The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2013

Changes to the law on local elections

Date of local elections and voters waiting at polling station at close of poll

3.—(1) The 1962 Act is amended as follows.

(2) In section 11 (election and term of office of district councils)(1), for subsections (1) and (1A) substitute—

“(1) A local election year as respects any district council is 2014 and 2019 and every fourth year thereafter.

(1A) The election day as respects any district council is—

(a) in the year 2014, 22nd May;

(b) in any other local election year, the first Thursday in May.”.

(3) In section 130 (interpretation)(2), in subsection (1), in the definition of “election day” for “section 11(1) and (1A)” substitute “section 11(1A)”.

(4) In Schedule 5 (local elections rules), in rule 34 (voting procedure)(3), after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) A voter who at the close of the poll is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of voting is (despite the close of the poll) entitled to apply for a ballot paper under paragraph (1); and these rules apply in relation to such a voter accordingly.”.

(1)

Section 11 was substituted by S.I. 1972/1264 (N.I. 13), and was amended by S.I. 1972/1998 (N.I. 21); S.I. 1977/428; S.I. 1985/454; S.I. 1985/1208 (N.I. 15); section 4 of the Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 (c. 3); S.I. 1992/810 (N.I. 6); S.I. 2005/862; S.I. 2009/225; and S.I. 2010/1178.

(2)

Section 130 was amended by Schedule 4 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 20) (N.I.); section 1 of and Schedules 1 and 2 to, the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (c. 26) (N.I.); S.I. 1972/1264 (N.I. 13); S.I. 1977/428; S.I. 1985/454; S.I. 1987/168; section 11 of, and Schedule 3 to, the Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 (c. 3); S.I. 1995/1948; S.I. 2001/417; S.I. 2010/2977; S.I. 2011/2085; and, in relation to the definition of “Minister” and “Ministry”, the functions of the Minister and Ministry of Home Affairs were transferred to the Secretary of State by S.I. 1973/2163.

(3)

Schedule 5 was substituted in its entirety by S.I. 1985/454. Rule 34 was amended by S.I. 1987/168; S.I. 1991/1715; S.I. 2001/417; S.I. 2002/2835; S.I. 2003/1245; Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33); and S.I. 2010/2977. In addition, section 4 of, and the Schedule to, the Elections Act 2001 (c. 7) made a non-textual amendment.