Returning officers: duties at ordinary elections
5.—(1) At the first ordinary election it shall be the duty—
(a)of the person, or person of the description, designated by order under subsection (4) of section 3 (ordinary elections) of the 1999 Act as the returning officer at the election of the Mayor and the election of the London members; and
(b)constituency returning officers(1),
to co-operate with each other in the discharge of their functions.
(2) At any other ordinary election it shall be the duty of returning officers at that election(2) to co-operate with each other in the discharge of their functions.
(3) Where, at an ordinary election, a poll is to be taken—
(a)for the return of the London members; or
(b)for the return of the Mayor,
it shall be the duty of constituency returning officers to take, and verify the ballot papers at, the poll (or each poll if both are to be taken) and to count the votes cast in that poll (or each poll, if both are to be taken).
(4) Without prejudice to paragraphs (1) and (2)—
(a)at the first ordinary election, the person referred to in paragraph (1)(a) may give to constituency returning officers; and
(b)at any other ordinary election, the Greater London returning officer(3) may give to constituency returning officers,
directions relating to the discharge of their functions in respect of the verification of ballot papers and the counting of votes at that election.
(5) It shall be the duty of each person to whom directions are given under paragraph (4) to discharge his functions at the election in accordance with the directions.
See the definition in section 29 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999.
See section 35(2B) and (2C) of the Representation of the People Act, inserted by the Greater London Authority Act 1999, Schedule 3, paragraph 3.
See the definition in section 29 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999.