Application and modification of enactments relating to elections6
1
The provisions set out in column (1) of the Tables in Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 2 shall have effect in relation to a referendum with the modifications shown against those provisions in column (2) of those Tables; and in particular, except where the context otherwise requires—
a
a reference to an election shall be construed as a reference to a referendum;
b
a reference to a returning officer or acting returning officer shall be construed as a reference to the counting officer;
c
a reference to a constituency, an electoral area, division or ward shall be construed as a reference to a voting area;
d
a reference to voting for, or a vote for, a candidate shall be construed as a reference to voting for, or a vote for, a referendum answer;
e
a reference to promoting or procuring the election of a candidate, or furthering a person’s candidature, shall be construed as a reference to promoting or procuring a particular referendum answer;
f
references to nomination papers and, except as mentioned in sub-paragraphs (d) and (e), references to candidates, shall be ignored;
g
a reference to the return of a person shall be construed as a reference to a particular referendum answer;
h
a reference to a person voting as an elector shall be construed as a reference to a person voting on his own behalf;
i
a reference to a person’s entitlement as an elector to an absent vote shall be construed as a reference to a person’s entitlement to vote by post on his own behalf or to vote by proxy;
j
a reference to an election agent shall be construed as a reference to a referendum agent;
k
a reference to anything being prescribed shall be construed as a reference to its being provided for by a provision of subordinate legislation applied by this Order;
l
a form which is required to be used may be used with such variations as the circumstances may require;
m
a reference to the registration officer is a reference to the relevant registration officer appointed under section 8 (registration officers) or 203(4) (application to Isles of Scilly) of the 1983 Act;
n
any reference to an enactment or instrument made under an enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment or instrument as applied and modified (where applicable) by this Order; and
o
so much of any provision as—
i
relates to an election petition or an election court; or
ii
applies only in relation to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland,
shall be ignored.
2
The form shown in Part 4 of Schedule 2 shall have effect as the form of proxy paper for the appointment of a proxy at a particular Regional Assembly referendum or particular combined referendums.