The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2001

Combination of referendum and election polls: supplementary provisions relating to referendums

15.—(1) Paragraphs (2) to (9) of this regulation shall apply, in relation to the referendum, where polls are taken together in accordance with regulation 14(1) or (7).

(2) The ballot papers shall be of a different colour from that of any ballot papers used at the election.

(3) The polling stations shall be the polling places or, as the case may be, polling stations designated for the purposes of the election.

(4) The Principal Areas Rules shall have effect subject to the modifications set out in Part V of Schedule 5.

(5) The functions in relation to the referendum specified in rules 18(3), 19, 20, 21, to the extent that that rule concerns the appointment of presiding officers and clerks to assist them, 23, 25(a), 26(3), 27(2)(b) and 39(1) and (5) of the LGA Referendum Rules shall be discharged—

(a) where the election with which the poll at the referendum is combined is a European Parliamentary election, by the local returning officer;

(b) where the election with which the poll at the referendum is combined is a GLA election, by the constituency returning officer;

(c) in any other case, by the returning officer at the election with which the poll at the referendum is combined.

(6) The back of the ballot papers (the form of which is set out in Part III of Schedule 1) may include a reference to the name of the electoral division or ward for the purposes of the election.

(7) If the counting officer and the returning officer at the election or, where the poll at the referendum is to be taken with the poll at more than one election, the returning officers at those elections, think fit, one ballot box may be used at the referendum and the election or elections; but if separate boxes are used, no vote at the referendum shall be rendered invalid by the ballot paper being placed in the ballot box intended for the ballot papers at the election.

(8) Where a person applies under the RPAct 2000 to vote by post, or to vote by proxy, at the election, he shall be treated as applying also to vote by post, or to vote by proxy, at the referendum.

(9) Nothing in regulation 13(5) shall preclude the attendance at the counting of the votes of a person who would be entitled to attend for that purpose in relation to the election at which the poll is taken together with that at the referendum.