Citation, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Representation of the People (Proxy Vote Applications) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 and come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

(2) Amendments made by these Regulations have the same extent and application as the instruments they are amending, except for—

(a) regulation 3, which does not apply in relation to a local government election in Wales, and

(b) regulation 4, which does not apply in relation to a local government election in Scotland.

Expiry and savings provision

2.—(1) Regulations 3 to 5, except for regulations 3(1) and (2)(a) to (c) and 4(1) and (2)(a) to (c), expire at the end of 28th February 2022.

(2) Despite paragraph (1), those regulations continue to have effect after that date in relation to an application made in respect of a relevant election or referendum where—

(a) the notice of the election or referendum is published before 1st March 2022, and

(b) the poll for that election or referendum takes place on or after that date.

(3) In this regulation, “relevant election or referendum” means—

(a) a parliamentary election;

(b) an election of a police and crime commissioner under Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011( 7);

(c) a local government election (within the meaning of section 203(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983)( 8);

(d) any other election or referendum to which Part 4 of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001( 9) is applied (with or without modifications) by another enactment.

Amendment of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001

3.—(1) The Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 52 (additional requirements for applications for the appointment of a proxy)—

(a) the existing text becomes paragraph (1);

(b) before that paragraph insert—

“(A1)  Paragraph (1) applies to an application for the appointment of a proxy for the purposes of voting by proxy at a parliamentary election, or at a local government election in England, where that application is—

(a) included in an application under paragraph 3 or 4 of Schedule 4 in accordance with regulation 51(6), or

(b) otherwise made under paragraph 6(7) of Schedule 4. ”;

(c) in that paragraph, omit “for the appointment of a proxy under paragraphs 3 and 4 of Schedule 4”;

(d) after that paragraph insert—

“(2)  An application under paragraph 6(7) of Schedule 4 for the appointment of a proxy for the purposes of voting by proxy at a parliamentary election or at a local government election in England, which is made in the circumstances set out in regulation 56(2B), must state that it is so made. ”.

(3) In regulation 55 (additional requirements for applications for a proxy vote for a particular election), after paragraph (3) insert—

“(3ZA)  For the purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3), an application on grounds of the applicant’s disability does not include an application on grounds relating to coronavirus within the meaning of regulation 56(3AA)(a), (b) or (c). ”.

(4) In regulation 56 (closing date for applications)—

(a) in paragraph (2), before “An application” insert “Subject to paragraph (2A),”;

(b) after paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A)  An application under paragraph 6(7) of Schedule 4 which is made in the circumstances set out in paragraph (2B) shall be disregarded for the purposes of a particular parliamentary election, or a particular local government election in England, if it is received by the registration officer after 5 pm on the day of the poll at that election.

(2B)  The circumstances are that—

(a) the applicant is, at the time the application is made, included in the register kept under paragraph 3 of Schedule 4, and

(b) the person already appointed as the applicant’s proxy at the time the application is made (“P”) considers that they are, or are likely to be, unable to attend the allotted polling station on the day of the poll referred to in paragraph (2A)—

(i) for reasons relating to compliance by P with a legal requirement to self-isolate;

(ii) because P has been notified that they are clinically extremely vulnerable in respect of coronavirus or (as the case may be) at the highest risk of severe illness from coronavirus, or because attendance would otherwise be contrary to coronavirus advice given to P;

(iii) because, due to P’s particular circumstances, attendance would give rise to a risk of transmission of coronavirus by P to another person. ”;

(c) in paragraph (3A), after sub-paragraph (a) insert—

“(aza) in respect of an election other than a local government election in Wales, on grounds relating to coronavirus; or ”;

(d) after paragraph (3A) insert—

“(3AA)  For the purposes of paragraph (3A)(aza) an application is made on grounds relating to coronavirus if it is made—

(a) because the applicant (“A”) considers that attendance at the allotted polling station would not be permitted due to A’s need to comply with a legal requirement to self-isolate;

(b) because A has been notified that they are clinically extremely vulnerable in respect of coronavirus or (as the case may be) at the highest risk of severe illness from coronavirus, or because A considers that attendance at the allotted polling station would otherwise be contrary to coronavirus advice given to A;

(c) because A considers that, due to A’s particular circumstances, attendance at the allotted polling station would give rise to a risk of transmission of coronavirus by A to another person;

(d) where A already has a person appointed as proxy under paragraph 6(8) of Schedule 4 (“P”), on the ground that P considers that they are, or are likely to be, unable to attend the allotted polling station because any of sub-paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) applies (reading references in those sub-paragraphs to A as references to P).

(3AB)  In this regulation—

“coronavirus” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);

“coronavirus advice” means advice relating to coronavirus given by a registered medical practitioner or a registered nurse. ”.

Amendment of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001

4.—(1) The Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001( 10) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 52 (additional requirements for applications for the appointment of a proxy)—

(a) the existing text becomes paragraph (1);

(b) before that paragraph insert—

“(A1)  Paragraph (1) applies to an application for the appointment of a proxy for the purposes of voting by proxy at a parliamentary election, where that application is—

(a) included in an application under paragraph 3 or 4 of Schedule 4 in accordance with regulation 51(6), or

(b) otherwise made under paragraph 6(7) of Schedule 4. ”;

(c) in that paragraph, omit “for the appointment of a proxy under paragraphs 3 and 4 of Schedule 4”;

(d) after that paragraph insert—

“(2)  An application under paragraph 6(7) of Schedule 4 for the appointment of a proxy for the purposes of voting by proxy at a parliamentary election, which is made in the circumstances set out in regulation 56(2B), must state that it is so made. ”.

