Paragraph 21 Postal ballot papers

Northern Ireland

The returning officer shall as soon as practicable send to those entitled to vote by post, F1in accordance with Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, a ballot paper and a declaration of identity in the F2relevant form prescribed in the Appendix, together with an envelope for their return.

(2)

The declaration of identity shall be witnessed F3in accordance with paragraph 17A of Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.

F4(3)

The returning officer must also send to those entitled to vote by post such information as the returning officer thinks appropriate about how to obtain—

(a)

translations into languages other than English of any directions to or guidance for voters sent with the ballot paper;

(b)

a translation into Braille of such directions or guidance;

(c)

graphical representations of such directions or guidance;

(d)

the directions or guidance in any other form (including any audible form).

(4)

The returning officer must ensure that the return of the ballot paper and the declaration of identity is free of charge to the voter.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in Sch. 5 rule 21(1) substituted (15.9.2014) by The Anonymous Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1116), arts. 1(1), 6(7)
F2: 2001 c. 7
F3: Words in Sch. 5 rule 21(2) substituted (20.3.2015) by The Local Elections (Forms) (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/566), arts. 1(2), 2(2)
F4: Sch. 5 rule 21(3)(4) inserted (16.12.2010) by Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. 1 para. 58 (with art. 1(3))

Modifications

C1: Sch. 5 rule 21(1) excluded (16.2.2011) by Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 (c. 1), s. 19(1), Sch. 8 para. 10
C2: Sch. 5 rule 21(1) excluded in part (16.2.2011) by Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 (c. 1), s. 19(1), Sch. 8 para. 11

Notes on the whole Act

Textual amendments

F1: Refs. to registration officer, returning officer or electoral officer are to be construed as refs. to Chief Electoral Officer, 1972 NI 13

Notes on Schedule 5

Textual amendments

F1: SI 1985/454

Modifications

C1: Sch. 5 modified (12.12.2013) by The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/3156), arts. 1(1), 10(1), Sch. (with art. 10(2)) (as amended (15.9.2014) by S.I. 2014/1116, arts. 1(1), 10(2)(4); (13.7.2020) by S.I. 2020/635, arts. 1(2), 12 (with art. 1(3)))