By-elections
76.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3) below, where the Secretary of State has—
(a)received information of a vacancy in the seat of an MEP from the European Parliament under Article 12(2) of the Act annexed to Council Decision 76/787, or
(b)informed the European Parliament under that Article that a vacancy exists,
a by-election shall be held to fill the vacancy.
(2) The period within which the poll at that by-election must take place is six months from the occurrence of the event specified in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) above, as the case may be.
(3) Paragraph (1) above shall not apply where the event specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of that paragraph occurred less than six months before the Thursday of the period of the next general election of MEPs.
(4) That period is the one during which the next general election would take place in accordance with Article 10(2) of the Act annexed to Council Decision 76/787.