The National Assembly for Wales Referendum (Assembly Act Provisions) (Referendum Question, Date of Referendum Etc.) Order 2010

Article 28

SCHEDULE 6 Appendix of forms

Directions as to printing the ballot paper

Rule 6(2) of Schedule 3

1.  Nothing is to be printed on the ballot paper except in accordance with these directions.

2.  So far as practicable, the instructions specified in paragraphs 3 to 11 must be observed in printing the ballot paper.

3.  The front of the ballot paper must be divided into two columns, the left hand column being the Welsh language version and the right hand column being the English language version.

4.—(1) The two columns must be of the same width; and for these purposes the boxes referred to in paragraph 11 are to be regarded as part of the right hand column.

(2) Corresponding words used in each language version must be—

(a) of the same size, and

(b) printed in the same typeface.

(3) The following must be aligned horizontally in the one language version with the other language version—

(a) the heading referred to in paragraph 5(a);

(b) the start of the direction referred to in paragraph 5(b);

(c) the start of each paragraph into which the statement that is to precede the referendum question on the ballot paper (in these Directions referred to as “the statement”) is divided;

(d) the words referred to in paragraph 5(d);

(e) the start of the referendum question; and

(f) the words indicating the same form of answer to the referendum question.

(4) The words indicating the alternative forms of answer must be aligned vertically in each language version.

5.  Nothing must be printed on the front of the ballot paper except —

(a) the heading “Referendum”; “Refferendwm”;

(b) the words constituting the statement and the referendum question;

(c) the direction “Vote (X) in one box only”; “Pleidleisiwch (X) mewn un blwch yn unig” which must appear between the statement and the heading;

(d) the words “Question”; “Cwestiwn” which must appear between the statement and the referendum question;

(e) the words indicating the alternative forms of answer to the referendum question; and

(f) the official mark and any words forming part of the official mark.

6.  Nothing must be printed on the back of the ballot paper except —

(a) the ballot paper number and other unique identifying mark;

(b) the heading “Referendum”; “Refferendwm”;

(c) the date of the poll;

(d) the name of the voting area; and

(e) if the official mark is also printed on the back, any words forming part of the official mark.

7.  Words printed on the ballot paper must be printed in a clear typeface and in characters of such a size that they are easily legible.

8.  The words on the front of the ballot paper referred to in paragraph 5(a) and (c) to (e) must be printed in large characters.

9.  The following words on the front of the ballot paper must be printed in bold characters—

(a) the words referred to in paragraph 5(a) and (c) to (e); and

(b) in the statement, the words—

(i) “The National Assembly for Wales: what happens at the moment”; “Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru: yr hyn sy’n digwydd ar hyn o bryd”;

(ii) “some”; “rai”;

(iii) “all”; “bob”;

(iv) “If most voters vote ‘yes’”; “Os bydd y rhan fwyaf o bleidleiswyr yn pleidleisio ‘ydw’”; and

(v) “If most voters vote ‘no’”; “Os bydd y rhan fwyaf o bleidleiswyr yn pleidleisio ‘nac ydw’”.

10.—(1) A horizontal rule must separate—

(a) the heading and the direction referred to in paragraph 5(c) from the statement;

(b) the statement from the referendum question and the words referred to in paragraph 5(d);

(c) each of the answers to the referendum question from one another; and

(d) in the case of the first answer, it from the referendum question and the words referred to in paragraph 5(d).

(2) A horizontal rule must be printed under the second answer so that the portions containing each of the answers to the question must be of equal size being 2.5 centimetres in depth.

11.—(1) The 2 boxes for marking a vote for an answer must appear in the right hand column to the right of the alternative forms of answer to the referendum question.

(2) Each box must be —

(a) of the same size being 2.5 centimetres square;

(b) printed in the same typeface; and

(c) aligned horizontally and vertically with each other so that the right hand edge of each box is aligned with the right hand edge of the ballot paper.

(3) The lines of each box for marking a vote for the forms of the answer are not to be regarded as rules for the purposes of these directions.