{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/parliamentary-voting-system-and-constituencies-act-2011/schedule-4/part-1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/parliamentary-voting-system-and-constituencies-act-2011/schedule-4/part-1.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2011/1",
  "legislation_title": "Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/parliamentary-voting-system-and-constituencies-act-2011",
  "path": "schedule/4/part/1",
  "kind": "part",
  "number": "1",
  "heading": "Representation of the People Act 1983",
  "text": "Provision\nModification\nSection 13C(5) (validity of electoral identity card in Northern Ireland)\nFor “subsection (4) above and rule 37E(1) in Schedule 1 to this Act” substitute “ rule 27 of the referendum rules ”.\nSection 47 (loan of equipment)\nIn subsection (1), for “the returning officer at a local government election” substitute “ a counting officer ”.\nIn subsection (2), for “the returning officer at an election held under those Acts” substitute “ a counting officer ”.\nSection 49 (effect of registers)\nIn subsection (4)—\n(a)after “this Part” insert “ or Part 1 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 ”;\n(b)for “except for the purposes of an election at which” substitute “ for the purposes of the referendum unless ”.\nIn subsection (5) omit “prevent the rejection of the vote on a scrutiny, or”.\nSection 50 (effect of misdescription)\nIn paragraph (c)—\n(a)omit “nomination paper,”;\n(b)for “and the parliamentary election rules” substitute “ or Part 1 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 ”.\nSection 52 (discharge of registration duties)\nThe Secretary of State may give a direction under section 52(1) only if it is in accordance with a recommendation made by the Electoral Commission.\nIn subsections (1), (2) and (4), after “this Act” insert “ and Part 1 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 ”.\nIn subsection (1), after the first “this Act” insert “ or Part 1 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 ”.\nSection 56(3) to (4A) (registration appeals: England and Wales)\nIn subsection (3)—\n(a)for “notice of an election is given” substitute “ notice of the referendum is given ”;\n(b)for “the election” substitute “ the referendum ”.\nIn subsection (4A), for “that election” substitute “ the referendum ”.\nSection 57 (registration appeals: Scotland)\nSection 57 applies for the purposes of the referendum only in so far as it applies section 56(3) to (4A).\nSection 58(3) to (5) (registration appeals: Northern Ireland)\nIn subsection (3)—\n(a)for “notice of an election is given” substitute “ notice of the referendum is given ”;\n(b)for “the election” substitute “ the referendum ”.\nIn subsection (5), for “that election” substitute “ the referendum ”.\nSection 60 (personation)\nIn subsection (2), for “at a parliamentary or local government election” substitute “ in the referendum ”.\nSection 61 (other voting offences)\nFor subsections (1) to (4) substitute—\n“(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if—\n(a) he votes in person or by post, whether on his own behalf or as proxy, or applies to vote by proxy or by post on his own behalf, in the referendum, knowing that he is subject to a legal incapacity to vote in the referendum; or\n(b) he applies for the appointment of a proxy to vote for him in the referendum knowing that he is or the person to be appointed is subject to a legal incapacity to vote in the referendum; or\n(c) he votes, whether in person or by post, as proxy for some other person in the referendum knowing that that person is subject to a legal incapacity to vote.\nFor the purposes of this subsection references to a person being subject to a legal incapacity to vote do not, in relation to things done before polling day, include his being below voting age if he will be of voting age on that day.\n(2) A person shall be guilty of an offence if—\n(a) he votes on his own behalf otherwise than by proxy more than once in the referendum; or\n(b) he votes on his own behalf in person in the referendum when he is entitled to vote by post; or\n(c) he votes on his own behalf in person in the referendum, knowing that a person appointed to vote as his proxy either has already voted in person or is entitled to vote by post; or\n(d) he applies under Schedule 3 to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 for a person to be appointed as his proxy to vote for him without applying for the cancellation of a previous appointment of a third person then in force under that Schedule or without withdrawing a pending application for such an appointment.\n(3) A person shall be guilty of an offence if—\n(a) he votes as proxy for the same person more than once in the referendum; or\n(b) he votes in person as proxy for another person in the referendum and he is entitled to vote by post as proxy for that person; or\n(c) he votes in person as proxy for another person in the referendum and he knows that other person has already voted in person.