06125.1-2

House of Lords

Session 2005 - 06
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

Electoral Administration Bill

Electoral Administration Bill
commons REASON
[The page and line references are to HL Bill 58, the bill as first printed for the Lords.]
Before Clause 13
LORDS AMENDMENT NO. 8
8
Insert the following new Clause—

“Registration: personal identifiers

(1)
The 1983 Act is amended as follows.

(2)
In section 10 (maintenance of registers: annual canvass), after subsection (4)

insert—

“(4A)
Subject to subsection (4B) below, the information to be obtained by

the use of such a form for the purpose of a canvass shall include—

(a)
the signature of each of the persons in relation to whom the

form is completed, and

(b)
the date of birth of each such person.

(4B)
The Chief Electoral Officer may dispense with the requirement

mentioned in subsection (4A)(a) above in relation to any person if

he is satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable for that person to

sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of any incapability

of his or because he is unable to read.”

(3)
In section 10A (maintenance of registers: registration of electors)—

(a)
after subsection (1B) insert—

“(1C)
Subject to subsection (1D) below, an application for

registration in respect of an address in England, Scotland or

Wales shall include—

(a)
the signature of each of the persons to whom the

application relates, and

(b)
the date of birth of each such person.

HL Bill 125 54/1

Electoral Administration Bill
2

(1D)
The Chief Electoral Officer may dispense with the

requirement mentioned in subsection (4A)(a) above in

relation to any person if he is satisfied that it is not

reasonably practicable for that person to sign in a consistent

and distinctive way because of any incapability of his or

because he is unable to read.”;

(b)
in subsection (5), at the beginning insert “Subject to subsection (5A)

below,”;

(c)
after subsection (5) insert—

“(5A)
A person’s name is to be removed from the register in

respect of any address if—

(a)
the form mentioned in section 10(4) above in respect

of that address does not include all the information

relating to him required by section 10(4A) above; or

(b)
the registration officer determines that he is not

satisfied with the information relating to that person

which was included in that form pursuant to that

requirement.”;

(d)
in subsection (6), after “above” insert “or his name is to be removed

from it by virtue of subsection (5A) above,”; and

(e)
in subsection (8), after “5” insert “, (5A)”.

(4)
In section 13A (alteration of registers), after subsection (2B) insert—

“(2C)
Subject to subsection (2D) below, an application for registration

under subsection (1)(a) above in respect of an address in the United

Kingdom shall include—

(a)
the signature of each of the persons to whom the application

relates, and

(b)
the date of birth of each such person.

(2D)
The Chief Electoral Officer may dispense with the requirement

mentioned in subsection (4A)(a) above in relation to any person if

he is satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable for that person to

sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of any incapability

of his or because he is unable to read.””

COMMONS DISAGREEMENT and REASON

The Commons disagree to this Amendment for the following Reason—
8A
Because it is not appropriate for personal identifiers to be collected as part of the registration

process for all purposes