An 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.
Provides a legislative framework for setting up a "Coordinated Online Record of Electors", known as "CORE", to co-ordinate electoral registration information across regions.[4]
Creates new criminal offences for supplying false electoral registration details or for failure to supply such details.
Allows people to register anonymously on electoral registers if a 'safety test' is passed.[5]
Requires local authorities to review all polling stations, and to provide a report on the reviews to theElectoral Commission.[6]
Provides for the making of signature and date of birth checks on postal vote applications.
Revises the law on "undue influence".
Allows observers to monitor elections (with the exception of Scottish local government elections, which are the responsibility of theScottish Parliament).[7]
Allows for alterations to ballot paper designs, including the introduction of barcodes and pilot schemes for the introduction of photographs on ballot papers.
Provides for the entitlement of children to accompany parents and carers into polling stations.
Bars candidates from using in their name or description expressions such as "Don't vote for them" or "None of the above".
Bars candidates from standing in more than one constituency at the same election.
Allowspolitical parties up to 12 separate descriptions to be used on ballot papers, and allows joint candidature.
Requires local authorities to promote and encourage electoral registration and voting.
Amongst other provisions affecting members of the armed forces and other persons with a "service qualification", allows the Secretary of State to extend the period of validity (previously one year) of a "service declaration" by which qualified persons may have their names placed on the electoral register as "service voters";[9] the Act also imposes new duties upon theMinistry of Defence.
Removes the requirement for an observer to witness the signing of the security statement of apostal vote.
Requires political parties to declare large loans. This provision was introduced as an amendment, surviving muchparliamentary ping-pong, following the "Cash for Peerages" scandal.[10]
Some of its provisions came into effect upon it receiving assent,[11] with other provisions commencing on other dates.[3]
.svg)