{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/representation-of-the-people-act-1983/schedule-1/paragraph-31A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/representation-of-the-people-act-1983/schedule-1/paragraph-31A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1983/2",
  "legislation_title": "Representation of the People Act 1983",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/representation-of-the-people-act-1983",
  "path": "schedule/1/paragraph/31A",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "31A",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(1) Where—\n(a) a postal vote has been returned in respect of a person who is entered on the postal voters list, or\n(b) a proxy postal vote has been returned in respect of a proxy who is entered on the proxy postal voters list,\nthe returning officer must mark the list in the prescribed manner.\n(1A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in relation to a vote on a tendered postal ballot paper (see rule 40ZA).\n(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) above, regulations may prescribe the circumstances in which a postal vote or a proxy postal vote (as the case may be) is or is not to be treated as having been returned.\n(3) Rule 45(1B) and (2) below does not apply for the purpose of determining whether, for the purposes of this rule, a postal vote or a proxy postal vote is returned.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Sch. 1 rule 31A inserted (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 45(2), 77; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(u) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2)S. 61(6A) inserted (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 38(3), 77; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(s) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts 2, 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Sch. 1 rule 31A(1A) inserted (15.9.2014) by The Anonymous Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1116), arts. 1(1), 3(6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Sch. 1 rule 31A(1)(3) applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/2599, art. 3, Sch. 1 (as substituted (10.2.2009) by S.I. 2009/256, arts. 1(2), 3, Sch. 1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "repealed",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2006/22",
      "affecting_title": "Electoral Administration Act 2006"
    },
    {
      "type": "modified",
      "affecting": "ukpga/1985/50",
      "affecting_title": "Representation of the People Act 1985"
    },
    {
      "type": "modified",
      "affecting": "ukpga/1985/50",
      "affecting_title": "Representation of the People Act 1985"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/2/schedule/1/paragraph/31A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-07T03:33:48.049414+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."
}