Law

Elections Act 2022

United Kingdom · statute

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In force since 2026-04-01, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 81 provisions
  1. Title and introductory text
  2. 1 Voter identification
  3. 2 Power to make regulations about registration, absent voting and other matters
  4. 3 Restriction of period for which person can apply for postal vote
  5. 4 Handling of postal voting documents by political campaigners
  6. 5 Handing in postal voting documents
  7. 6 Limit on number of electors for whom a proxy can vote
  8. 7 Requirement of secrecy
  9. 8 Undue influence
  10. 9 Assistance with voting for persons with disabilities
  11. 10 Candidate nomination paper: commonly used names
  12. 11 Home address form: statement of local authority area
  13. 12 Local elections and Assembly elections in Northern Ireland
  14. 13 Simple majority system to be used in elections for certain offices
  15. 14 Extension of franchise for parliamentary elections: British citizens overseas
  16. 15 Voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens
  17. 16 Strategy and policy statement
  18. 17 Examination of duty to have regard to strategy and policy statement
  19. 18 Membership of the Speaker’s Committee
  20. 19 Criminal proceedings
  21. 20 Notional expenditure: use of property etc on behalf of candidates and others
  22. 21 Codes of practice on expenses
  23. 22 Authorised persons not required to pay expenses through election agent
  24. 23 Declaration of assets and liabilities to be provided on application for registration
  25. 24 Prohibition on entities being registered political parties and recognised third parties at same time
  26. 25 Section 24: transitional provision
  27. 26 Restriction on which third parties may incur controlled expenditure
  28. 27 Third parties capable of giving notification for purposes of Part 6 of PPERA
  29. 28 Recognised third parties: changes to existing limits etc
  30. 29 Code of practice on controls relating to third parties
  31. 30 Disqualification orders
  32. 31 Vacation of office etc
  33. 32 Candidates etc
  34. 33 Holders of relevant elective offices
  35. 34 Campaigners
  36. 35 Election etc of a person to the House of Commons who is subject to a disqualification order
  37. 36 Power to amend Schedule 9
  38. 37 Interpretation of Part
  39. 38 Minor and consequential amendments
  40. 39 Definitions relating to electronic material and publication
  41. 40 Definitions relating to parties etc
  42. 41 Requirement to include information with electronic material
  43. 42 Electronic material to which section 41 applies: paid-for material
  44. 43 Purposes referred to in section 42
  45. 44 Electronic material to which section 41 applies: other electronic material
  46. 45 Purposes referred to in section 44
  47. 46 Electronic material relating to more than one candidate or future candidate
  48. 47 Exceptions to section 41
  49. 48 Offence of breaching section 41
  50. 49 Order to take down electronic material in breach of section 41
  51. 50 Enforcement by the Commission
  52. 51 Notice to take down electronic material in breach of section 41
  53. 52 Further provision about notice under section 51
  54. 53 Supply of information
  55. 54 Guidance
  56. 55 Information in Commission’s annual report
  57. 56 Notices
  58. 57 Proceedings for an offence under this Part
  59. 58 Offences committed by bodies corporate
  60. 59 Offences committed by unincorporated associations etc
  61. 60 Regulations under this Part
  62. 61 Meaning of “the Commission”
  63. 62 Review of operation of Act
  64. 63 Power to amend references to subordinate legislation etc
  65. 64 Financial provisions
  66. 65 Interpretation etc
  67. 66 Extent
  68. 67 Commencement
  69. 68 Short title
  70. Schedule 1 Voter identification
  71. Schedule 2 Power to make regulations about registration, absent voting and other matters
  72. Schedule 3 Restriction of period for which person can apply for postal vote
  73. Schedule 4 Proxy voting: limits and transitional provision
  74. Schedule 5 Undue influence: further provision
  75. Schedule 6 Local elections in Northern Ireland and elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly
  76. Schedule 7 Overseas electors
  77. Schedule 8 Voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens
  78. Schedule 9 Offences for purposes of Part 5
  79. Schedule 10 Disqualification orders: minor and consequential amendments
  80. Schedule 11 Illegal practices
  81. Schedule 12 Supply of information etc

