Citation, commencement and extent

1.  (1)  These Regulations may be cited as the European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2013 and come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

(2) These Regulations extend to Northern Ireland only.

Amendment of the European Parliamentary Elections Rules

2.  (1)  Schedule 1 to the European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2004 (European Parliamentary Elections Rules)(6) is amended as follows.

(2) In rule 31 (appointment of polling and counting agents), in paragraph (4) for "second" substitute "fifth".

Amendment of Schedule 6 to the European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2004

3.  (1)  Schedule 6 to the European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2004(7) is amended as follows.

(2) After paragraph 14, insert-

"14A.  In rule 49 (attendance at verification of ballot paper accounts), in paragraph (2), after sub-paragraph (e) insert-

"(f)persons who fall within sub-paragraphs (a) to (f) of rule 44(1) of Schedule 5 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (local elections rules)(8) or, as the case may be, sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of rule 44(2) of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (parliamentary elections rules)(9),".

14B.  In rule 50 (procedure at verification of ballot paper accounts)-

(a)before paragraph (1) insert-

"(A1) Where separate ballot boxes have been used for the poll at the European Parliamentary election and the poll at a relevant election, the verifying officer must, in the presence of the counting agents for each such election-

(a)open each ballot box for the European Parliamentary election and for a relevant election;

(b)from each ballot box for the European Parliamentary election, take out any ballot papers for a relevant election and place them in a ballot box for the relevant election; and

(c)from each ballot box for a relevant election, take out any ballot papers for the European Parliamentary election and place them in a ballot box for the European Parliamentary election.";

(b)in paragraph (1)(a), after "each ballot box" insert "(if not already opened in accordance with paragraph (A1))".".

(3) After paragraph 17, insert-

"17A.  In the Appendix of Forms at the end of Schedule 1, in Form A (the ballot paper)-

(a)on the front of the ballot paper, at the top of that form insert the heading "European Parliamentary Election"; and

(b)in the directions as to printing the ballot paper, in paragraph 2(a), after "apart from" insert "the heading "European Parliamentary Election" at the top of the ballot paper and".".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make changes to the European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2004 (the "2004 Regulations"). The European Parliamentary Elections Rules are contained in Schedule 1 to the 2004 Regulations. Schedule 6 to the 2004 Regulations makes provision for when the poll at a European Parliamentary election is held together with the poll at a parliamentary election or a local election in Northern Ireland.

Regulation 2 amends rule 31 of the European Parliamentary Elections Rules to allow candidates to notify the appointment of polling and counting agents to the returning officer on the fifth day, rather than the second day, before the poll. This is consistent with the position at local, Assembly and parliamentary elections in Northern Ireland.

Regulation 3(2) inserts paragraphs 14A and 14B into Schedule 6. Paragraph 14A provides that when elections are combined, persons entitled to attend the count for another election held together with a European Parliamentary election are entitled to attend the verification process for a European Parliamentary election. Paragraph 14B provides that where separate ballot boxes have been used at a combined election, the ballot boxes for each election can be opened at the start of the verification process in order to separate ballot papers which have been placed in the wrong ballot box.

Regulation 3(3) inserts paragraph 17A into Schedule 6 to provide that, when elections are combined, the name of the election will be included at the top of the ballot paper.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.