\n(4) A person shall also be guilty of an offence if he votes as proxy for more than two persons of whom he is not the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild.”\nIn subsection (6A), for the words from “ballot paper” to the end substitute “ in reliance on Case 3, 4, 5 or 6 in rule 32 of the referendum rules. ”\nOmit subsection (6B).\nIn subsection (7)—\n(a)after “section 173 below” insert “ (read with paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011) ”;\n(b)omit paragraph (b).\nSection 62A(1) to (5) (applications for absent voting: offences)\nIn subsection (1)(a), omit “at a parliamentary or local government election”.\nIn subsection (2)(c), for “returning officer” substitute “ counting officer ”.\nSection 63 (breach of official duty)\nFor subsections (3) and (4) substitute—\n“(3) The persons to whom this section applies are—\n(a) the Chief Counting Officer and any Regional Counting Officer or counting officer,\n(b) any presiding officer or registration officer,\n(c) any official designated by a universal postal service provider, and\n(d) any deputy of a person mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) above or any person appointed to assist or in the course of his employment assisting a person so mentioned in connection with his official duties;\nand “official duty” shall for the purposes of this section be construed accordingly, but shall not include duties imposed otherwise than by Part 1 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 or the law relating to referendums.\n(4) Where—\n(a) a Regional Counting Officer or counting officer is guilty of an act or omission in breach of his official duty, but\n(b) he remedies that act or omission in full by taking steps under paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011,\nhe shall not be guilty of an offence under subsection (1) above.”\nSection 65 (tampering with papers)\nIn subsection (1)—\n(a)for “at a parliamentary or local government election” substitute “ in the referendum ”;\n(b)omit paragraph (a);\n(c)in paragraph (f), for “election” substitute “ referendum ”.\nFor subsection (2) substitute—\n“(2) In Scotland, a person shall be guilty of an offence if—\n(a) in the referendum, he forges or counterfeits any ballot paper or the official mark on any ballot paper; or\n(b) he fraudulently or without due authority, as the case may be, attempts to do any of those things.”\nIn subsection (3), for “a returning officer” substitute “ the Chief Counting Officer, a Regional Counting Officer, a counting officer ”.\nSection 66(1) to (6) (requirement of secrecy)\nIn subsection (1), for paragraphs (a) to (d) substitute—\n“(a) the Chief Counting Officer, and every Regional Counting Officer and counting officer, attending at a polling station,\n(b) every deputy of such an officer so attending,\n(c) every presiding officer and clerk so attending,\n(d) every referendum agent, polling agent and counting agent so attending, and\n(e) every person so attending by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000,”.\nIn subsections (2)(b), (3)(b) and (c), (4)(d) and (5), for “the candidate for whom” substitute “ the referendum answer for which ”.\nIn subsection (3)(d), for “the name of the candidate for whom” substitute “ the referendum answer for which ”.\nIn subsection (5)—\n(a)for “blind voter” substitute “ voter with disabilities ”;\n(b)at the end insert— “ “Voter with disabilities” has the meaning given by rule 31(11) of the referendum rules. ”\nSection 66A (prohibition on publication of exit polls)\nIn subsection (1), for “an election to which this section applies”, and for “the election” (in both places), substitute “ the referendum ”.\nOmit subsection (2).\nIn subsection (4), for the words after “whatever means” substitute— “ and the reference to a forecast as to the result of the referendum includes a reference to a forecast as to the number or proportion of votes expected to be cast for each answer to the referendum question in any region, voting area or other area. ”\nSection 66B (failure to comply with conditions relating to supply etc of documents)\nIn subsection (1)(a), for “regulations under rule 57 of the parliamentary election rules” substitute “ regulations mentioned in rule 52(5)(a) of the referendum rules ”.\nSection 92 (broadcasting from outside UK)\nIn subsection (1)—\n(a)for “at a parliamentary or local government election” substitute “ in the referendum ”;\n(b)for “the election” substitute “ the referendum ”.\nIn subsection (2), after “section 173 below” insert “ (read with paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011) ”.\nSection 94(1) (imitation poll cards)\nFor “the election of any candidate at a parliamentary election or a local government election to which this section applies” substitute “ a particular result in the referendum ”.\nSection 97 (disturbances at meetings)\nFor subsection (2) substitute—\n“(2) This section applies to a meeting held by a permitted participant during the referendum period (within the meaning given by paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011) in connection with the referendum.”