The Scottish Local Government Elections Order 2011

PART I PROVISIONS AS TO TIME

Timetable

1.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), the proceedings at the election must be conducted in accordance with the following table—

Timetable

Proceeding		Time
1.	Publication of notice of election	Not earlier than the thirty-fifth day before the date of the poll and not later than the twenty-eighth day before the date of the poll.
2.	Delivery of nomination papers	Not later than 4 p.m. on any day after the date of the publication of the notice of election but not later than the twenty-third day before the date of the poll.
3.	Delivery of notice of withdrawal of nomination	Within the time for the delivery of nomination papers at the election.
4.	Notice in case of uncontested election and notice of poll in contested election	As soon as practicable after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations.
5.	Polling	Between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on the date of the poll.

(2) At any election held under section 37 (filling of casual vacancies) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973(1), the timetable in paragraph (1) shall apply subject to any modifications necessary to secure completion of the proceedings listed in items 1 to 4 in the first column of that timetable, before the date fixed as the day of election by the returning officer under subsection (1) of that section.

(3) At any election held under rule 63 or rule 65 (countermand or abandonment of poll on death of candidate), the timetable in paragraph (1) shall apply subject to any modifications necessary to secure completion of the proceedings listed in items 1 to 4 in the first column of that timetable, before the date fixed as the day of election by the returning officer under that rule.

(4) At any election held under section 45 (non‑election of local authority etc.) of the 1983 Act, the timetable in paragraph (1) shall be subject to any direction made by the Scottish Ministers in exercise of the powers conferred by that section.

Computation of time

2.—(1) In computing any period of time for the purposes of the timetable—

(a) a Saturday or Sunday;

(b) Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or Easter Monday;

(c) a day which is a bank holiday in Scotland under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(2); or

(d) a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning,

shall be disregarded, and any such day shall not be treated as a day for the purpose of any proceedings up to the completion of the poll.

(2) Nothing in this rule shall apply in relation to the counting of the votes and the other proceedings of the returning officer after the close of the poll or to things done by other persons in the course of those proceedings, but the returning officer shall not be obliged to proceed with the counting on any of the days mentioned in paragraph (1).

(1)

1973 c.65.

(2)

1971 c.80.