ELIZABETH II

Ballot Secrecy Act 2022

2022 CHAPTER 9

An Act to make provision for ensuring the secrecy of ballots cast in polling stations at elections; to require the Secretary of State to publish related guidance; and for connected purposes.
Bill ID CB9-02
Author(s) The Rt Hon Edmund Godwinson PC MP
Amended by N/A
First reading 2022 June 6
Royal assent 2022 August 19
Commencement 2022 October 19
Affected legislation Representation of the People Act 1983

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Ballot secrecy

  1. After section 60 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, insert the following—

    60A Accompanying or positioning near an elector

    1. Subject to paragraph 39 of Schedule 1, a person is guilty of an offence if they—
      1. accompany an elector into a polling booth, or
      2. position near an elector inside a polling station with the intention of influencing how he or she casts their vote.
    2. A person is guilty of a corrupt practice if he or she commits an offence under subsection (1).
    3. This section does not apply if—
      1. the person accompanying or positioning near the elector is under 18 years of age, or
      2. the person accompanying or position near the elector is a carer for a consenting voter with a disability.

2 Extent, commencement and short title

  1. This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
  2. This Act comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which it is passed.
  3. This Act may be cited as the Ballot Secrecy Act 2022.
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