Paragraph 37 C1E1C2C3F1

F2Subject to rule 35(3) and to paragraphs (1A) to (1P), a ballot paper shall be delivered to a voter who applies for one, and immediately before delivery—

A ballot paper must not be delivered to a voter unless the voter produces a specified document to the presiding officer or a clerk.

The presiding officer or clerk must arrange for the voter to produce any document in a private area of the polling station if the voter so requests, and, in such a case, must ensure that no other persons witness the production except as permitted by the voter.

Paragraph (1D) applies in relation to a voter where—

Where this paragraph applies, the clerk must refer the matter and produce the document to the presiding officer, who must proceed as if the voter had produced the document to the presiding officer in the first place.

The presiding officer must refuse to deliver a ballot paper to a voter where—

See rule 40ZB (procedure where ballot paper is refused under this paragraph).

But there is an exception from paragraph (1E) for cases within sub-paragraph (a) of that paragraph where—

The refusal to deliver a ballot paper to a voter under paragraph (1E) does not prevent the voter making a further application under paragraph (1), and paragraphs (1A) to (1F) apply on any further application.

In this rule a “specified document”, except in the case of a voter with an anonymous entry in the register of electors (as to which see paragraph (1K)), means any of the following documents (in whatever form issued to the holder) that contain a photograph of the holder—

In paragraph (1H)(a) “United Kingdom passport” means a passport issued by—

In paragraph (1H)(h), “relevant concessionary travel pass” means a concessionary travel pass listed in the second column of the following table—

In this rule a “specified document”, in the case of a voter who has an anonymous entry in the register of electors, means an anonymous elector’s document issued to the voter under section 13BE which—

For the purposes of paragraph (1K)—

• “appropriate registration officer” means—

  1. (a)

     the registration officer for the constituency in which the election is being held, or

  2. (b)

     where the election is being held in a constituency for which there is more than one registration officer, any of those officers;

• a voter’s “electoral number” is the number—

  1. (a)

     allocated to the voter as stated in the copy of the register of electors, or

  2. (b)

     where an entry relating to the voter is added to the register in pursuance of a notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D), as stated in the copy of that notice.

A reference in this rule to a document that is a specified document is a reference to the document regardless of any expiry date relating to it (subject to paragraph (1N)).

Paragraph (1M) does not apply to a document which—

In this rule a “forged document” means a false document made to resemble a specified document.

Regulations may make provisions varying paragraph (1H), (1I) or (1J) by—

The power to make provision by virtue of paragraph (1Q)(b) is exercisable only on, and in accordance with, a recommendation of the Electoral Commission.

No person other than the presiding officer or a clerk may inspect a document produced as proof of a voter’s identity, except as permitted by the voter.

References in this rule to producing a document are to producing it for inspection.

In the case of an elector who has an anonymous entry, he must show the presiding officer his official poll card F8...

In the case of an elector who is added to the register in pursuance of a notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D), paragraph (1) above is modified as follows—

Paragraph (1)(d) above does not apply to a voter to whom rule 38 or 39 applies.

The voter, on receiving the ballot paper, shall forthwith proceed into one of the compartments in the polling station and there secretly mark his paper and fold it up so as to conceal his vote, and shall then show to the presiding officer the back of the paper, so as to disclose the number and other unique identifying mark, and put the ballot paper so folded up into the ballot box in the presiding officer's presence.

The voter shall vote without undue delay, and shall leave the polling station as soon as he has put his ballot paper into the ballot box.

A voter who at the close of the poll is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of voting shall (despite the close of the poll) be entitled to apply for a ballot paper under paragraph (1); and these rules apply in relation to such a voter accordingly.