The European Union Referendum (Conduct) Regulations 2016

Prohibition on publication of exit polls

19.—(1) Section 66A of the 1983 Act(1) applies for the purposes of the referendum but with the following modifications.

(2) Subsection (1) has effect for those purposes as if “the referendum” were substituted for each of the following—

(a) “an election to which this section applies”, and

(b) “the election” (in both places).

(3) For the purposes of the referendum subsection (2) is to be treated as omitted.

(4) Subsection (4) has effect for the purposes of the referendum as if for the words after “whatever means” there were substituted—

“and the reference to a forecast as to the result of the referendum includes a forecast as to the number or proportion of votes expected to be cast for each answer to the referendum question in any region, voting area or other area.”

(5) In section 66A of the 1983 Act as applied by this paragraph—

(a) the reference in subsection (1) to the closure of the poll is to be read as a reference to the closure of the poll in the United Kingdom or Gibraltar, whichever is the later, and

(b) the references in subsection (1)(a) to “voters” include any voters in the referendum, whether voting in the United Kingdom or Gibraltar, and “vote” is to be read accordingly,

and, accordingly, paragraph 2(1) of this Schedule (meaning of “vote”) does not apply in relation to that section.

(6) In subsection (4) of that section as so applied, the references to the public are to the public in the United Kingdom.

(1)

Section 66A was inserted by paragraphs 3 and 6 of Schedule 6 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (c.2).