Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (Amendment) Order 2005

Statutory Instruments

2005 No. 862

NORTHERN IRELAND

Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (Amendment) Order 2005

Made

22nd March 2005

Coming into force in accordance with Article 1(2)

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 22nd day of March 2005

Present,

The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council

Whereas the Electoral Commission has been consulted in accordance with section 7(3) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000(1) about this Order;

And whereas a draft of this Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred upon her by section 84(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998(2), is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows:

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (Amendment) Order 2005.

(2) This Order shall come into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

2.  Section 11(1A) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962(3) (date of local elections) shall be amended by the substitution of the words “first Thursday in May” for the words “third Wednesday in May”.

A. K. Galloway

Clerk of the Privy Council

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends section 11(1A) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 so as to change the date of local elections in Northern Ireland from the third Wednesday in May to the first Thursday in May. This will align the position in Northern Ireland with that in Great Britain.

(1)

2000 c. 41

(2)

1998 c. 47

(3)

1962 c. 14 (N.I.). Section 11(1A) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 was inserted by the Electoral Law (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (S.I. 1985/454) Article 7(1).