The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2001

Combination of polls: supplementary

17.—(1) Paragraphs (2) to (8) of this regulation shall apply where polls at referendums are taken together in accordance with regulation 14(9) or (10).

(2) The functions specified in rules 18(3), 19, 20, 21, to the extent that that rule concerns the appointment of presiding officers and clerks to assist them, 23, 25(a), 26(3), 27(2)(b), and 39(1) and (5) of the LGA Referendum Rules shall be functions of such one of the counting officers for the referendums as may be agreed between them.

(3) The polling stations at the combined poll shall be those that would have been used at the single poll at which the person by whom the functions specified in paragraph (2) are to be discharged, in accordance with the agreement under that paragraph, would have been the counting officer.

(4) Schedule 2 to the Principal Areas Rules, as modified by Schedule 4 to those Rules (modifications where polls at local government elections are combined), shall have effect in relation to the combination of polls at referendums as it has effect in relation to the combination of polls at elections, subject to the further modifications set out in Part V of Schedule 5; and a provision set out in column (1) of that Part and expressed to apply only in circumstances there mentioned, and any modification shown in column (2) as applicable to any such provision, shall have effect only in those circumstances.

(5) The cost of taking the combined poll (excluding any cost solely attributable to one referendum) and any cost attributable to the combination shall be apportioned equally among the referendums.

(6) The ballot papers at each referendum shall be of a different colour.

(7) The back of the ballot papers (the form of which is set out in Part III of Schedule 1) may include a reference to the name of the electoral division or ward.

(8) If separate boxes are used for the ballot papers at each referendum, no vote at a referendum shall be rendered invalid by the ballot paper being placed in the ballot box intended for the ballot papers at another referendum.

(9) Nothing in regulation 13(5) shall preclude the attendance at the counting of the votes of a person who would be entitled to attend for that purpose in relation to a referendum at which the poll is taken together with that at another referendum or at an election.