\nSection 99 (officials not to act for candidates)\nFor subsection (1) substitute—\n“(1) If—\n(a) the Chief Counting Officer or any Regional Counting Officer or counting officer,\n(b) any officer, deputy or clerk appointed by such a person,\n(c) any officer of a local authority whose services have been placed at the disposal of a counting officer or Regional Counting Officer under paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011,\nacts as a referendum agent for a permitted participant, he shall be guilty of an offence.”\nSection 100 (illegal canvassing by police officers)\nIn subsection (1), for the words after “proxy” substitute “ in the referendum ”.\nSection 109 (payments for exhibition of election notices)\nIn subsection (1), for “the election of a candidate at an election” substitute “ a particular result in the referendum ”.\nIn subsection (2), for “an election” substitute “ the referendum ”.\nSection 111 (prohibition of paid canvassers)\nFor “an election” substitute “ the referendum ”\nFor “a candidate's election” substitute “ a particular result in the referendum ”.\nSection 112(a) and (c) (providing money for illegal purposes)\nSection 113 (bribery)\nIn subsection (2)—\n(a)for “the return of any person at an election” (in both places) substitute “ a particular result in the referendum ”;\n(b)omit paragraph (iii).\nIn subsection (3), for “at any election” (in both places) substitute “ in the referendum ”.\nIn subsections (4), (5) and (6), for “an election” substitute “ the referendum ”.\nSection 114 (treating)\nIn subsection (2), for “an election” substitute “ the referendum ”.\nSection 115 (undue influence)\nSection 116(a) (rights of creditors)\nSection 117(2) (saving for employees to be absent for voting)\nFor “parliamentary electors” substitute “ persons entitled to vote on their own behalf ”.\nFor “at a parliamentary election” substitute “ in the referendum ”.\nIn paragraphs (b) and (c), for “any particular candidate at the election” substitute “ a particular answer in the referendum ”.\nIn section 118 (interpretation), the definitions of “money”, “pecuniary reward” and “payment”\nSection 167(1) to (2) (application for relief)\nFor subsection (1) substitute—\n“(1) An application for relief under this section may be made to the High Court.”\nIn subsection (2)(c), omit the words from “in the constituency” to “was held,”.\nSections 168(1) and (7), 169 and 170 (prosecutions for corrupt and illegal practices)\nSection 175(1) and (3) (prosecution for illegal employment)\nSection 176 (time limit for prosecutions)\nIn subsection (2C), for “rule 57 of the parliamentary elections rules” substitute “ rule 52 of the referendum rules ”.\nIn subsection (2D), for paragraph (a) substitute—\n“(a) directing the registration officer not to cause the documents to be destroyed at the expiry of the period of one year mentioned in rule 52 of the referendum rules,”.\nSection 178 (prosecution of offences committed outside the UK)\nSection 179 (offences by associations)\nOmit paragraph (b).\nSection 181(1) (Director of Public Prosecutions)\nSection 184 (service of notices)\nIn subsection (1)—\n(a)for “an election” substitute “ the referendum ”;\n(b)omit “or any election court,”;\n(c)in paragraph (a), omit the words from “in the constituency” to the end.\nIn section 185 (interpretation), the definitions of “payment” and “Licensing Acts”\nSection 186 (computation of time)\nSection 199B(1) to (9) (translations etc of certain documents)\nIn subsection (1)—\n(a)after “this Act” insert “ or Part 1 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 ”;\n(b)for “a parliamentary or local government election” substitute “ the referendum ”.\nIn subsection (4) omit paragraph (a).\nFor subsections (5) and (6) substitute—\n“(5) The counting officer may cause to be displayed at every polling station an enlarged sample copy of the ballot paper.\n(6) The sample copy mentioned in subsection (5) above—\n(a) must have printed on it the words “Vote (X) in one box only” both at the top and immediately below the referendum question, and\n(b) below the second occurrence of those words, may include a translation of those words into such other languages as the counting officer thinks appropriate.”\nIn subsection (7)—\n(a)for “returning officer at a parliamentary election or a local government election” substitute “ counting officer ”;\n(b)for “the election” substitute “ the referendum ”.\nIn subsection (9), for “returning officer” substitute “ counting officer ”.\nIn section 202 (interpretation), the definitions in subsection (1) of “legal incapacity”, “legal process”, “person”, “prescribed” and “universal postal service provider”; and subsection (2)\nIn the definition of “prescribed”, after “regulations” insert “ applied by Schedule 4 to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 ”.\nSection 204(3), (5) and (8) (general application to Scotland)\nSection 205 (general application to Northern Ireland)",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/1/schedule/4/part/1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:09:42.827630+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}