UK Act of Parliament
2022
United Kingdom
Elections Act 2022
At a glance
What's here
14 compliance obligations
Penalty landscape
5 of 14 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 1 carries different penalties and 8 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 6
- Director or Officer 2
Plus 6 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 770 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 78 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 229 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 75 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 63 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 46 duties
- CCBSA 2014 2014 21 duties
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 2023 18 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — Administration and conduct of elections
Browse 13 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Power to make regulations about registration, absent voting and other matters
Restriction of period for which person can apply for postal vote
Handling of postal voting documents by political campaigners
Handing in postal voting documents
Limit on number of electors for whom a proxy can vote
Requirement of secrecy
Undue influence
Assistance with voting for persons with disabilities
Candidate nomination paper: commonly used names
Home address form: statement of local authority area
Local elections and Assembly elections in Northern Ireland
Simple majority system to be used in elections for certain offices
Part 2 — Overseas electors and EU citizens
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 3 — The Electoral Commission
Examination of duty to have regard to strategy and policy statement
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Speaker’s Committee may examine the Electoral Commission’s compliance Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 4 — Regulation of expenditure
Restriction on which third parties may incur controlled expenditure
- Check eligibility before spending on political campaigning Any Person
Code of practice on controls relating to third parties
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Electoral Commission must produce a code of practice for third-party spending Statutory regulator
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Notional expenditure: use of property etc on behalf of candidates and others
Codes of practice on expenses
Authorised persons not required to pay expenses through election agent
Declaration of assets and liabilities to be provided on application for registration
Prohibition on entities being registered political parties and recognised third parties at same time
Section 24: transitional provision
Third parties capable of giving notification for purposes of Part 6 of PPERA
Recognised third parties: changes to existing limits etc
Part 5 — Disqualification of offenders for holding elective office etc
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Disqualification orders
Vacation of office etc
Candidates etc
Holders of relevant elective offices
Campaigners
Election etc of a person to the House of Commons who is subject to a disqualification order
Power to amend Schedule 9
Interpretation of Part
Minor and consequential amendments
Part 6 — Information to be included with electronic material
Offence of breaching section 41
Unlimited fine- Publish digital campaign material without required ident information Any Person
Order to take down electronic material in breach of section 41
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with a court order to take down electronic material Any Person
Notice to take down electronic material in breach of section 41
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with a notice to remove electronic material Any Person
Further provision about notice under section 51
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Electoral Commission must provide notice and allow for representations Statutory regulator
Guidance
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Charity Commission must prepare and publish guidance on enforcement Statutory regulator
Information in Commission’s annual report
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Electoral Commission must report on enforcement and information powers Statutory regulator
Offences committed by bodies corporate
Unlimited fine- Personal liability for company directors and officers Director or Officer
Offences committed by unincorporated associations etc
Unlimited fine- Business partner or officer liability for association offences Director or Officer
Browse 15 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Definitions relating to electronic material and publication
Definitions relating to parties etc
Requirement to include information with electronic material
Electronic material to which section 41 applies: paid-for material
Purposes referred to in section 42
Electronic material to which section 41 applies: other electronic material
Purposes referred to in section 44
Electronic material relating to more than one candidate or future candidate
Exceptions to section 41
Enforcement by the Commission
Supply of information
Notices
Proceedings for an offence under this Part
Regulations under this Part
Meaning of “the Commission”
Part 7 — General
Review of operation of Act
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must review and report on the operation of the Act Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Power to amend references to subordinate legislation etc
Financial provisions
Interpretation etc
Extent
Commencement
Short title
Schedules
Offences for purposes of Part 5
Life imprisonment- Commission of serious criminal offences affecting eligibility Any Person
Supply of information etc
- Provide information or electronic material upon request to regulators Any Person
Browse 244 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Voter identification
Amendments of RPA 1983
Schedule 1 (Parliamentary elections rules) is amended in accordance with...
After rule 19A insert— Date of birth lists for polling...
In rule 25 (provision of polling stations), after paragraph (5)...
(1) Rule 26 (appointment of presiding officers and clerks) is...
In rule 28 (issue of official poll cards), after paragraph...
(1) Rule 29 (equipment of polling stations) is amended as...
(1) Rule 35 (questions to be put to voters) is...
(1) Rule 37 (voting procedure), as it extends to Northern...
(1) Rule 37 (voting procedure), as it extends to England...
In rule 38 (votes marked by presiding officer), for paragraph...
After section 13BC insert— Electoral identity document: Great Britain (1) An application for an electoral identity document may be...
In rule 39 (voting by persons with disabilities), for paragraph...