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81 provisions

Schedule 12 Supply of information etc

Section 53 Supply of information etc 1 (1) A relevant enforcer may give notice in writing to any person requiring the person to provide a relevant enforcer, or a person authorised by a relevant enforcer, with any information which— (a) is identified in the notice, and (b) is reasonably required by a relevant enforcer for the purposes of— (i) determining whether electronic material has been published in contravention of section 41, or (ii) making contact with the promoter of the material or the person on behalf of whom the material has been published (and who is not the promoter). (2) A relevant enforcer may give notice in writing to any person requiring the person to provide a relevant enforcer, or a person authorised by a relevant enforcer, with a copy of any electronic material which— (a) is identified in the notice, and (b) is reasonably required by a relevant enforcer for the purposes of determining whether electronic material has been published in contravention of section 41. (3) A person to whom a notice is given under this paragraph must comply with it within such reasonable time as is specified in the notice. (4) A relevant enforcer may by notice in writing withdraw or vary a notice under this paragraph at any time. Court order for disclosure of information etc 2 (1) This paragraph applies if a relevant enforcer has given a notice under paragraph 1(1) requiring any information to be provided. (2) The High Court or (in Scotland) the Court of Session may make an information disclosure order against a person (“the respondent”) if satisfied on an application by a relevant enforcer that there is information identified in the notice under paragraph 1(1) which— (a) has not been provided as required by the notice (either within the time specified in the notice for compliance or subsequently), (b) is reasonably required by a relevant enforcer for a purpose within paragraph 1(1)(b), and (c) the respondent is able to provide. (3) An information disclosure order is an order requiring the respondent to provide to a relevant enforcer, within such time as is specified in the order, such information falling within sub-paragraph (2)(b) as is identified in the order. 3 (1) This paragraph applies if a relevant enforcer has given a notice under paragraph 1(2) requiring any electronic material to be provided. (2) The High Court or (in Scotland) the Court of Session may make an electronic material disclosure order against a person (“the respondent”) if satisfied on an application by a relevant enforcer that there is electronic material referred to in the notice under paragraph 1(2) a copy of which— (a) has not been provided as required by the notice (either within the time specified in the notice for compliance or subsequently), (b) is reasonably required by a relevant enforcer for the purposes of determining whether electronic material has been published in contravention of section 41, and (c) the respondent is able to provide. (3) An electronic material disclosure order is an order requiring the respondent to provide to a relevant enforcer, within such time as is specified in the order, a copy of such electronic material falling within sub-paragraph (2)(b) as is identified in the order. Power to make copies and records 4 A relevant enforcer, or a person authorised by a relevant enforcer, may make copies or records of any information or material provided under this Schedule. Authorisation to be in writing 5 An authorisation of a person by a relevant enforcer under this Schedule must be in writing. Legal professional privilege 6 Nothing in this Schedule requires a person to provide anything in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege (or in Scotland to confidentiality of communications) could be maintained in legal proceedings. Admissibility of information 7 (1) Information provided by a person (“P”) in compliance with a requirement imposed under this Schedule is admissible in evidence in any proceedings (as long as it also complies with any requirements governing the admissibility of evidence in the circumstances in question). (2) But in criminal proceedings in which P is charged with an offence other than one to which sub-paragraph (3) applies or in proceedings within sub-paragraph (4) to which both the Commission and P are parties— (a) no evidence relating to the information is admissible against P, and (b) no question relating to the information may be asked on behalf of the prosecution or (as the case may be) the Commission in cross-examination of P, unless evidence relating to it is adduced, or a question relating to it is asked, in the proceedings by or on behalf of P. (3) This sub-paragraph applies to— (a) an offence under section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911 (false statements made otherwise than on oath); (b) an offence under section 44(2) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (false statements made otherwise than on oath); (c) an offence under Article 10 of the Perjury (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (false statements made otherwise than on oath). (4) Proceedings are within this sub-paragraph if they arise out of the exercise by the Commission of any of their powers under Schedule 19C to PPERA. Application of restrictions on disclosure 8 (1) A disclosure of information pursuant to a requirement under this Schedule does not breach— (a) any obligation of confidence owed by the person making the disclosure, or (b) any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed). (2) A duty imposed by virtue of this Schedule does not require a person to disclose information if to do so would contravene the data protection legislation (but in determining whether the disclosure would do so, the duty imposed by virtue of this Schedule is to be taken into account). (3) In sub-paragraph (2) “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(9) of that Act). Meaning of “relevant enforcer” 9 In this Schedule “relevant enforcer” means the Electoral Commission or a constable.

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