(3) In regulation 55 (additional requirements for applications for a proxy vote for a particular election), after paragraph (3) insert—

“(3ZA)  For the purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3), an application on grounds of the applicant’s disability does not include an application on grounds relating to coronavirus within the meaning of regulation 56(3B)(a), (b) or (c). ”.

(4) In regulation 56 (closing date for applications)—

(a) in paragraph (2), before “An application” insert “Subject to paragraph (2A),”;

(b) after paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A)  An application under paragraph 6(7) of Schedule 4 which is made in the circumstances set out in paragraph (2B) shall be disregarded for the purposes of a particular parliamentary election if it is received by the registration officer after 5pm on the day of the poll at that election.

(2B)  The circumstances are that—

(a) the applicant is, at the time the application is made, included in the register kept under paragraph 3 of Schedule 4, and

(b) the person already appointed as the applicant’s proxy at the time the application is made (“P”) considers that they are, or are likely to be, unable to attend the allotted polling station on the day of the poll referred to in paragraph (2A)—

(i) for reasons relating to compliance by P with a legal requirement to self-isolate;

(ii) because P has been notified that they are clinically extremely vulnerable in respect of coronavirus or (as the case may be) at the highest risk of severe illness from coronavirus, or because attendance would otherwise be contrary to coronavirus advice given to P;

(iii) because, due to P’s particular circumstances, attendance would give rise to a risk of transmission of coronavirus by P to another person. ”;

(c) in paragraph (3A), after sub-paragraph (a) insert—

“(aza) on grounds relating to coronavirus; or ”;

(d) after paragraph (3A) insert—

“(3B)  For the purposes of paragraph (3A)(aza) an application is made on grounds relating to coronavirus if it is made—

(a) because the applicant (“A”) considers that attendance at the allotted polling station would not be permitted due to A’s need to comply with a legal requirement to self-isolate;

(b) because A has been notified that they are clinically extremely vulnerable in respect of coronavirus or (as the case may be) at the highest risk of severe illness from coronavirus, or because A considers that attendance at the allotted polling station would otherwise be contrary to coronavirus advice given to A;

(c) because A considers that, due to A’s particular circumstances, attendance at the allotted polling station would give rise to a risk of transmission of coronavirus by A to another person;

(d) where A already has a person appointed as proxy under paragraph 6(8) of Schedule 4 (“P”), on the ground that P considers that they are, or are likely to be, unable to attend the allotted polling station because any of sub-paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) applies (reading references in those sub-paragraphs to A as references to P).

(3C)  In this regulation—

“coronavirus” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);

“coronavirus advice” means advice relating to coronavirus given by a registered medical practitioner or a registered nurse. ”.

Amendment of the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012

5.—(1) Schedule 2 to the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012 (absent voting in PCC elections)( 11) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 14 (additional requirements: applications for the appointment of a proxy for a particular PCC election), after sub-paragraph (5) insert—

“(5ZA)  For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (4) and (5), an application on grounds of the applicant’s disability does not include an application on grounds relating to coronavirus within the meaning of paragraph 16(2A)(a), (b) or (c). ”.

(3) In paragraph 16 (closing dates for applications)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (2), after paragraph (a) insert—

“(aza) on grounds relating to coronavirus, or ”;

(b) after sub-paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A)  For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(aza), an application is made on grounds relating to coronavirus if it is made—

(a) because the applicant (“A”) considers that attendance at the allotted polling station would not be permitted due to A’s need to comply with a legal requirement to self-isolate;

(b) because A has been notified that they are clinically extremely vulnerable in respect of coronavirus or (as the case may be) at the highest risk of severe illness from coronavirus, or because A considers that attendance at the allotted polling station would otherwise be contrary to coronavirus advice given to A;

(c) because A considers that, due to A’s particular circumstances, attendance at the allotted polling station would give rise to a risk of transmission of coronavirus by A to another person;

(d) where A already has a person appointed as proxy under paragraph 5 (“P”), on the ground that P considers that they are, or are likely to be, unable to attend the allotted polling station because any of paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) applies (reading references in those paragraphs to A as references to P).

(2B)  In this paragraph—

“coronavirus” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);

“coronavirus advice” means advice relating to coronavirus given by a registered medical practitioner or a registered nurse. ”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the rules on proxy vote applications and deadlines for certain elections to expand eligibility for those affected by coronavirus. Regulation 2 provides that most of the amendments will expire automatically at the end of 28th February 2022, subject to a savings provision for polls which have already been notified on or before that date.

Regulation 3 amends the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 ( S.I. 2001/341) which apply to UK parliamentary elections and certain local government elections in England and Wales and (by virtue of being applied by other legislation) to certain other local elections and referendums in England. The amendments made do not apply to Welsh local government elections.

The amendments to regulation 52 firstly clarify that it applies to applications to appoint a proxy under paragraph 6(7) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (“the 2000 Act”), and secondly insert a new requirement that late applications to change a proxy because they are affected by coronavirus must state that information.

The amendment to regulation 55 ensures that the requirement for medical attestation of an application does not apply where it is made on coronavirus grounds.

The amendments to regulation 56 ensure that an application by someone with a long-term proxy arrangement to change the person who is appointed as their proxy, and an application for an emergency proxy, can both be done up to 5pm on the day of the poll, where made on coronavirus grounds. Those grounds include where a person is self-isolating due to having coronavirus, or being at risk of having it, or where a person who has already been appointed as an applicant’s proxy is similarly affected by coronavirus.

Regulation 4 makes the same changes to the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001 ( S.I. 2001/497) in respect of applications to vote by proxy in UK parliamentary elections and by-elections in Scotland.

Regulation 5 makes the same changes to the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012 ( S.I. 2012/1917) in respect of emergency applications to vote by proxy in a police and crime commissioner election.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on business, charities or the public or voluntary sector is foreseen.