Citation, commencement, extent and savings

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) (Amendment) Order 2022 and comes into force on 16th January 2023.

(2) This Order extends to England and Wales.

(3) Article 2(2), (3)(a) and (4) does not apply in relation to a parliamentary general election to which paragraph 18 of Schedule 1 to the Elections Act 2022( 3) does not apply.

(4) This Order does not apply in relation to an election in respect of which the date of poll as specified in the notice of election published in accordance with rule 5 of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983( 4) is on or before 3rd May 2023.

Amendment of the Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) Order 2007

2.—(1) The Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) Order 2007( 5) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 6 (Welsh and English versions of prescribed forms and a form of words), in paragraph (1), after sub-paragraph (s) insert—

“(t) in the case of form 20, the form of the ballet paper refusal list set out in Schedule 4 to the Voter Identification Regulations 2022( 6) . ”.

(3) In Schedule 1 (Welsh version of prescribed forms and a form of words), for each of the following forms substitute the corresponding form set out in Schedule 1 to this Order—

(a) form 2 (Welsh form of questions set out in the table in rule 35 of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983( 7));

(b) form 4 (form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter with disabilities);

(c) form 5 (companion declaration for combined polls).

(4) In Schedule 2 (Welsh and English versions of prescribed forms and a form of words)—

(a) for each of the following forms substitute the corresponding form set out in Schedule 2 to this Order—

(i) form 2 (form of directions for the guidance of voters in voting);

(ii) form 4 (form of directions for the guidance of voters in voting for combined polls);

(iii) form 4A (voting compartment notice for combined polls);

(iv) form 5 (official poll card);

(v) form 7 (official proxy poll card);

(b) after form 19 (corresponding number list – combined election) insert form 20 (ballot paper refusal list) as set out in Schedule 2 to this Order.

Article 2(3)

SCHEDULE 1 Welsh version of prescribed forms and a form of words

Form 2: Welsh form of questions set out in the table in rule 35 of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983

Form 4: Form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter with disabilities

Form 5: Companion declaration for combined polls

Page 1

Page 2

Article 2(4)

SCHEDULE 2 Welsh and English versions of prescribed forms

Form 2: Form of directions for the guidance of voters in voting

Form 4: Form of directions for the guidance of voters in voting (guidance for voters at a combined poll)

Form 4A: Voting compartment notice for combined polls

Form 5: Official poll card (to be sent to an elector voting in person)

Front of form

Rear of form

Form 7: Official proxy poll card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person)

Front of form

Rear of form

Form 20: Ballot paper refusal list

Page 1

Page 2

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Parliamentary Elections (Welsh Forms) Order 2007 ( S.I. 2007/1014) by updating a number of forms used at parliamentary elections in Wales, following amendments to parliamentary election forms made by or as a result of the Elections Act 2022 (c. 37).

Article 2(3) and Schedule 1 updated certain Welsh versions of forms and a prescribed form of words. Article 2(4) and Schedule 2 update certain versions of forms which are partly in Welsh and partly in English.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.