Commentary on Sections Part 2: Administration and Conduct of Elections etc Section 21: Community support officers
76.Section 21 amends rule 32 of the Parliamentary Elections Rules which deals with admission to polling stations. The amendment will allow Police Community Support Officers (“PCSOs”) to enter polling stations as police constables can currently. It will also allow a PCSO to be admitted to vote at a polling station other than their own on the production and surrender of a “certificate of employment” signed by a prescribed police officer. Section 21 also amends rule 31 which provides for the requirements of secrecy of the ballot (set out at section 66 of the 1983 Act) to be notified to those attending polling stations and counting venues during Parliamentary elections, with the effect that PCSOs, like police constables, will not need to be given such notification. These amendments apply to Parliamentary elections in England and Wales. In addition, this section amends paragraph 2(5) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 to enable PCSOs to vote at any polling station in the constituency or electoral area if they are prevented from voting at their own polling station by reason of their employment on the day of the poll for the purpose of the election. This amendment applies to Parliamentary and local government elections in England and Wales.