The Local Government and Greater London Authority Elections (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023

Part 2 E+W Principal area councillor elections

Interpretation of Part 2 E+W

6.  In this Part—

“election conduct rules” means the rules set out in Schedules 2 and 3 to the Principal Areas Rules (as the case may be);

“ongoing principal area councillor election” means a relevant principal area councillor election for which the date of poll as specified in the notice of election is on or after 31st January 2024;

“relevant principal area councillor election” means an election of councillors of a principal area for which the notice of election is published in accordance with the relevant rule on or before 30th January 2024.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 1 para. 6 in force at 31.10.2023, see reg. 1(2)(d)

Questions for proxies at certain principal area councillor elections E+W

7.—(1) The amendments made by regulation 3(8) and (16) do not apply in respect of an ongoing principal area councillor election.

(2) Rule 33 of the election conduct rules applies in respect of a relevant principal area councillor election as if—

(a) in the table after paragraph (1)—

(i) in entry 2 (proxy), in the column headed “Question”—

(aa) after question (b) there were inserted—

“(ba) “Were you appointed as proxy on behalf of C.D. before 31st October 2023?” [R]”;

(bb) in question (c), at the beginning there were inserted “If the person answers question (ba) in the affirmative:”;

(ii) in entry 3 (proxy for an elector with an anonymous entry), in the column headed “Question”—

(aa) after question (b) there were inserted—

“(ba) “Were you appointed as proxy on behalf of the person whose number on the register of electors is (read out the number) before 31st October 2023?” [R]”;

(bb) in question (c), at the beginning there were inserted “If the person answers question (ba) in the affirmative:”;

(b) in paragraph (2), after “3(a), (b)” there were inserted “, (ba)”.

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. 1 para. 7(1) in force at 31.1.2024, see reg. 1(4)(d)

I3 Sch. 1 para. 7(2) in force at 31.10.2023, see reg. 1(2)(d)

Poll card forms for certain principal area councillor elections E+W

8.—(1) The amendments made by regulation 3(9)(c) and (d) and (18)(c) and (d) do not apply in respect of an ongoing principal area councillor election.

(2) The form of the official poll card (to be sent to an elector voting in person) and the form of the official proxy poll card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting in person) in the election conduct rules apply in respect of a relevant principal area councillor election as if, on the front of the form, before the text that begins “vote as a proxy at this election” there were inserted “(in the case of a proxy appointed before 31st October 2023)”.

(3) The form of the official postal poll card (to be sent to an elector voting by post) and the form of the official proxy postal poll card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting by post) in the election conduct rules apply in respect of a relevant principal area councillor election as if on the back of the form, before the text that begins “vote as a proxy at this election” there were inserted “(in the case of a proxy appointed before 31st October 2023)”.

[F1 (4) Sub-paragraph (5) applies to an election of councillors of a principal area for which—

(a) the notice of election is published in accordance with the relevant rule on or after 31st January 2024, and

(b) the date of poll stated in that notice is on or before 1st May 2024.

(5) The form of the official postal poll card (to be sent to an elector voting by post) and the form of the official proxy postal poll card (to be sent to an appointed proxy voting by post) in the election conduct rules apply in respect of an election to which this sub-paragraph applies as if, on the back of the form, for the text that begins “vote as a proxy at this election” and ends with “grandchild” there were substituted—

“(in the case of a proxy appointed on or after 31st October 2023) vote as a proxy on behalf of more than four electors, of which no more than two may be on behalf of other domestic electors (a domestic elector is one who is not an overseas or service elector)”.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 1 para. 8(4)(5) inserted (10.1.2024) by The Local Government and Greater London Authority Elections (Amendment) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/1334), rules 1(1), 5(2)

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. 1 para. 8(1) in force at 31.1.2024, see reg. 1(4)(d)

I5 Sch. 1 para. 8(2)(3) in force at 31.10.2023, see reg. 1(2)(d)