Representation of the People Act 1983

Summary

The Representation of the People Act 1983 is the principal statute governing the conduct of parliamentary and local government elections in the UK. It deals with voter registration, the conduct of elections, election expenses, electoral offences, and the procedure for challenging election results by petition.

Key Points

• Establishes the franchise — who is entitled to vote in parliamentary and local elections
• Provides for the electoral register and the duties of Electoral Registration Officers
• Regulates the conduct of elections: nomination of candidates, polling, and counting
• Sets limits on election expenses and requires returns to be made
• Creates electoral offences: personation (s.60), undue influence (s.115), bribery (s.113), making false statements about candidates (s.106)
• Provides for election petitions — the only way to challenge the result of an election (Part III)
• Extensively amended by the Elections Act 2022 (voter ID requirements, postal vote changes)

Parts & Sections

Amendments History