OpenLegislation

Electoral Administration Act 2006

2006 c. 22 · Enacted 11 July 2006 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 4 July 2025.

C1C2An Act to make provision in relation to the registration of electors and the keeping of electoral registration information; standing for election; the administration and conduct of elections and referendums; and the regulation of political parties.[11th July 2006]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C3C4C5C6C7C8

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act: power to amend conferred (25.7.2006) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), ss. 1(2)(a), 31(1)

C2

Act applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (27.3.2007) by The Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1024), reg. 3(2)(3)(e)(4), Sch. 2

C3

Act: certain functions made exercisable concurrently (18.8.2010) by Lord President of the Council Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1837), arts. 1(2), 3

C4

Act functions transferred (22.6.2015) by The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1376), arts. 1(2), 3(1), Schs. 1 (with art. 9)

C5

Act functions transferred (9.11.2016) by The Transfer of Functions (Elections, Referendums, Third Sector and Information) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/997), arts. 1(2), 3(1), Sch. 1(n) (with arts. 3(2), 6, 12)

C6

Act applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (31.1.2017) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/67), art. 3(2)-(4), Sch. 2 (as amended (7.2.2024) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/131), reg. 12(7))

C7

Act functions transferred (E.W.) (24.5.2018) by The Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/644), arts. 1(1), 45, Sch. 1 para. 5

C8

Act: functions cease to be exercisable concurrently (8.12.2021) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1265), arts. 1(2), 9, Sch. 1(j) (with arts. 11, 12)

