Local Government Act 2003

104 Power to change date of elections in Wales

(1) The National Assembly for Wales may by order provide that in 2004 the ordinary day of election of councillors for—

(a) all local government areas in Wales, or

(b) all local government areas in Wales, except communities, or

(c) all communities,

shall be changed so as to be the same as the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election.

(2) Where the Assembly makes an order under subsection (1), it may by order—

(a) make provision modifying, in relation to elections in Wales in 2004—

(i) section 89(1) or (2) of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) (holding of elections to fill casual vacancies in the office of councillor for a principal area), or

(ii) rules made for the purposes of section 89(6) of that Act (which provides for casual vacancies in the office of community councillor to be filled in accordance with rules under section 36 of the Representation of the People Act 1983);

(b) make provision disapplying section 16(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50) (which postpones for 3 weeks the poll at an election of community councillors where the date of the poll at a European Parliamentary general election and the ordinary day of election for councillors in England and Wales are the same) in relation to elections in Wales in 2004.

(3) Where the Secretary of State makes an order under section 103, the National Assembly for Wales may by order make in relation to elections in Wales such consequential provision, including provision excluding or modifying the application of any enactment, as it thinks fit.

(4) Before making an order under this section, the National Assembly for Wales must consult—

(a) the Electoral Commission, and

(b) such other persons or bodies as it considers appropriate.

(5) Subsection (4) may be satisfied by consultation before, as well as by consultation after, the commencement of this section.

(6) In subsection (1), “local government area” has the same meaning as in the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2).

(7) In subsection (3) “enactment” includes an enactment comprised in secondary legislation within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30).