Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pts. II-IV applied in part (1.1.2007) by The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006/439), reg. 53(6)
(1)Subject to subsection (2), the date of the poll for the election of each Assembly shall be the first Thursday in May in the fourth calendar year following that in which its predecessor was elected; and the predecessor shall be dissolved at the beginning of the minimum period which ends with that date.
[F1(2)The date of the poll for the election of the Assembly next following the Assembly elected under section 2 of the Northern Ireland (Elections) Act 1998 (and dissolved on 28th April 2003) shall be a date to be specified in an order made by the Secretary of State.]
(3)The Secretary of State may at any time by order direct that the date of the poll for the election of the next Assembly shall, instead of being that specified in subsection (1) F2. . . , be a date specified in the order being a date falling not more than two months before or after the date specified in that subsection.
(4)An Assembly elected under this section or section 32 shall meet within the period of eight days beginning with the day of the poll at which it is elected.
(5)For the purposes of subsection (4), a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday and any day which is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland shall be disregarded [F3, as shall any day on which section 1 of the Northern Ireland Act 2000 is in force].
(6)In this section “minimum period” means a period determined in accordance with an order of the Secretary of State.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 31(2) substituted (15.5.2003) by Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections and Periods of Suspension) Act 2003 (c. 12), s. 1(2)
F2Words in s. 31(3) omitted (20.3.2003) by virtue of Northern Ireland Assembly Elections Act 2003 (c. 3), s. 1(2)(b)
F3Words in s. 31(5) inserted (20.3.2003) by Northern Ireland Assembly Elections Act 2003 (c. 3), s. 1(2)(c)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2S. 31(2) continued (temp. 15.5.2003 to 15.11.2003) by Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections and Periods of Suspension) Act 2003 (c. 12), s. 7(1) (subject to s. 7(4))