Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021

19 (1) The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 are amended as follows. E+W

(2) In Schedule 2, in rule 26 (equipment and documents to be provided at polling stations in local government elections)—

(a) after paragraph (4) insert—

“(4A) In the case of an election of councillors of a principal area in Wales, the returning officer must cause to be displayed at each polling station an enlarged sample copy of the ballot paper.

(4B) The enlarged sample copy displayed may include a translation of the words on the ballot paper into such languages other than English and Welsh as the returning officer considers appropriate.”;

(b) in paragraph (5)(a)—

(i) at the beginning insert “ in the case of an election of councillors of a principal area in England, ”;

(ii) omit “and”;

(c) after paragraph (5)(a) insert—

“(aa) in the case of an election of councillors of a principal area in Wales, an enlarged hand-held sample copy of the ballot paper for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted; and”;

(d) after paragraph (5) insert—

“(5A) The sample copy of the ballot paper referred to in paragraph (4A) and (5)(aa) must be clearly marked as specimen and provided only for the guidance of voters.”

(3) In Schedule 3, in rule 26 (equipment and documents to be provided at polling stations in local government election where poll combined with other polls)—

(a) after paragraph (5) insert—

“(5A) In relation to an election of councillors of a principal area in Wales the returning officer must cause to be displayed inside each polling station an enlarged sample copy of the ballot paper.

(5B) The enlarged sample copy displayed may include a translation of the words on the ballot paper into such languages other than English and Welsh as the returning officer considers appropriate.”;

(b) in paragraph (6)(a)—

(i) at the beginning insert “ In relation to an election of councillors of a principal area in England, ”;

(ii) at the end omit “and”;

(c) after paragraph (6)(a) insert—

“(aa) in relation to an election of councillors of a principal area in Wales, an enlarged hand-held sample copy of the ballot paper for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted; and”;

(d) after paragraph (6) insert—

“(6A) The sample copy of the ballot paper referred to in paragraph (5A) and (6)(aa) must be—

(a) clearly marked as specimen and provided only for the guidance of voters, and

(b) printed on the same colour paper as the ballot papers.”

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 2 para. 19 in force at 20.3.2021, see s. 175(3)(f) (subject to s. 3)