The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (Wales) Rules 2021

  1. Introductory Text

  2. 1.Title and commencement

  3. 2.Transitional provision

  4. 3.Interpretation

  5. 4.Section 22(3)(a) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000: use of “Annibynnol”

  6. 5.Conduct of elections to the council of a principal area

  7. Signature

  8. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Rules for conduct of an election of councillors for a principal area where poll is not taken together with poll at another election

      1. PART 1 Provisions as to Time

        1. 1.Timetable

        2. 2.Computation of time

      2. PART 2 Notice of Election, Nomination and Method of Election

        1. Notice of Election

          1. 3.Notice of election

        2. Nomination

          1. 4.Duty of returning officer to supply forms of nomination etc.

          2. 5.Nomination of candidates

          3. 6.Nomination papers: descriptions

          4. 7.Addition of “Wales”, “Welsh”, “Cymru” or “Cymreig”

          5. 8.Nomination papers: statements of party membership

          6. 9.Home address forms

          7. 10.Decisions as to validity of nomination papers

          8. 11.Nomination in more than one electoral ward

          9. 12.Withdrawal of candidates

          10. 13.Publication of statement of persons nominated

          11. 14.Use of commonly used names in statement of persons nominated

          12. 15.Names that are the same or similar

          13. 16.Correction of minor errors in nomination papers or home address forms

          14. 17.Inspection of nomination papers

          15. 18.Inspection of home address forms

          16. 19.Adjournment of nomination proceedings in the case of riot

        3. Method of Election

          1. 20.Decision as to whether election is contested and declaration of result if uncontested

      3. PART 3 The Poll at Contested Elections

        1. General Provisions

          1. 21.Poll to be taken by ballot

          2. 22.The ballot papers

          3. 23.Corresponding number list

          4. 24.The official mark

          5. 25.Prohibition of disclosure of vote

          6. 26.Use of schools and public rooms

        2. Action to be taken before the poll

          1. 27.Notice of poll

          2. 28.Postal ballot papers

          3. 29.Provision of polling stations

          4. 30.Appointment of presiding officers and clerks

          5. 31.Issue of official poll cards

          6. 32.Equipment of polling stations

          7. 33.Appointment of polling and counting agents

          8. 34.Polling and counting agents: supplemental provision

          9. 35.Notification of requirement of secrecy

          10. 36.Return of postal ballot papers

        3. The Poll

          1. 37.Admission to polling station

          2. 38.Keeping of order in station

          3. 39.Sealing of ballot boxes

          4. 40.Questions that may be put to voters

          5. 41.Challenge of voter

          6. 42.Voting procedure

          7. 43.Voters with a disability or unable to read: marking of votes by presiding officer

          8. 44.Voters with a disability or unable to read: assistance of companions

          9. 45.Voting with the assistance of a companion: supplemental provision

          10. 46.Tendered ballot papers: circumstances where available

          11. 47.Duties of presiding officer in relation to tendered ballot papers

          12. 48.Spoilt ballot papers

          13. 49.Correction of errors on day of poll

          14. 50.Adjournment of poll in case of riot

          15. 51.Procedure on close of poll

      4. PART 4 Counting of Votes and Declaration of Result at Contested Elections

        1. 52.Arrangements for the counting of votes

        2. 53.Attendance at the counting of votes

        3. 54.The count: steps

        4. 55.The count: general

        5. 56.The count: rejected ballot papers

        6. 57.Re-count

        7. 58.Equality of votes

        8. 59.Decision on ballot papers

        9. 60.Declaration of result

      5. PART 5 Disposal of Documents

        1. 61.Sealing up of ballot papers at contested elections

        2. 62.Delivery of documents to registration officer at contested elections

        3. 63.Production etc. of documents

        4. 64.Orders for the production etc. of documents: supplemental provision

        5. 65.Retention and destruction of documents forwarded to registration officer

        6. 66.Destruction of home address forms by returning officer

      6. PART 6 Death of Candidate

        1. 67.Countermand or abandonment of poll on death of a candidate

      7. APPENDICES Note: The forms contained in these Appendices may be adapted so far as circumstances require.

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Rules for conduct of an election of councillors for a principal area where poll is taken together with poll at a relevant election

      1. PART 1 Provisions as to Time

        1. 1.Timetable

        2. 2.Computation of time

      2. PART 2 Notice of Election, Nomination and Method of Election

        1. Notice of Election

          1. 3.Notice of election

        2. Nomination

          1. 4.Duty of returning officer to supply forms of nomination etc.

