Clause 31

by deleting the word “named” in subsection (1) and substituting the word “appointed”;

by deleting the word “name” in subsection (2) and substituting the word “appoint”;

by inserting, immediately after subsection (2), the following subsection:“(2A) Where there is no appointment in force under subsection (1) or (2) of an election agent of a candidate for the election, the candidate must be treated, and so far as circumstances admit and subject to the provisions of this Act —

both as a candidate and as an election agent; and

as appointed under subsection (1) as his or her election agent for that election and deemed so declared under subsection (3),and any reference in this Act to an election agent is construed to refer to the candidate acting in his or her capacity as an election agent by virtue of this subsection.”;

by inserting, immediately after the words “to the Returning Officer” in subsection (3), the words “using either an electronic system or a form approved by the Returning Officer for the election”;

by inserting, immediately after the words “so declared” in subsection (3A), the words “or deemed declared”;

by deleting the words “One election agent only must be appointed for each candidate” in subsection (4) and substituting the words “Only one person may hold an appointment as the election agent for a particular candidate at any one time”;

by inserting, immediately after subsection (5), the following subsection:“(5A) When there is no appointment in force under subsection (5) of a principal election agent for a group of candidates in an election, but there are appointments of election agents under subsection (1), (2) or (2A) in force, the election agent of the candidate whose name is to appear first in the group in the ballot papers under section 40(3)(a), must be treated as appointed as the principal election agent of the group in relation to the election and deemed declared under subsection (3) as that principal election agent.”; and

by deleting the word “Nomination” in the section heading and substituting the word “Appointment”.