Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962

Party candidate N.I.

[F1 63. (1) This rule applies if—

(a) at a contested election proof is given to the returning officer’s satisfaction before the result of the election is declared that one of the persons named or to be named as a candidate in the ballot paper has died, and

(b) that person is standing in the name of a registered political party or two or more registered political parties.

(2) The returning officer must—

(a) countermand notice of the poll, or

(b) if polling has begun, direct that the poll be abandoned.

(3) The proceedings with respect to the election must be commenced afresh subject to the following provisions of this rule.

(4) The fresh proceedings must be conducted in accordance with the following timetable (and the timetables in rule 1 do not apply)—

Timetable

Proceeding	Time
Publication of notice of election.	Within 21 days from the day on which the returning officer becomes satisfied of the candidate’s death.
Delivery of nomination papers (pursuant to paragraph (6)).	Between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any day after the day of publication of the notice of election but not later than 1 p.m. on the 7th day after the day of publication of the notice of election.
Delivery of notices of withdrawal of candidature.	Within the time for delivery of nomination papers.
The making of objections to nomination papers (submitted pursuant to paragraph (6) only).	During the hours allowed for delivery of nomination papers and on the 7th day after the day of publication of the notice of election during the hour following.
Publication of statement of persons nominated.	(a) If no objections to nomination papers are made, 6 p.m. on the 7th day after the day of publication of the notice of election (or as soon as practicable thereafter). (b) If any such objections are made, not before they are disposed of but not later than 24 hours after the last time for delivery of nomination papers.
Polling.	Between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on the day fixed by the returning officer which may not be earlier than the 18th nor later than the 21st day after the last day for delivery of notices of withdrawal of candidature.

(5) No fresh nomination is necessary in the case of a person who was shown in the statement of candidates nominated as standing nominated in respect of the election mentioned in paragraph (1).

(6) No other nomination may be made except for a person standing in the name of the same registered political party or parties in whose name or names the deceased candidate was standing.

(7) Rule 2 applies in computing any period of time for the purpose of the timetable set out in paragraph (4).

(8) For the purposes of this rule—

(a) a person (“P”) stands in the name of a registered political party if P’s nomination paper contains a description which is authorised as mentioned in rule 5A(1) or (1B), and

(b) a registered political party is a party which is registered under Part 2 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in the Northern Ireland register (within the meaning of that Act).]

F1 Sch. 5 rules 61-64 substituted for Sch. 5 rule 61 (16.12.2010) by The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 78 (with art. 1(3))