Regulation 143 Electronic signatures and related certificatesI1

United Kingdom

(1)

A requirement under these Regulations for an application, notice, representation or objection to be signed is satisfied (as an alternative to the signature being given by hand) where there is—

(a)

an electronic signature incorporated into or otherwise logically associated with a particular electronic communication; and

(b)

the certification by any person of such a signature.

(2)

For the purposes of this regulation an electronic signature is so much of anything in electronic form as—

(a)

is incorporated into or otherwise logically associated with any electronic communication or both; and

(b)

purports to be so incorporated or associated for the purpose of being used in establishing the authenticity of the communication, the integrity of the communication or both.

(3)

For the purposes of this regulation an electronic signature incorporated into or associated with a particular electronic communication is certified by any person if that person (whether before or after the making of the communication) has made a statement confirming that—

(a)

the signature,

(b)

a means of producing, communicating or verifying the signature, or

(c)

a procedure applied to the signature,

is (either alone or in combination with other factors) a valid means of establishing the authenticity of the communication, the integrity of the communication or both.

F1(4)

This regulation does not apply—

(a)

in relation to an application made under Part 4 for absent signing at a particular petition in England, Wales or Scotland, for which the general requirements are set out in regulation 60, or

(b)

to the provision of signatures under regulation 27 (signing procedure: England and Wales and Scotland) or regulation 28 (signing procedure: Northern Ireland) which must be given by hand.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Reg. 143(4) substituted (31.10.2023) by The Representation of the People (Postal and Proxy Voting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1147), regs. 1(2), 19(17) (with Sch. 2 paras. 33, 35, 36, 39)

Commencement

I1: Reg. 143 in force at 4.3.2016, see reg. 1