Representation of the People Act 1983

Computation of time

2 (1) In computing any period of time for the purposes of the Timetable—

(a) a Saturday or Sunday,

(b) a day of the Christmas break, of the Easter break or of a bank holiday break, or

(c) a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning,

shall be disregarded, and any such day shall not be treated as a day for the purpose of any proceedings up to the completion of the poll nor shall the returning officer be obliged to proceed with the counting of the votes on such a day.

(2) In this rule " bank holiday " means—

(a) in relation to a general election, a day which is a bank holiday under the [1971 c. 80.] Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom,

(b) in relation to a by-election, a day which is a bank holiday under that Act in that part of the United Kingdom in which the constituency is situated,

but at a general election sub-paragraph (b) and not sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph applies in relation to any proceedings—

(i) commenced afresh by reason of a candidate's death ; and

(ii) extending, by reason of riot or open violence, beyond the time laid down by the Timetable.

(3) In this rule—

• " bank holiday break " means any bank holiday not included in the Christmas break or the Easter break and the period beginning with the last weekday before that bank holiday and ending with the next weekday which is not a bank holiday,

• " Christmas break " means the period beginning with the last weekday before Christmas Day and ending with the first weekday after Christmas Day which is not a bank holiday,

• " Easter break " means the period beginning with the Thursday before and ending with the Tuesday after Easter Day,

• " weekday " does not include a Saturday, but so much of this paragraph as includes in a bank holiday break a period before and after a bank holiday does not apply to bank holidays other than New Year's Day which are not bank holidays in England and Wales.