Paragraph 17 Transitional provision for absent voters
In relation to any person who, immediately before the commencement date, was entitled under the 1985 Act to vote by post or proxy at local government elections for an indefinite period, articles 7 to 13 shall have effect—
as if an application by him under article 8 so to vote at Assembly elections had been granted on that date,
where, immediately before that date, an appointment of a person to vote for him as proxy at local government elections was in force, as if the appointment has been made under article 11 on that date in respect of Assembly elections, and
where the application treated as granted by virtue of paragraph (a) is an application to vote by post, as if he had specified in the application as the address to which his ballot papers are to be sent the address provided by him for the purpose of those other elections.
Where an appointment of a person to vote as proxy for another at local government elections is treated by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) as made under article 11 and immediately before the commencement date the proxy was entitled under the 1985 Act to vote by post at such elections for an indefinite period, article 12 shall have effect—
where the proxy’s entitlement was based on his entitlement as elector to vote by post, as if an application by him under article 12(4)(a) to vote by post as proxy at Assembly elections had been granted on that date, and
where the proxy’s entitlement was based on the situation of the address to which his ballot paper was to be sent, as if an application by him under article 12(4)(b) to vote by post as proxy at Assembly elections had been granted on that date.
In this paragraph—
“commencement date” means the date of commencement of this Order, and
references to—
an entitlement to vote by post or proxy, or
an appointment to vote as proxy for another,
at local government elections include such an entitlement or appointment where it also entitles or appoints a person to so vote at parliamentary elections.