(1) Rule 40 (tendered ballot papers) is amended as follows....
After rule 40ZA insert— Refusal to deliver ballot paper: Great...
In rule 40A— (a) for the heading substitute “Refusal to...
After rule 40A insert— Collection and disclosure of information relating...
In rule 43 (procedure on close of poll), after paragraph...
After rule 53A insert— Destruction of date of birth lists:...
In rule 54 (sealing up of ballot papers), after paragraph...
In rule 55 (delivery of documents to registration officer), after...
In rule 56 (orders for production of documents), after paragraph...
(1) Section 13C (electoral identity card: Northern Ireland) is amended...
After rule 56 insert— Inspection of ballot paper refusal list:...
In rule 57 (retention and public inspection of documents), after...
In rule 58 (disposal of documents in Scotland), after paragraph...
(1) In the Appendix of Forms, the form of directions...
Extension of Northern Ireland voter identification provisions to Great Britain
After section 7(4) of the Elections (Northern Ireland) Act 1985...
Section 5(2) of the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002,...
After section 8(5) of the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act...
Section 13CZA of RPA 1983 (provision of false information: application...
After section 27(3) of the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act...
(1) Section 13CZA (provision of false information: application for electoral...
Consequential repeals
In section 56 (registration appeals: England and Wales), in subsection...
In section 58 (registration appeals: Northern Ireland), in subsection (1),...
After section 59 (supplemental provisions as to members of forces...
(1) Section 61 (other voting offences) is amended as follows....
In section 66B (failure to comply with conditions relating to...
Power to make regulations about registration, absent voting and other matters
Amendments to the Representation of the People Act 1983
In paragraph 8C(1)— (a) in paragraph (a), for “or 10A”...
In paragraph 13, after sub-paragraph (1) insert—
Power to remove signature requirements
Power to make provision about unique reference numbers: elections in Northern Ireland
Consequential repeals
Schedule 2 to RPA 1983 (provision which may be contained...
(1) Paragraph 1 is amended as follows.
(1) Paragraph 1A is amended as follows.
(1) Paragraph 3ZA is amended as follows.
For paragraph 3A substitute— (1) Provision about— (a) applications for registration in Northern Ireland...
After paragraph 5 insert— (1) Provision about the manner in which relevant absent voting...
In paragraph 8B(1), for “or 10ZD” substitute “, 10ZD, 13BD,...
After paragraph 8B insert— (1) Provision requiring a registration officer in Great Britain to...
Restriction of period for which person can apply for postal vote
Representation of the People Act 2000
(1) Paragraph 3 (absent vote at elections for definite or...
(1) Paragraph 7 (voting as proxy) is amended as follows....
Transitional provision
Proxy voting: limits and transitional provision
Representation of the People Act 1983
Termination of applications for certain proxy appointments on the specified day
(1) An application for a proxy appointment that is made...
(1) Section 61 (other voting offences) is amended as follows....
In section 202 (general provisions as to interpretation), in subsection...
(1) Rule 35 of Schedule 1 (questions to be put...
In Schedule 2 (provisions which may be contained in regulations...
Representation of the People Act 1985
Representation of the People Act 2000
Termination of certain proxy appointments on the specified day
(1) This paragraph applies where— (a) a proxy appointment is...
Undue influence: further provision
Local Government Act 1972
In section 80 (disqualifications for election and holding office as...
Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972
Representation of the People Act 1983
Greater London Authority Act 1999
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011
Local elections in Northern Ireland and elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly
Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962
In rule 22 (provision of polling stations), after paragraph (4)...
In rule 23 (appointment of presiding officers and clerks), in...
(1) Rule 26 (equipment of polling stations) is amended as...
(1) Rule 32 (questions to be put to voters) is...
(1) Rule 34 (voting procedure) is amended as follows.
In rule 35 (votes marked by presiding officer), in paragraph...
(1) Rule 36 (voting by persons with disabilities) is amended...
In rule 37 (tendered ballot papers), in paragraph (2)—
In rule 38 (refusal to deliver ballot paper), in paragraph...
In rule 41(1) (sealing and delivery of documents etc), after...
In section 96 (provisions applying to all persons reported personally...
(1) Rule 56A (destruction of home address forms) is amended...
In form 1 in the Appendix of Forms (form of...
In the Appendix of Forms, in form 10 (declaration for...
Schedule 9 (electoral misdemeanours) is amended in accordance with paragraphs...
For paragraph 3 substitute— Undue influence (1) A person is guilty of undue influence if the...
After paragraph 5 insert— Handling of postal voting documents by...
