96Paragraph 96
  245. Part 6: Control of loans etc. to individuals and members associations
  246. 97Paragraph 97
  247. 98Paragraph 98
  248. 99Paragraph 99
  249. 100Paragraph 100
  250. 101Paragraph 101
  251. 102Paragraph 102
  252. Part 7: Miscellaneous
  253. The Family Law Reform Act 1969 (c. 46)
  254. 103Paragraph 103
  255. The 1983 Act
  256. 104Paragraph 104
  257. 105Paragraph 105
  258. 106Paragraph 106
  259. 107Paragraph 107 Not yet in force
  260. 108Paragraph 108
  261. 109Paragraph 109
  262. 110Paragraph 110
  263. 111Paragraph 111
  264. 112Paragraph 112
  265. 113Paragraph 113
  266. 114Paragraph 114
  267. 115Paragraph 115
  268. 116Paragraph 116
  269. 117Paragraph 117
  270. 118Paragraph 118
  271. 119Paragraph 119
  272. 120Paragraph 120
  273. 121Paragraph 121
  274. 122Paragraph 122
  275. 123Paragraph 123 Repealed
  276. 124Paragraph 124
  277. 125Paragraph 125
  278. 126Paragraph 126
  279. 127Paragraph 127
  280. 128Paragraph 128
  281. 129Paragraph 129
  282. 130Paragraph 130
  283. 131Paragraph 131
  284. 132Paragraph 132
  285. 133Paragraph 133
  286. The Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50)
  287. 134Paragraph 134
  288. 135Paragraph 135
  289. The Caldey Island Act 1990 (c. 44)
  290. 136Paragraph 136
  291. The Representation of the People Act 2000 (c. 2)
  292. 137Paragraph 137
  293. The 2000 Act
  294. 138Paragraph 138
  295. 139Paragraph 139
  296. 140Paragraph 140
  297. 141Paragraph 141
  298. 142Paragraph 142
  299. 143Paragraph 143
  300. 144Paragraph 144
  301. 145Paragraph 145
  302. 146Paragraph 146
  303. 147Paragraph 147
  304. 148Paragraph 148
  305. 149Paragraph 149
  306. 150Paragraph 150
  307. 151Paragraph 151
  308. 152Paragraph 152
  309. 153Paragraph 153
  310. 154Paragraph 154
  311. 155Paragraph 155
  312. European Parliament (Representation) Act 2003 (c. 7)
  313. 156Paragraph 156 Repealed
  314. Schedule 2Repeals