Electoral Law (Northern Ireland) Order 1972

Title and commencement N.I.

1.  This Order may be cited as the Electoral Law (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 … Commencement …

Interpretation N.I.

2.—(1) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 [1954 c.33] shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to an Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

(2) In this Order “the principal Act” means the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 [1962 c.14] and this Order shall be construed as one with that Act.

Para. (3) rep. by SLR 1976

Art. 3(1) substitutes ss. 11, 12 of 1962 c. 14 (NI); Para (2) rep. by SI 1985/454

Special provisions as to the local general elections to be held in 1973 N.I.

• 4.  Paras. (1)‐(7) rep. by SLR 1980

• Para. (8) rep. in pt. by SLR 1980, residue spent

• Paras. (9)‐(12) rep. by SLR 1980

(13) The MinistryF1 may whether by notices in newspapers and periodicals or otherwise give information and guidance regarding elections conducted according to the principle of proportional representation.

F1 SI 1973/2163

Art. 5 rep. by SLR 1976

Art. 6(1) substitutes ss. 14, 14A, 14B in 1962 c. 14 (NI); Para.(2) spent

Registration of electors N.I.

7.  Paras. (1)‐(6) rep. by 1989 c.3

(7) F2 . . . there shall be paid into the [F3 Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom] by each district council such proportion (if any) of[F2 all expenses properly incurred in connection with the registration of local electors] as the MinistryF4 with the concurrence of the Ministry of FinanceF5 may, by regulations subject to affirmative resolution, prescribe.

F2 1989 c.3

F3 SI 1973/2163

F4 SI 1973/2163

F5 SI 1973/2163

Art. 8 amends schs. 4, 5, 10 of 1962 c. 14 (NI)

Conduct of elections N.I.

9.—(1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall be the returning officer for all elections to district councils and for all elections held on or after 1st April 1973 to the [F6 Assembly].

(2) The clerk of a district council shall be the deputy returning officer for elections to that council held on or after [F7 1st October 1973] and shall perform, on behalf of the Chief Electoral Officer, such functions in relation to those elections as shall be delegated to him by the Chief Electoral Officer.

Para. (3) spent

F6 SI 1973/2163

F7 1972 NI 21

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Art. 9 applied (with modifications) (12.12.2013) by The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/3156), arts. 1(1), 5(3)

Art. 10 rep. by SI 1985/454

Period for delivery of nomination papers N.I.

11.  The period during which nomination papers for candidates at parliamentaryF8 . . . elections may be delivered to the returning officer shall be between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and accordingly … residue amends sch.4 to 1962 c.14 (NI)

F8 SI 1985/454

Art. 12 spent

Limitation of election expenses of candidates at local elections N.I.

13.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), sections 39 to 52 of the principal Act (which relate to the expenses of a candidate at a parliamentary election and to the limitation of those expenses) shall apply in relation to an election to a district council in like manner as they apply in relation to a parliamentary election and accordingly … residue amends ss.39‐52 of 1962 c.14 (NI)

Para. (2) amends ss. 40, 42, 48 and repeals s. 41(4) of 1962 c. 14 (NI)

Hours of polling N.I.

14.  F9 The hours of polling at a parliamentaryF10 . . . election shall be between 7 o'clock in the morning and 10 o'clock in the evening and accordingly … residue amends schs.4, 5 to 1962 c.14 (NI)

F9 SI 1977/428

F10 SI 1985/454

Art. 15 rep. by SLR 1976

Amendment of Electoral Law Acts N.I.

16.  Para. (1), with Schedule 2, effects amendments

(2) The MinistryF11 may by order subject to affirmative resolution make any further amendments of the Electoral Law Acts (Northern Ireland) 1962 to 1971 which it considers necessary being amendments consequent on the provisions of this Order or on the re-organisation of local government.

(3) The amendments made by paragraph (1) and Schedule 2 or by an order under paragraph (2) shall have effect for the purposes of—

(a) the register of electors to be published …F12 in each …F12 year and the electors lists from which such registers are derived;

(b) all elections to district councils and all matters relating to district councils and their members;

Sub-para.(c) rep. by SLR 1976

F13 [(cc) all elections to the Assembly;] and

(d) all matters incidental to the preparation and publication of such lists and registers and the holding of such elections;

but a polling station scheme approved under section 65 of the principal Act as amended by this Order shall be used for the purposes of any parliamentary election held after the date of its publication.

F11 SI 1973/2163

F12 SLR 1976

F13 SI 1973/2163

Arts. 17, 18 rep. by SLR 1980