{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/representation-of-the-people-act-1985/section-27",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/representation-of-the-people-act-1985/section-27.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1985/50",
  "legislation_title": "Representation of the People Act 1985",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/representation-of-the-people-act-1985",
  "path": "section/27",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "27",
  "heading": "Interpretation.",
  "text": "(1) In this Act—\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n“principal Act” means the Representation of the People Act 1983.\n(2) The principal Act and sections 1 to 12, 15 to 18 and 21 of and Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect as if those sections and that Schedule were contained in Part I of that Act, and sections 5 to 7A of the principal Act (residence) apply for the purposes of sections 1 to 3 of this Act as they apply for the purposes of section 4 of that Act.\n(2ZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(2A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(3) References in any enactment other than an enactment contained in this or the principal Act to Part I of that Act include a reference to sections 1 to 12, 15 to 18 and 21 of and Schedule 1 to this Act.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Definition of “the assembly” repealed by European Communities (Amendment) Act 1986 (c. 58, SIF 29:5), ss. 3(1), 4(3), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 27 repealed (31.12.2020) by The European Parliamentary Elections Etc. (Repeal, Revocation, Amendment and Saving Provisions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1310), reg. 1, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (as amended by S.I. 2019/1389, regs. 1, 2(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(2) substituted (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 2, s. 15(1), Sch. 6 para. 18(a); S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 2(3)-(5))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(2) substituted (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 2, s. 15(1), Sch. 6 para. 18(b); S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 2(3)-(5))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 27(2ZA) omitted (8.12.2021) by virtue of The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1265), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 4 (with art. 12)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 27(2A) repealed (19.8.2003) by The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1887), art. 9, Sch. 2 para. 5"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "1983 c. 2."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 27 applied with modifications (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/2250, regs. 2, 3, 5, Sch. 1 Pt. III"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 27 applied with modifications (E.W.S.) by S.I. 1986/2209, regs. 2, 3, 5(1)(6)–(8), Sch. 1 Pt. II"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 27 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art.3(1)(a)(b)(5)-(8), Sch. 1S. 27 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (25.4.1998) by S.I. 1998/1126, art.6(1) Sch. 2S. 27 applied (with modifications) (22.5.1998) by S.I. 1998/1287, art. 3(1)(3), Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "S. 27 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(1)(2), Sch. 1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/50/section/27",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:00:04.396505+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."
}