The National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) (Amendment) Order 2016

PART 2 Combination of polls at Assembly and police and crime commissioner elections

Amendment of article 2 (interpretation)

3.  In article 2(1) (interpretation), in the appropriate places insert—

““2011 Act” means the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011(1);”;

““ordinary election of police and crime commissioners” has the meaning given by article 16A (combination of polls at police and crime commissioner elections)(2);”;

““police area” means a police area in Wales listed in Schedule 1 to the Police Act 1996 (police areas in England and Wales)(3);”;

““police and crime commissioner election” means an election under Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act;”.

Combination of polls at Assembly and Police and Crime commissioner elections

4.—(1) After article 16 (combination of polls at Assembly and local government elections), insert—

“Combination of polls at Assembly and police and crime commissioner elections

16A.— (1) Where the polls at an Assembly general election and an ordinary election of police and crime commissioners are to be taken on the same date, they must be taken together.

(2) Where the polls at an Assembly election and a police and crime commissioner election for related areas are to be taken on the same date but are not required by paragraph (1) to be taken together, they may nevertheless be taken together if the returning officer for each election thinks fit.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) two areas are related if one is coterminous with or situated wholly or partly within the other.

(4) Where the polls at any elections are combined under this article the cost of taking the combined polls (excluding any cost solely attributable to one election) and any cost attributable to their combination is to be apportioned equally among the elections.

(5) Schedule 4A (which makes provision in connection with the combination of polls at Assembly and police and crime commissioner elections) has effect.

(6) In this article “ordinary election of police and crime commissioners” has the same meaning as in section 50 of the 2011 Act(4).”

(2) Schedule 1 (which inserts Schedule 4A into the 2007 Order to make provision for the combination of polls at Assembly elections and police and crime commissioner elections) has effect.

Amendment of Schedule 3 (issue and receipt of postal ballot papers)

5.—(1) Amend Schedule 3 (issue and receipt of postal ballot papers) as follows.

(2) In paragraph 2 (combination of polls), after “article 16(1) or (2)”, insert “or (as the case may be) article 16A(1) or (2)”.

(3) In paragraph 3 (form of postal voting statement), after “article 16(1) or (2)”, in each place it occurs, insert “or (as the case may be) article 16A(1) or (2)”.

(4) In paragraph 9(6) (procedure on issue of postal ballot paper), after “article 16(1) or (2)” insert “or (as the case may be) article 16A(1) or (2)”.

(5) In paragraph 11(3) (envelopes), after “article 16(1) or (2)” insert “or (as the case may be) article 16A(1) or (2)”.

(6) After paragraph 31(1) (forwarding of documents), insert—

“(1A) Where the poll at an Assembly election is to be taken together with the poll at a police and crime commissioner election under article 16A, a separate statement in the form described in sub-paragraph (1)(b) must be completed for the Assembly election.”.

Amendment of Schedule 4 (combination of polls)

6.  In the heading to Schedule 4 (combination of polls), at the end insert “: Assembly elections and local government elections”.

(1)

2011 c. 13.

(2)

Article 16A is inserted by article 4 of this Order.

(3)

1996 c. 16.

(4)

Section 50 was amended by S.I. 2015/1526 (so as to enable the concurrent exercise of the Secretary of State’s functions with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster).