Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the European Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

(2) These Regulations come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

(3) These Regulations extend to England, Wales, Scotland and Gibraltar.

(4) In these Regulations “the 2004 Regulations” means the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004( 3 ).

Amendments to the 2004 Regulations

2. In each of the following provisions in the 2004 Regulations, for “44 and 105 or 45 and 105” substitute “9HE and 105, 9MG and 105 or 44 and 105”—

(a) regulation 11(b) (combination of polls),

(b) paragraph 23(4) and (5) of Schedule 1 (corresponding number list)( 4 ),

(c) paragraph 17(9) of Schedule 2 (general requirements for applications for an absent vote)( 5 ),

(d) paragraph 41(b) of Schedule 2 (combination of polls).

3. In regulation 122A of the 2004 Regulations (translations etc. of certain documents)( 6 ), in paragraph (6)(a) for “Vote once (X) in one blank box” substitute “Vote only once by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice”.

4. —(1) Schedule 2 to the 2004 Regulations (absent voting) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraphs 26(6A) (closing date for applications), 31A(1)(a) (notification of rejected postal voting statement) and 67(4)(d) (lists of rejected postal ballot papers)( 7 ) for “returning officer” substitute “local returning officer”.

(3) In paragraph 54A (cancellation of postal ballot papers)( 8 ), after sub-paragraph (4) insert—

“ (5) Rule 2 of Schedule 1 applies to the computation of the period of nineteen days for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) as it applies to the computation of a period for the purposes of rule 1 of that Schedule. ”

5. —(1) Schedule 3 to the 2004 Regulations (modification of European Parliamentary Elections Rules for combined polls)( 9 ) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 8 of Part 1 (England and Wales)( 10 ), in the substituted provision, for “*[ Specify other ] ELECTION/REFERENDUM” to “*[Mark ONE answer to the referendum question]” substitute—

“ *[ Specify other ] ELECTION/REFERENDUM

([ Specify colour ] ballot paper)

[Specify voting instructions in accordance with the legislation governing the election or referendum] ” .

(3) In paragraph 14 of Part 1, renumber the inserted provision as paragraph (7).

(4) In paragraph 24 of Part 1( 11 ), in the substituted provision, after paragraph (1C) insert—

“ (1D) A postal ballot paper or postal voting statement that reaches the local returning officer or a polling station on or after the close of the poll is treated for the purposes of this rule as reaching that officer or polling station before the close of the poll if it is delivered by a person who, at the close of the poll, is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of returning it. ”

(5) In paragraph 13 of Part 2 (Scotland), renumber the inserted provision as paragraph (7).

(6) In paragraph 23 of Part 2( 12 ), in the substituted provision, after paragraph (1B) insert—

“ (1C) A postal ballot paper or postal voting statement that reaches the local returning officer or a polling station on or after the close of the poll is treated for the purposes of this rule as reaching that officer or polling station before the close of the poll if it is delivered by a person who, at the close of the poll, is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of returning it. ”