Part II Arrangements with respect to executives etc.
Elected mayors etc.
44 Power to make provision about elections.
(1)
The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to—
(a)
the conduct of elections for the return of elected mayors or elected executive members, and
(b)
the questioning of elections for the return of elected mayors or elected executive members and the consequences of irregularities.
(2)
The provision which may be made under subsection (1)(a) includes, in particular, provision—
(a)
about the registration of electors,
(b)
for disregarding alterations in a register of electors,
(c)
about the limitation of election expenses (and the creation of criminal offences in connection with the limitation of such expenses),
(d)
for the combination of polls at elections for the return of elected mayors and other elections (including elections for the return of elected executive members), and
(e)
for the combination of polls at elections for the return of elected executive members and other elections (including elections for the return of elected mayors).
(3)
Regulations under this section may—
(a)
apply or incorporate, with or without modifications or exceptions, any provision of, or made under, the Representation of the People Acts or any provision of any other enactment (whenever passed or made) relating to parliamentary elections or local government elections,
(b)
modify any form contained in, or in regulations or rules made under, the Representation of the People Acts so far as may be necessary to enable it to be used both for the original purpose and in relation to elections for the return of elected mayors or elected executive members, and
(c)
so far as may be necessary in consequence of any provision made by or under this Part or any regulations under this section, amend any provision of any enactment (whenever passed or made) relating to the registration of parliamentary electors or local government electors.
F1 (3A)
Before making any regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult the Electoral Commission.
(3B)
In addition, the power of the Secretary of State to make regulations under this section so far as relating to matters mentioned in subsection (2)(c) shall be exercisable only on, and in accordance with, a recommendation of the Electoral Commission, except where the Secretary of State considers that it is expedient to exercise that power in consequence of changes in the value of money.
(4)
No return of an elected mayor or elected executive member at an election is to be questioned except by an election petition under the provisions of Part III of the M1Representation of the M2People Act 1983 as applied by or incorporated in regulations under this section.