3Ordinary general electionsU.K.
(1)The poll at an ordinary general election is to be held on the first Thursday in May in the [F1fifth] calendar year following that in which the previous ordinary general election was held, [F2unless—
(a)subsection (1A) prevents the poll being held on that day, or
(b)the day of the poll is determined by a proclamation under section 4.]
[F3(1A)The poll is not to be held on the same date as the date of the poll at—
(a)a parliamentary general election F4..., F5...
F5(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1B)Where subsection (1A) prevents the poll being held on the day specified in subsection (1), the poll is to be held on such day, subject to subsection (1A), as the Welsh Ministers may by order specify unless the day of the poll is determined by a proclamation under section 4(2) as modified by section 4(2A).]
(2)If the poll is to be held on the first Thursday in May [F6 or on the day specified by an order under subsection (1B) ], the [F7Senedd] —
(a)is dissolved by virtue of this section at the beginning of the minimum period which ends with that day, and
(b)must meet within the period of [F8fourteen] days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.
(3)In subsection (2) “the minimum period” means the period determined in accordance with an order under section 13.
(4)In calculating any period of days for the purposes of subsection (2)(b), the following days are to be disregarded—
(a)Saturday and Sunday,
(b)any day which is a bank holiday in Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (c. 80), and
(c)any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
[F9(5)No order is to be made under subsection (1B) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the [F7Senedd] .]
Textual Amendments
F1Word in s. 3(1) substituted (17.2.2015) by Wales Act 2014 (c. 29), ss. 1(1), 29(2)(a)
F2Words in s. 3(1) substituted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(2), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)
F3S. 3(1A)(1B) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(3), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)
F4Words in s. 3(1A)(a) omitted (24.3.2022) by virtue of Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 (c. 11), s. 6(3), Sch. para. 19
F5S. 3(1A)(b) and word omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16), s. 25(4), Sch. 3 para. 28 (with s. 19, Sch. 8 para. 37); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 3(l) (with regs. 10, 22)
F6Words in s. 3(2) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(4), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)
F7Words in Act substituted (6.5.2020) by Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 (anaw 1), s. 42(2), Sch. 1 para. 2(19) (with Sch. 1 para. 2(11)-(14))
F8Word in s. 3(2)(b) substituted (coming into force in accordance with s. 42(5) of the amending Act) by Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 (anaw 1), s. 36(1)
F9S. 3(5) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(5), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 3(1) modified (15.9.2011) by Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (c. 14), ss. 5(2), 7(2) (with s. 6)
C2S. 3(1) modified (17.3.2021) by Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Act 2021 (asc 2), ss. 2(2), 6, 18 (with s. 13)
C3S. 3(2)-(4) excluded (17.3.2021) by Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Act 2021 (asc 2), ss. 2(1), 18 (with s. 13)
Commencement Information
I1Ss. 1-94, 97-106 in force immediately after "the 2007 election" by s. 161(1) (subject to s. 161(4)(5))