Commentary on Sections Part 1: Registration of Electors Section 5: Publication and alteration of registers
37.This section replaces section 13(1) of the 1983 Act. It retains the current default requirement that a revised and updated register must be published on or before 1st December in a year in which a canvass has been held. For years where no canvass is held in Northern Ireland, it introduces a default requirement that the revised register in Northern Ireland must be published on 1st December.
38.However, whether or not a canvass is held, the Secretary of State has a power to prescribe a later publication date in regulations.
39.In the amendment of section 13 made by this section (and in the amendments made by sections 6 and 7) “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations (see sections 201 and 202 of the 1983 Act).