(1) Paragraph 12A (illegal practices: voting offences) is amended as...
(1) Paragraph 27 (requirement of secrecy) is amended as follows....
Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985
In paragraph 9(1) of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to...
In section 108 (penalties for corrupt practices), in subsection (4)(a)(i),...
Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989
Elections Act 2001
Transitional provisions relating to proxy voting
Consequential repeals
Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001
In the table, in the right-hand column of the entry...
In the table, after the entry for section 112 of...
In the table, for the entry relating to section 115...
In the table, after the entry for rule 19A of...
In section 112 (incapacities resulting from convictions for corrupt or...
The entries in the right-hand column of the table in...
In the entry for rule 31 (notification of requirement of...
In the entry for rule 37 (voting procedure), before the...
Against the entry for rule 38 (votes marked by presiding...
In the table, after the entry for rule 53A of...
In the entry for section 8 of the Representation of...
In the Annex, in the form of declaration to be...
Transitional provisions relating to proxy voting
(1) This paragraph applies to an application for a proxy...
In section 114 (corrupt and illegal practices committed by agents),...
Schedule 5 (local elections rules) is amended in accordance with...
In rule 5 (nomination of candidates), for paragraph (2A) substitute—...
In rule 12 (publication of statement of persons nominated), in...
After rule 16A insert— Date of birth lists (1) The returning officer must prepare the following lists for...
Overseas electors
Representation of the People Act 1983
House of Lords Reform Act 2014
Consequential repeals
Interpretation of Part
Pre-commencement applications for registration in a register of parliamentary electors
Overseas electors registered pursuant to pre-commencement applications
Postal voting
(1) This paragraph applies where— (a) before the commencement date,...
Power to make supplementary provision
Promoting awareness of changes to overseas elector franchise
In section 4 (entitlement to be registered as parliamentary or...
In section 202(1) (general provisions as to interpretation), for the...
(1) Schedule 2 (provisions which may be contained in regulations...
Representation of the People Act 1985
Finance Act 1996
Income Tax Act 2007
Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011
Voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens
(1) In section 2 of RPA 1983 (local government electors),...
Northern Ireland Act 1998
Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001
Holders of elected offices
Power to make transitional and saving provision
City of London (Various Powers) Act 1957
Local Government Act 1972
Greater London Authority Act 1999
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011
Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962
Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972
Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989
Offences under the law of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Breach of the peace.
Culpable homicide.
Culpable and reckless conduct.
Culpable and reckless endangering of the public.
Culpable and reckless fire-raising.
Drugging.
Extortion.
Malicious mischief.
Mobbing and rioting.
Uttering threats.
Murder.
Wilful fire-raising.
Offences under the law of Northern Ireland
Riot.
Offences against the Person Act 1861
Explosive Substances Act 1883
Theft Act 1968
Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969
Criminal Damage Act 1971
Protection from Eviction Act 1977
Criminal Law Act 1977
Offences under the law of England and Wales and Northern Ireland
Criminal Damage (Northern Ireland) Order 1977
Rent (Northern Ireland) Order 1978
Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981
Taking of Hostages Act 1982
Rent (Scotland) Act 1984
Public Order Act 1986
Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987
Criminal Justice Act 1988
Malicious Communications Act 1988
Malicious Communications (Northern Ireland) Order 1988
Manslaughter.
Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992
Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995
Protection from Harassment Act 1997
Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997
Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Communications Act 2003
Sexual Offences Act 2003
Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008
Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (asp 9)
Offences under the law of Scotland
Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13)
Serious Crime Act 2015
Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 14)
Online Safety Act 2023
(1) An inchoate offence in relation to an offence listed...
Assault to the danger of life.
Assault to severe injury.
Assault with intent to rape or ravish.
Assault other than a kind listed in paragraphs 6 to...
Disqualification orders: minor and consequential amendments
Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962
Sentencing Act 2020
Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972
Representation of the People Act 1983
Northern Ireland Act 1998
Greater London Authority Act 1999
Government of Wales Act 2006
Armed Forces Act 2006
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011
Illegal practices
Candidates etc at parliamentary, Northern Ireland Assembly and local elections
Candidates etc at elections to the Scottish Parliament
Candidates etc at elections to Senedd Cymru
Candidates etc at local elections in Scotland
Candidates etc at local elections in Northern Ireland
Candidates at police and crime commissioner elections
MPs and recall petitions
Supply of information etc
Court order for disclosure of information etc
(1) This paragraph applies if a relevant enforcer has given...
Power to make copies and records
Authorisation to be in writing
Legal professional privilege
Admissibility of information
Application of restrictions on disclosure
Meaning of “relevant enforcer”
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