SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 17Amendments relating to election petitions

Procedure on all election petitions

3

1

For section 137 there shall be substituted—

137Petition at issue

1

The petition shall be at issue as from the relevant time, as defined by subsection (2) below.

2

In this section “the relevant time” means—

a

where the petitioner gives the security for costs required by section 136 above by a deposit of money equal to the amount of the security so required, the time when the security is so given; and

b

in any other case, the time when—

i

the time prescribed for the making of objections under section 136(4) above expires, or

ii

if such an objection is made, that objection is disallowed or removed,

whichever happens later.

2

The amendment made by sub-paragraph (1) does not have effect in relation to election petitions in respect of local government elections in Scotland.