Contents

  1. Part 1: Co-ordinated on-line record of electors
  2. 1Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE schemes: establishment Repealed
  3. 2Use of Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE information Repealed
  4. 3Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE scheme grants Repealed
  5. 3AEstablishment of corporation sole to be Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE keeper Repealed
  6. 4Electoral Commission Repealed
  7. 5Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE schemes: supplemental Repealed
  8. 6Co-ordinated On-line Record of ElectorsCORE schemes: procedure Repealed
  9. 7Amendment of the 1983 Act Repealed
  10. 8Interpretation of Part Repealed
  11. Part 2: Registration of electors
  12. 9Registration officers: duty to take necessary steps
  13. 10Anonymous registration
  14. 11Alterations of registers: pending elections
  15. 12Determinations by registration officers and objections
  16. 13Registration of voters with service qualification
  17. Part 3: Anti-fraud measures
  18. 14Absent voting: personal identifiers
  19. 15Offences as to false registration information
  20. Part 4: Review of polling places
  21. 16Review of polling places
  22. Part 5: Standing for election
  23. 17Minimum age
  24. 18Certain Commonwealth citizens
  25. 19Nomination procedures
  26. Part 6: Conduct of elections etc.
  27. Election timetables
  28. 20Omission of references to Maundy Thursday
  29. Nomination
  30. 21Use of candidates' common names
  31. 22Candidate not to stand in more than one constituency
  32. 23Offences as to false statements in nomination papers
  33. Death of candidate
  34. 24Death of candidate
  35. Election expenses
  36. 25Amount of expenses which may be incurred by third party
  37. 26Return as to election expenses
  38. 27Meaning of election expenses for purposes of the 1983 Act
  39. Observation of elections etc.
  40. 28Discretion to report on certain elections
  41. 29Observation of proceedings and working practices
  42. Ballot papers
  43. 30Ballot paper design
  44. 31Replacement of counterfoils
  45. 32Photographs on ballot papers: piloting
  46. 33Evaluation of pilots under section 32
  47. 34Revision of electoral provisions in the light of pilot schemes
  48. Voting in person
  49. 35Certain voters entitled to vote in person
  50. Certain electoral documents
  51. 36Translations etc. of certain documents
  52. 37Documents relating to postal voting
  53. Circumstances in which votes may be tendered
  54. 38Tendered votes
  55. Offences related to voting
  56. 39Undue influence
  57. 40Offences relating to applications for postal and proxy votes
  58. Access to election documents
  59. 41Control of documents after parliamentary election
  60. 42Access to other election documents
  61. 43Access to other election documents: contravention of regulations
  62. 44Access to other election documents: supplementary
  63. 45Marked postal voters list
  64. Correction of procedural errors
  65. 46Returning officers: correction of procedural errors
  66. Miscellaneous amendments
  67. 47Miscellaneous amendments of the 1983 Act
  68. Part 7: Regulation of parties
  69. Registration of parties
  70. 48Registered names of parties
  71. 49Political party descriptions
  72. 50Confirmation of registered particulars
  73. 51Removal from register of registered parties
  74. 52Time for registration of parties fielding candidates
  75. Accounting requirements
  76. 53Requirements as to statements of account
  77. 54Time for delivery of unaudited accounts to Electoral Commission
  78. Control of donations
  79. 55Policy development grants to be donations
  80. 56Exemption from requirement to prepare quarterly donation reports
  81. 57Repeal of section 68 of the 2000 Act
  82. 58Register of donations to include details of nature of donation
  83. 59Reporting donations to holders of certain elective offices
  84. 60Northern Ireland: disapplication of Part 4 of the 2000 Act Repealed
  85. Regulation of loans etc.
  86. 61Regulation of loans etc.
  87. 62Regulation of loans: power to make provision for candidates, third parties , referendums and recall petitions
  88. 63Regulation of loans etc: Northern Ireland
  89. Campaign expenditure
  90. 64Campaign expenditure: standing for more than one party
  91. 65Time limit for claims in respect of campaign expenditure
  92. Referendum and election material
  93. 66Details to appear on referendum and election material
  94. Part 8: Miscellaneous
  95. Election services
  96. 67Performance of local authorities in relation to elections etc.
  97. 68Funding of services and expenses of returning officers
  98. Encouraging electoral participation
  99. 69Encouraging electoral participation
  100. Criminal proceedings
  101. 70Time limit for prosecutions
  102. 71Restriction on powers of arrest by persons other than constables
  103. Pre-consolidation amendments
  104. 72Pre-consolidation amendments
  105. Legal incapacity to vote
  106. 73Abolition of common law incapacity: mental state
  107. Part 9: General
  108. 74Miscellaneous amendments and repeals
  109. 74AFunctions of the Minister for the Cabinet Office Repealed
  110. 75Financial provision
  111. 76Interpretation
  112. 77Commencement
  113. 78Extent
  114. 79Short title
  115. Schedule 1: Amendments
  116. Part 1: Anonymous registration
  117. The Juries Act 1974 (c. 23)
  118. 1Paragraph 1
  119. The 1983 Act
  120. 2Paragraph 2
  121. 3Paragraph 3
  122. 4Paragraph 4