          2. 5.Nomination of candidates

          3. 6.Nomination papers: descriptions

          4. 7.Addition of “Wales”, “Welsh”, “Cymru” or “Cymreig”

          5. 8.Nomination papers: statements of party membership

          6. 9.Home address forms

          7. 10.Decisions as to validity of nomination papers

          8. 11.Nomination in more than one electoral ward

          9. 12.Withdrawal of candidates

          10. 13.Publication of statement of persons nominated

          11. 14.Use of commonly used names in statement of persons nominated

          12. 15.Names that are the same or similar

          13. 16.Correction of minor errors in nomination papers or home address forms

          14. 17.Inspection of nomination papers

          15. 18.Inspection of home address forms

          16. 19.Adjournment of nomination proceedings in the case of riot

        3. Method of Election

          1. 20.Decision as to whether election is contested and declaration of result if uncontested

      3. PART 3 The Poll at Contested Elections

        1. General Provisions

          1. 21.Poll to be taken by ballot

          2. 22.The ballot papers

          3. 23.Corresponding number list

          4. 24.The official mark

          5. 25.Prohibition of disclosure of vote

          6. 26.Use of schools and public rooms

        2. Action to be taken before the poll

          1. 27.Notice of poll

          2. 28.Postal ballot papers

          3. 29.Provision of polling stations

          4. 30.Appointment of presiding officers and clerks

          5. 31.Issue of official poll cards

          6. 32.Equipment of polling stations

          7. 33.Appointment of polling and counting agents

          8. 34.Polling and counting agents: supplemental provision

          9. 35.Notification of requirement of secrecy

          10. 36.Return of postal ballot papers

        3. The Poll

          1. 37.Admission to polling station

          2. 38.Keeping of order in station

          3. 39.Sealing of ballot boxes

          4. 40.Questions that may be put to voters

          5. 41.Challenge of voter

          6. 42.Voting procedure

          7. 43.Voters with a disability or unable to read: marking of votes by presiding officer

          8. 44.Voters with a disability or unable to read: assistance of companions

          9. 45.Voting with the assistance of a companion: supplemental provision

          10. 46.Tendered ballot papers: circumstances where available

          11. 47.Duties of presiding officer in relation to tendered ballot papers

          12. 48.Spoilt ballot papers

          13. 49.Correction of errors on day of poll

          14. 50.Adjournment of poll in case of riot

          15. 51.Procedure on close of poll

      4. PART 4 Counting of Votes and Declaration of Result at Contested Elections

        1. 52.Overview of rules and interpretation

        2. 53.Attendance at proceedings under this Part

        3. 54.Preliminary and general duties where returning officer is co-ordinating returning officer

        4. 55.Separation of ballot papers etc. where returning officer is co-ordinating returning officer

        5. 56.Preliminary and general duties where returning officer is not the co-ordinating returning officer

        6. 57.Opening of containers etc. where returning officer is not the co-ordinating returning officer

        7. 58.Further provision about postal ballot papers

        8. 59.The count: general

        9. 60.The count: rejected ballot papers

        10. 61.Re-count

        11. 62.Equality of votes

        12. 63.Decision on ballot papers

        13. 64.Declaration of result

      5. PART 5 Disposal of Documents

        1. 65.Sealing up of ballot papers at contested elections

        2. 66.Delivery of documents to registration officer at contested elections

        3. 67.Production etc. of documents

        4. 68.Orders for the production etc. of documents: supplemental provision

        5. 69.Retention and destruction of documents forwarded to registration officer

        6. 70.Destruction of home address forms by returning officer

      6. PART 6 Death of Candidate

        1. 71.Countermand or abandonment of poll on death of a candidate

      7. APPENDICES Note: The forms contained in these Appendices may be adapted so far as circumstances require.

  9. Explanatory Note