Electoral Administration Act 2006

Encouraging electoral participation U.K.

69 Encouraging electoral participation U.K.

(1) A local electoral officer must take such steps as he thinks appropriate to encourage the participation by electors in the electoral process in the area for which he acts.

(2) A local electoral officer must have regard to any guidance issued by the Electoral Commission for the purposes of this section.

(3) This section does not permit an electoral registration officer to undertake any activity in relation to a local government election in Scotland unless the activity relates to a matter falling within Section B3 (elections) of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) (reserved matters).

(4) The Secretary of State may reimburse a local electoral officer in respect of any expenditure incurred by the officer for the purposes of this section.

(5) The amount paid under subsection (4) must not in any year exceed such amount as is determined in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(6) The power to make regulations under subsection (5) is exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(7) The regulations may make different provision for different purposes.

(8) A local electoral officer is—

(a) an electoral registration officer;

(b) a returning officer for an election mentioned in subsection (9).

(9) These are the elections—

(a) parliamentary elections;

(b) local government elections in England and Wales and Northern Ireland;

(c) European Parliamentary elections;

(d) elections to the Scottish Parliament;

(e) elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly;

(f) elections to the National Assembly for Wales.

(10) References to a local government election must be construed in accordance with the 1983 Act.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 69 applied (with modifications) (E.) (28.7.2007) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2089), regs. 8, 11, 13, {Sch. 4 Table 5}

C2 S. 69 applied (with modifications) (24.7.2008) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Wales) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1848), regs. 1(2)(3), 8, {Sch. 4 para. 1 Table 4}

Commencement Information

I1 S. 69 partly in force; s. 69 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 77; s. 69 in force for E.W.S. at 1.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14 (y) (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2)