The Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend Schedule 2 to the Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) Regulations 2004 (“the Combination of Polls Regulations”), which sets out modifications to the Parliamentary Elections Rules that have effect when a poll at a parliamentary election is combined with a poll at another election or referendum.

Regulation 2 makes amendments to paragraph 22 of Schedule 2, which modifies rule 45 of the Parliamentary Elections Rules, in relation to the count.

Regulation 2(2) provides that, where a parliamentary election is combined with another election or referendum, the returning officer at the parliamentary election may begin the count of the votes given on parliamentary ballot papers once they have been verified, separated from the ballot papers relating to the other elections and referendums and mixed with the ballot papers from at least one other ballot box or, in the case of postal ballot papers, with the ballot papers from at least one ballot box.

This will enable the count to begin before completion of the proceedings in rule 45(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Rules, as substituted by paragraph 22 of Schedule 2.

Regulation 3 inserts new paragraph 24A into Schedule 2, which modifies rule 50 of the Parliamentary Elections Rules, in relation to declaration of result. It provides that the returning officer must not declare the result of the count until the proceedings in rule 45(1), as substituted by paragraph 22 of Schedule 2, have been completed.

For the application of these Regulations to elections of Police and Crime Commissioners, see the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2015.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument because no impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.