The General Chiropractic Council (Election of Members and Chairman of Council) Rules Order 2002

Preliminary procedure and nominations

4.—(1) The Returning Officer for the holding of the first election of the 10 members of the Council referred to in paragraph 1(a) of Schedule 1 to the Act shall be the Registrar, and where any later vacancy occurs or is to occur, the Council shall appoint the Registrar, or some other person who is not a member of the Council, as the Returning Officer for the holding of an election to fill the vacancy.

(2) Where the election is held to fill vacancies arising from the expiry of the term of office of the chiropractic members under paragraph 44(7) of Schedule 1 to the Act or of elected members under paragraph 3 of that Schedule, the election shall be held before the expiry of that term and so that, so far as can be anticipated, the report referred to in rule 8(4) is received by the Returning Officer before that expiry.

(3) The Returning Officer shall invite nominations of candidates who are eligible under paragraph 9(2) of Schedule 1 to the Act, by giving notice to each fully registered chiropractor whose registered address is in the constituency to which the vacancy relates; and any such notice may relate to more than one vacancy in the constituency.

(4) The notice under paragraph (3) shall be accompanied by a nomination paper and shall—

(a) state the constituency to which the notice relates, and (if more than one vacancy) the number of vacancies to be filled in the constituency;

(b) state the reason for each vacancy arising;

(c) specify a date (being at least 21 days after the notice is issued) on or before which any nomination of a candidate must be received; and

(d) state that further nomination papers may be obtained by application to the Returning Officer.

(5) A nomination shall not be valid unless—

(a) it gives the name and registered address of the candidate;

(b) it states the constituency for which he is nominated;

(c) it is made on a nomination paper provided pursuant to paragraph (4);

(d) it is signed by five fully registered chiropractors whose registered addresses are in the constituency concerned (and it states the names and registered addresses of those chiropractors);

(e) the consent of the candidate is signified by the signature of the candidate on the nomination paper; and

(f) it is received by the Returning Officer on or before the date specified under paragraph (4)(c).

(6) A nomination may be accompanied by a statement prepared by the candidate of not more than 500 words and a recent photograph of the candidate.

(7) If, after receiving a duly completed nomination form in respect of an election the result of which has not been declared, a further nomination form in respect of the same individual is received by the Returning Officer (whether in respect of the same election under this Part or the same constituency or in respect of a different election or different constituency), the Returning Officer shall disregard the further nomination form.

(8) If at any time the Council has less than 10 members able, on reasonable notice, to meet for the purposes of appointing a Returning Officer under paragraph (1), the Registrar shall be the Returning Officer.

(9) A candidate may, by notice given in writing to the Returning Officer, withdraw his candidature from the election (in which case rule 9(5) shall so far as necessary have effect).