STATUTORY INSTRUMENT

S.I. No. 204 of 2004

European Parliament Ballot Paper (Photographs and Emblems) Regulations 2004

S.I. No. 204 of 2004

European Parliament Ballot Paper (Photographs and Emblems) Regulations 2004

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 3 and Rule 50 of the Second Schedule of section 51 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001 ( No. 38 of 2001 )) hereby makes the following regulations:--

Citation.

1.  These regulations may be cited as the European Parliament Ballot Paper (Photographs and Emblems) Regulations 2004.

Photographs.

2.  (1)  A photograph of a candidate at a European Parliament election intended for inclusion on a ballot paper shall be delivered to the returning officer with the nomination paper in accordnce with the requirements specified in Part 1 of the Schedule hereto.

(2)  Where the requirements referred to in sub-article (1) are not complied with, the returning officer may not include the photograph on the ballot paper.

(3)  Where the nomination paper is not accompanied by a photograph, or subparagraph (2) is applicable, the space provided on the ballot paper for a candidate’s photograph shall remain blank.

Emblems.

3.  (1)  The emblem of a political party which may be registered in the Register of Political Parties pursuant to an application under section 25(3) of section 11 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2001 shall comply with the requirements specified in Part 2 of the Schedule hereto.

(2)  Where no emblem is registered in the Register of Political Parties, the space provided on the ballot paper for an emblem shall remain blank.

Modification of Ballot Paper.

4.  The form of ballot paper specified in the Fourth Schedule to section 51 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001 and set out in Part 3 of the Schedule hereto.

Schedule

Part 1

1.  A photograph in digitised format on a CD (passport size - 35mm × 45mm) in 300 dpi Jpeg (RGB-color) and two identical printed copies of the photograph must be delivered with the candidate’s nomination paper.

2.  The photograph must be of good quality and in colour showing the candidate’s full face, head and shoulders only on a light background (any colour) and taken to a professional standard.

3.  The photograph must have been taken not more than twelve months prior to the date of the election.

4.  Each copy of the printed photograph must have the candidate’s name clearly shown on the back.

Part 2

1.  An emblem shall be delivered to the Registrar of Political Parties with the application form specified by the Regisrar under section 25(3) of the Electoral Act 1992 , in digitised format on disk (two copies) along with two identical printed copies.

2.  The emblem must be designed to a professional standard.

3.  The two printed copies of the emblem shall be signed on the back by an officer of the party whose name appears in the Register of Political Parties pursuant to section 25(7)(d) of the Electoral Act 1992 .

Part 3

Form of Ballot Paper (Front of Paper)

Toghchán do Pharlaiment na hEorpa

European Parliament Elections

TREORACHA

1.   Feách chuige go bhfuil an marc oifigiúil ar an bpáipéar.

2.   Scríobh an figiúr 1 sa bhosca le hais ghrianghraf an chéad iarrthóra is rogha leat, an figiúr 2 sa bhosca le hais ghrianghraf an iarrthóra do dhara rogha, agus mar sin de.

3.   Fill an páipéar ionas nach bhfeicfear do vóta. Taispeáin cúl an pháipéir don oifigeach ceannais, agus cuir sa bhosca ballóide é.

INSTRUCTIONS

1.   See that the official mark is on the paper.

2.   Write 1 in the box beside the photograph of the candidate of your first choice, 2 in the box beside the photograph of the candidate of your second choice, and so on.

3.   Fold the paper to conceal your vote. Show the back of the paper to the presiding officer and put it in the ballot box.

(Back of Paper)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation).

These regulations prescribe the requirements for the provision of photographs to returning officers by candidates at a European Parliament election and for the provision of emblems by political parties to the Registrar of Political Parties for their registration in the Register of Political Parties. The regulations amend the form of the ballot paper specified in the Fourth Schedule of the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 to provide for the inclusion of photographs and emblems.