Commentary on Sections Schedule 1 — Amendments The 1983 Act
417.Paragraph 5 amends Section 10 (3) of the Act 1983 (annual canvass) to show that anonymous registration cannot be sought via the annual canvass.
418.Paragraph 6 disapplies the objections procedure (in section 10A(3A) of the 1983 Act) from those seeking anonymous registration.
419.Paragraph 8 amends section 56 of the 1983 Act so as to include a right of appeal from a refusal of anonymous registration.
420.Paragraph 9 amends section 62 of the 1983 Act (offences as to declarations). It will be a criminal offence to make a declaration in support of an application for anonymous registration when disqualified from voting or making a false statement.
421.Paragraph 14 amends rule 7: anonymous electors shall not be able to rely upon their anonymous registration for the purposes of subscribing another elector’s nomination papers. It also makes other consequential amendments in the parliamentary elections rules.
422.Paragraph 15 amends the regulation making powers contained in Schedule 2 to the 1983 Act. Those in subparagraph (3) will enable regulations to provide for the sending of reminders to persons registered anonymously that their entitlement to registration is about to expire. Subparagraph (4) makes provision for regulation of the form and content of anonymous registration applications. Subparagraph (5) makes provisions for regulations to govern what evidence will be deemed sufficient by an ERO that a person’s safety would be at risk such as to justify the grant of an application for anonymous registration.
423.Paragraph 16 amends Schedule 2A to the 1983 Act. Persons who have anonymous entries will be regarded as permissible donors if they provide the required evidence of their registration to candidates or their election agents when making donations.