The Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) (Amendment) Order 2022

Made: 22nd December 2022

Laid before Parliament: 23rd December 2022

Coming into force: 16th January 2023

The Secretary of State makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 26(2) of the Welsh Language Act 1993[^f00001], as applied by section 22 of the Representation of the People Act 1985[^f00002].

Citation, commencement, extent and savings

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) (Amendment) Order 2022 and comes into force on 16th January 2023.

• (2) This Order extends to England and Wales.

• (3) Article 2(2), (3)(a) and (4) does not apply in relation to a parliamentary general election to which paragraph 18 of Schedule 1 to the Elections Act 2022[^f00003] does not apply.

• (4) This Order does not apply in relation to an election in respect of which the date of poll as specified in the notice of election published in accordance with rule 5 of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983[^f00004] is on or before 3rd May 2023.

Amendment of the Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) Order 2007

2

• (1) The Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) Order 2007[^f00005] is amended as follows.

• (2) In article 6 (Welsh and English versions of prescribed forms and a form of words), in paragraph (1), after sub-paragraph (s) insert—

(t) in the case of form 20, the form of the ballet paper refusal list set out in Schedule 4 to the Voter Identification Regulations 2022[^f00006].

• (3) In Schedule 1 (Welsh version of prescribed forms and a form of words), for each of the following forms substitute the corresponding form set out in Schedule 1 to this Order—

• (a) form 2 (Welsh form of questions set out in the table in rule 35 of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983[^f00007]);

• (b) form 4 (form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter with disabilities);

• (c) form 5 (companion declaration for combined polls).

• (4) In Schedule 2 (Welsh and English versions of prescribed forms and a form of words)—

• (a) for each of the following forms substitute the corresponding form set out in Schedule 2 to this Order—

• (i) form 2 (form of directions for the guidance of voters in voting);

• (ii) form 4 (form of directions for the guidance of voters in voting for combined polls);

• (iii) form 4A (voting compartment notice for combined polls);

• (iv) form 5 (official poll card);

• (v) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (b) after form 19 (corresponding number list – combined election) insert form 20 (ballot paper refusal list) as set out in Schedule 2 to this Order.

SCHEDULE 1 — Welsh version of prescribed forms and a form of words

Form 2: Welsh form of questions set out in the table in rule 35 of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983

Form 4: Form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter with disabilities

Form 5: Companion declaration for combined polls

Page 1

Page 2

SCHEDULE 2 — Welsh and English versions of prescribed forms

Form 2: Form of directions for the guidance of voters in voting

Form 4: Form of directions for the guidance of voters in voting (guidance for voters at a combined poll)

Form 4A: Voting compartment notice for combined polls

Form 5: Official poll card (to be sent to an elector voting in person)

Front of form

Rear of form

Form 7: Official proxy poll card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person)

...

Rear of form

Form 20: Ballot paper refusal list

Page 1

Page 2

Signed

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Scott of Bybrook — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State — Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities — 22nd December 2022

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order amends the Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1014) by updating a number of forms used at parliamentary elections in Wales, following amendments to parliamentary election forms made by or as a result of the Elections Act 2022 (c. 37).

Article 2 (3) and Schedule 1 updated certain Welsh versions of forms and a prescribed form of words. Article 2(4) and Schedule 2 update certain versions of forms which are partly in Welsh and partly in English.

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

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1993 c. 38. See section 27(4) for the meaning of “the appropriate Minister”.

[^f00002]: 1985 c. 50. Section 22 was substituted by section 35(5) of the Welsh Language Act 1993.

[^f00003]: 2022 c. 37.

[^f00004]: 1983 c. 2. Rule 5 was amended by paragraph 74 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 1985, by paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 6 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (c. 2), and by section 19(3) of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22).

[^f00005]: S.I. 2007/1014, amended by S.I. 2015/803; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

[^f00006]: S.I. 2022/1382.

[^f00007]: Rule 35 was substituted by paragraph 74 of Schedule 1 to the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22) and was amended by paragraph 6(3) of Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33) and by paragraph 16 of Schedule 1 to the Elections Act 2022 (c. 37). It is prospectively amended by paragraph 4 of Schedule 4 to the Elections Act 2022 from a date and time to be appointed.

Editorial notes

[^key-827698415892cca6f753e732685b31f9]: Art. 1 in force at 16.1.2023, see art. 1(1)

[^key-85d3824ef3820d8a2d329df6fa800f04]: Art. 2 in force at 16.1.2023, see art. 1(1)

[^key-f3493a61363e3443f6b7c25b4ef3ee96]: Sch. 1 in force at 16.1.2023, see art. 1(1)

[^key-ee39ba8f23f3b5ed8f6c9223788089af]: Sch. 2 in force at 16.1.2023, see art. 1(1)

[^key-504f24369f9d5ac12e219a7ffd6170da]: Sch. 2 Form 7 omitted (27.2.2023) by virtue of The Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) (Amendment) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/208), arts. 1(1), 3(b)

[^key-50322a65b388bf1415c6b812c66c601d]: Art. 2(4)(a)(v) omitted (27.2.2023) by virtue of The Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) (Amendment) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/208), arts. 1(1), 3(a)