This Order may be cited as the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2013 and it comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

Subject to paragraph (3), this Order extends to Northern Ireland only.

An amendment made by this Order has the same extent as the enactment (or part of an enactment) amended.

In this Order—

• “the 1962 Act” means the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 19624;

• “the 1985 Order” means the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 19855;

• “existing council” means a district council for a local government district established in pursuance of section 1 of the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 19716, and “existing councillor” means a member of such a council;

• “new council” means a district council for a local government district established in pursuance of section 1 of the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 20087, and “new councillor” means a member of such a council.

The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 19548 applies to article 1 and this article and the following provisions of this Order, save for article 9, as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.