  123. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  124. 6Paragraph 6
  125. 7Paragraph 7
  126. 8Paragraph 8
  127. 9Paragraph 9
  128. 10Paragraph 10
  129. 11Paragraph 11
  130. 12Paragraph 12
  131. 13Paragraph 13
  132. 14Paragraph 14
  133. 15Paragraph 15
  134. 16Paragraph 16
  135. The Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50)
  136. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  137. The Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29)
  138. 18Paragraph 18
  139. The Representation of the People Act 2000 (c. 2)
  140. 19Paragraph 19
  141. 20Paragraph 20
  142. 21Paragraph 21
  143. 22Paragraph 22
  144. 23Paragraph 23
  145. The 2000 Act
  146. 24Paragraph 24
  147. 25Paragraph 25
  148. 26Paragraph 26
  149. 27Paragraph 27
  150. 28Paragraph 28
  151. 29Paragraph 29
  152. 30Paragraph 30
  153. Part 2: Alteration of registers: pending elections
  154. 31Paragraph 31
  155. 32Paragraph 32
  156. 33Paragraph 33
  157. 34Paragraph 34
  158. 35Paragraph 35
  159. 36Paragraph 36
  160. 37Paragraph 37
  161. 38Paragraph 38
  162. 39Paragraph 39
  163. 40Paragraph 40
  164. Part 3: Standing for election
  165. European Parliament
  166. 41Paragraph 41 Repealed
  167. Greater London Authority
  168. 42Paragraph 42
  169. Local authorities in England and Wales
  170. 43Paragraph 43
  171. National Assembly for Wales
  172. 44Paragraph 44
  173. Scottish Parliament
  174. 45Paragraph 45
  175. Local authorities in Scotland
  176. 46Paragraph 46
  177. Councillors in Northern Ireland
  178. 47Paragraph 47
  179. Part 4: Omission of references to Maundy Thursday
  180. The Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (C. 14)
  181. 48Paragraph 48
  182. The 1983 Act
  183. 49Paragraph 49
  184. 50Paragraph 50
  185. 51Paragraph 51
  186. 52Paragraph 52
  187. The Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50)
  188. 53Paragraph 53
  189. The 2000 Act
  190. 54Paragraph 54
  191. Part 5: Conduct of elections
  192. The Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962
  193. 55Paragraph 55
  194. Attendance at election proceedings
  195. 56Paragraph 56
  196. 57Paragraph 57
  197. 58Paragraph 58
  198. Identifying marks and security markings on ballot papers etc.
  199. 59Paragraph 59
  200. 60Paragraph 60
  201. 61Paragraph 61
  202. 62Paragraph 62
  203. Tendered votes in certain circumstances
  204. 63Paragraph 63
  205. 64Paragraph 64
  206. Assistance for persons with disabilities
  207. 65Paragraph 65
  208. 66Paragraph 66
  209. 67Paragraph 67
  210. 68Paragraph 68
  211. The 1983 Act
  212. 69Paragraph 69
  213. Official poll cards
  214. 70Paragraph 70
  215. Election expenses
  216. 71Paragraph 71
  217. Postal voting statement
  218. 72Paragraph 72
  219. 73Paragraph 73
  220. Questions to be put to voters
  221. 74Paragraph 74
  222. Voting procedure
  223. 75Paragraph 75
  224. Assistance for persons with disabilities
  225. 76Paragraph 76
  226. 77Paragraph 77
  227. 78Paragraph 78
  228. 79Paragraph 79
  229. 80Paragraph 80
  230. Tendered ballot papers
  231. 81Paragraph 81
  232. Attendance at election proceedings
  233. 82Paragraph 82
  234. 83Paragraph 83
  235. 84Paragraph 84
  236. 85Paragraph 85
  237. Identifying marks and security markings on ballot papers etc.
  238. 86Paragraph 86
  239. 87Paragraph 87
  240. 88Paragraph 88
  241. 89Paragraph 89
  242. 90Paragraph 90
  243. 91Paragraph 91
  244. 92Paragraph 92
  245. 93Paragraph 93
  246. Cancellation of postal ballot papers
  247. 94Paragraph 94
  248. Control of documents after parliamentary election: Northern Ireland
  249. 95Paragraph 95
  250. Local government elections in Scotland
  251. 96Paragraph 96
  252. Part 6: Control of loans etc. to individuals and members associations
  253. 97Paragraph 97
  254. 98Paragraph 98
  255. 99Paragraph 99
  256. 100Paragraph 100
  257. 101Paragraph 101
  258. 102Paragraph 102
  259. Part 7: Miscellaneous
  260. The Family Law Reform Act 1969 (c. 46)
  261. 103Paragraph 103
  262. The 1983 Act
  263. 104Paragraph 104
  264. 105Paragraph 105
  265. 106Paragraph 106
  266. 107Paragraph 107 Not yet in force
  267. 108Paragraph 108
  268. 109Paragraph 109
  269. 110Paragraph 110
  270. 111Paragraph 111
  271. 112Paragraph 112
  272. 113Paragraph 113
  273. 114Paragraph 114
  274. 115Paragraph 115
  275. 116Paragraph 116
  276. 117Paragraph 117
  277. 118Paragraph 118
  278. 119Paragraph 119
  279. 120Paragraph 120
  280. 121Paragraph 121
  281. 122Paragraph 122
  282. 123Paragraph 123 Repealed
  283. 124Paragraph 124
  284. 125Paragraph 125
  285. 126Paragraph 126
  286. 127Paragraph 127
  287. 128Paragraph 128
  288. 129Paragraph 129
  289. 130Paragraph 130
  290. 131Paragraph 131
  291. 132Paragraph 132
  292. 133Paragraph 133
  293. The Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50)
  294. 134Paragraph 134
  295. 135Paragraph 135
  296. The Caldey Island Act 1990 (c. 44)
  297. 136Paragraph 136
  298. The Representation of the People Act 2000 (c. 2)
  299. 137Paragraph 137
  300. The 2000 Act
  301. 138Paragraph 138
  302. 139Paragraph 139
  303. 140Paragraph 140
  304. 141Paragraph 141
  305. 142Paragraph 142
  306. 143Paragraph 143
  307. 144Paragraph 144
  308. 145Paragraph 145
  309. 146Paragraph 146
  310. 147Paragraph 147
  311. 148Paragraph 148
  312. 149Paragraph 149
  313. 150Paragraph 150
  314. 151Paragraph 151
  315. 152Paragraph 152
  316. 153Paragraph 153
  317. 154Paragraph 154
  318. 155Paragraph 155
  319. European Parliament (Representation) Act 2003 (c. 7)
  320. 156Paragraph 156 Repealed
  321. Schedule 2: Repeals