Commentary on Sections Section 4: Electoral identity card
26.This section amends the Representation of the People Act 1983. Subsection (2) inserts a new section 13C in the Representation of the People Act 1983. It enables a person to apply to be issued with an electoral identity card (in accordance with any requirements prescribed by regulations). The Chief Electoral Officer has the function under section 13C(3) of determining such an application (in accordance with any regulations) and, if he is satisfied that the information given by an applicant is correct, he is required to issue an electoral identity card free of charge. There is a regulation-making power under section 13C(2) to provide for the types of person who may apply and for the application form.
27.Section 13C(4) states that the electoral identity card must show the following information: the elector’s full name and date of birth, his photograph, the card’s expiry date; and it may include such other information and be in such form as the Chief Electoral Officer shall determine (in accordance with any regulations).
28.Section 13C(5) provides that an electoral identity card becomes current on the date of its issue and ceases to be so 10 years later.
29.Subsection (3) of section 4 amends rule 37(1E) of the parliamentary elections rules in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 as inserted by section 1 of the Elections (Northern Ireland) Act 1985. It adds the electoral identity card to the list of specified documents which voters may use for the purposes of identification at polling stations in Northern Ireland.