Clause 2 - Dates of birth and ballot papers
Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Bill
5:15 pm
Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale, Labour)
With this we may take new clause 5—Requirement for signature before issue of ballot paper—
`(1) Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (parliamentary election rules) is amended as follows.
(2) After rule 35 there is inserted—
``35A.—(1) A person applying as an elector shall sign his name before he is issued with a ballot paper.
(2) The presiding officer may dispense with the requirement in paragraph (1) above in relation to any applicant if he is satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable for that person to sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of any incapacity of his.''.'.