“electronic includes electrical, digital, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, biometric, and phototonic, and electronically has a corresponding meaning”.

“47B Votes may be returned electronically if secure transmission available

• “(1) Electors to whom special ballot papers, special voting papers, and declaration forms are issued under regulation 45 or 45A may return those papers in accordance with subclause (2) if, for that particular election, a system allowing secure electronic transmission is made available by the Electoral Commission for that purpose.

  “(2) If subclause (1) applies, an elector may, after voting in the manner prescribed for special voters,—

  • “(a) if applicable, remove any gummed paper that is fixed over the consecutive number on the ballot paper or any voting papers; and

  • “(b) forward the ballot paper, any voting papers, and the declaration to the Electoral Commission electronically in a manner specified by the Electoral Commission on its Internet site.

“47C Receipt of special votes electronically

• If the Electoral Commission or an authorised person receives a ballot paper, any voting papers, and a declaration forwarded electronically in accordance with regulation 47B, an Electoral Commissioner, or the authorised person, must—

  • “(a) print the ballot paper, any voting papers, and the declaration; and

  • “(b) ensure that particulars of the time and date of receipt of the ballot paper, any voting papers, and the declaration at the Electoral Commission are endorsed on those papers; and

  • “(c) after taking all reasonable steps to preserve the secrecy of the ballot, place the ballot paper, any voting papers, and the declaration in the appropriate compartments of a special voter envelope; and

  • “(d) mark the envelope with the official mark of the Electoral Commission or of the authorised person, as the case may be, and post or deliver it to the Returning Officer for the district for which the vote was issued.”

“54 Electoral Commission may approve application from special voter to whom Part applies for issue of ballot papers

• The Electoral Commission may approve an application made by a special voter to whom this Part applies for ballot papers to be issued to that voter—

  • “(a) electronically in accordance with regulation 58A; or

  • “(b) by post, if it is impracticable to issue them electronically; or

  • “(c) by facsimile, if it is impracticable to issue them electronically or by post; or

  • “(d) by dictation, if it is impracticable to issue them by any method described in paragraphs (a) to (c).”

“58A Electronic issue of ballot papers, etc

• “(1) The Electoral Commission may issue ballot papers, voting papers, and declaration forms electronically to special voters to whom this Part applies.

  “(2) Regulation 45A applies to ballot papers, voting papers, and declaration forms issued under subclause (1), except that the declaration form issued under regulation 45A(3) may be in form 19.”

“61 Votes may be returned by facsimile

• Any special voter to whom this Part applies may, after voting in the manner prescribed for special voters by Part 2, return his or her ballot paper, any voting papers, and the declaration by facsimile in accordance with regulation 47A.

“61A Votes may be returned electronically if secure transmission available

• Any special voter to whom this Part applies may, after voting in the manner prescribed for special voters by Part 2, return his or her ballot paper, any voting papers, and the declaration electronically in accordance with regulation 47B(2) if, for that particular election, a system allowing secure electronic transmission is made available by the Electoral Commission for that purpose.

“61B Issuing Officer may forward special votes electronically or by facsimile

• “(1) If an Issuing Officer appointed to act under this Part considers that it is doubtful whether an envelope containing a special vote will reach the Returning Officer within the time specified by regulation 34(1), the Issuing Officer must, if a completed consent form in form 22 is attached to that envelope, deal with that envelope in accordance with this regulation.

  “(2) If the Issuing Officer is satisfied that no other person is present, the Issuing Officer must, before the close of the poll, take each envelope required to be dealt with under this regulation and must—

  • “(a) extract the declaration form from the declaration compartment of each envelope, write the consecutive number from the declaration form on the outside of that envelope, and forward those declarations electronically or by facsimile to the Electoral Commission; and

  • “(b) replace each declaration in the declaration compartment of the corresponding envelope, together with the consent form in form 22; and

  • “(c) extract the ballot paper and any voting papers from the compartments of each of the envelopes marked ‘BALLOT AND/OR VOTING PAPERS’, remove any gummed paper covering the consecutive number on the ballot paper and any voting papers, and forward the ballot paper and any voting papers to the Electoral Commission electronically or by facsimile; and

  • “(d) replace the ballot paper and any voting papers in the compartment of the corresponding envelope marked ‘BALLOT AND/OR VOTING PAPERS’; and

  • “(e) reseal both compartments of the envelope; and

  • “(f) endorse on the envelope the words ‘Opened and forwarded under Part 4 of the Electoral Regulations 1996’, and sign and date that endorsement.”