Synodical Government Measure 1969

[F1 32] [F2 (1) Elections of members of the diocesan synod by the houses of the deanery synods shall be completed by the 15th day of July, the period and dates of the election being fixed by the bishop of the diocese and communicated to the secretaries of the deanery synods. E

(2) The bishop shall appoint the presiding officers for the elections by the houses of the deanery synods, provided that no person shall be appointed as a presiding officer for an election by a house F3 . . .of which he is a member. The expenses of elections shall be paid out of diocesan funds.

[F4 (3)] The diocesan electoral registration officer shall furnish the presiding officer with the names and addresses of the qualified electors and the presiding officer shall ensure that the persons qualified to nominate and vote in elections to the diocesan synod, and only such persons, shall be sent or given nomination and voting papers in respect of the said election at the address entered against their names in the register of electors.]

[F4 (4)] Every candidate must be nominated and seconded by a qualified elector. A notice in the form set out in section 5 of Appendix I indicating the number of seats to be filled and inviting nominations shall be dispatched to every elector [F5 together with a form of nomination in the form set out in section 6 of Appendix I] shall be F6 . . . [F7 delivered either by post, by facsimile transmission or in person to the presiding officer of the area within such period, being a period of not less than fourteen days ending on a date specified by the presiding officer, provided that where a nomination paper has been sent by facsimile transmission the name of the candidate shall not appear on the voting paper unless the original nomination paper has been received by the presiding officer within three days of the closing date for nominations.The nomination form shall be accompanied by a statement signed by the candidate stating his willingness to serve if elected and, if he so desires, setting out in not more than 100 words a factual statement for circulation with the voting papers of the candidate’s professional qualifications, present office and any relevant past experience.]

[F4 F8 (5)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F9 (5) It shall be the duty of the presiding officer—

(a) to scrutinise nomination papers as soon as they have been lodged and shall, without delay, inform the candidate concerned whether the nomination is valid.Where the nomination is invalid the presiding officer shall give his reasons for so ruling and if, by the close of the nomination period, no valid nomination is received, the candidate shall be excluded from the election;

(b) to supply free of charge to a duly nominated candidate in the election one copy of the names and addresses of the qualified electors within seven days of receiving his written request.]

[F4 (6)] If more candidates are nominated than there are seats to be filled the names of the candidates nominated shall be circulated on a voting paper in the form set out [F10 either in section 7 or in section 8 of Appendix I to every qualified elector. The diocesan synod shall, not later than the 31st December in each year preceding any such election as is referred to in rule [F11 31], [F12 make a determination as to which form of voting paper is to be used by the deaneries in that election, and that] determination shall apply to any election to fill a casual vacancy which occurs during the next ensuing three years.]

[F4 (7)] The voting paper marked and [F13 , on the reverse thereof, signed by the elector and with his full name written.] shall be returnable to the presiding officer within such period not being less than 14 days as he shall specify . . . F14 No vote shall be counted if given on a voting paper not in accordance with this paragraph.

[F4 (8)] Where [F15 voting papers in the form set out in section 7 of Appendix I have been used and] owing to an equality of votes an election is not decided, the decision between the persons for whom the equal numbers of votes have been cast shall be taken by lot by the presiding officer.

[F16 [F4 (9)] Where voting papers in the form set out in section 8 of Appendix I are used, the election shall be conducted under rules, with the necessary modifications, made by the General Synod under rule [F17 39(7)] and for the time being in force.]

[F18 [F4 (10)]] A return of the result of the election shall be sent by the presiding officer to the secretary of the diocesan synod and a statement of the result shall be sent by [F19 the presiding officer] to every candidate not later than the 1st [F20 August] in each election year.

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3 rule 32 (originally 26) renumbered (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 29.

F2 Sch. 3 rule 26(1)(2)(2A) substituted for paras. (1) and (2) by S.I. 1989/2094, para. 9(1)

F3 Sch. 3 rule 32 para. (2) omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 29.

F4 Sch. 3 rule 32 paras. (3)-(10) (originally (2A)-(8)) renumbered (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 29.

F5 Words in Sch. 3 rule 32(4) substituted (1.1.2000) by virtue of The Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 1999 (S.I. 1999/2112), paras. 10, 24(3)

F6 Words in Sch. 3 rule 32 para. (4) omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para. 30.

F7 Words in Sch. 3 rule 32 para. (4) inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 30.

F8 Sch. 3 rule 32 para. (5) omitted (1.1.1995) by virtue of S.I. 1994/3118, para.31.

F9 Sch. 3 rule 32 para. (5) inserted (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 31.

F10 Words substituted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 9(1)

F11 Words in Sch. 3 rule 26 para. (4) amended (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 63, Sch.

F12 Words substituted by S.I. 1984/1039, para. 18(3)

F13 Words substituted by S.I. 1981/1650, para. 18(4)

F14 Words repealed by S.I. 1980/178, para. 9(2)

F15 Words inserted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 9(3)

F16 Rule 26(7) inserted by S.I. 1980/178, para. 9(4)

F17 Words in Sch. 3 rule 26 para. (7) amended (1.1.1995) by S.I. 1994/3118, para. 63, Sch.

F18 Rule 26(8) (originally 26(7)) renumbered by S.I. 1980/178, para. 9(5)

F19 Words substituted by S.I. 1973/1865, para. 15(5)

F20 Word substituted by S.I. 1981/1650, para. 3(3)