98Determination of applications for registration of candidates

98 Determination of applications for registration of candidates

(1)  If the Commission receives an application under section 97 from a person who is an intending candidate in relation to an election, the Commission may –

(a) register the person, as a candidate in relation to the election, in the Register of Candidates in relation to the election; or

(b) refuse to register the person, as a candidate in relation to the election, in the Register of Candidates in relation to the election.

(2)  The Commission must not register, in the Register of Candidates in relation to an election, a person who is an intending candidate in relation to the election, if –

(a) the application for registration of the candidate was received by the Commission after noon on the nomination day in respect of the election; and

(b) the person is not a person who is, under section 96 , taken to be registered in the Register of Candidates.

(3)  Without limiting subsection (1) , the Commission may refuse under that subsection to register a person if the Commission believes on reasonable grounds that any particulars in the application for registration of the person are incomplete or not correct, but may, if the Commission thinks fit, register the candidate despite any such defect.

(4)  If the Commission, under subsection (1) , refuses to register a person, the Commission is, as soon as reasonably practicable, to notify the person of the refusal and of the reasons for the refusal.

(5)  If the Commission, under subsection (1) , refuses, on the grounds referred to in subsection (3) , to register a person –

(a) the person may, within 30 days after the date of the notification under subsection (4) by the Commission, amend the application for registration by substituting the relevant particulars; and

(b) the amended application is taken to have been received by the Commission when the original application was received by it.