Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Act 1997

2 Referendum in Wales

(1) On 18th September 1997, a referendum shall be held in Wales on the establishment of a Welsh Assembly.

(2) The propositions to be voted on in the referendum and the front of the ballot paper to be used for that purpose shall be in the form set out in Schedule 2.

(3) Those entitled to vote in the referendum shall be the persons who, on the date of the referendum, would be entitled to vote as electors at an election for a county council or county borough council in Wales.

But an alteration in a register of electors under section 11(1) or (2) or 56 of the Representation of the [1983 c. 2.] People Act 1983 (correction of registers and registration appeals) shall not have effect for the purposes of the referendum unless it is made before the start of the period of eleven days ending with the date of the referendum.

(4) The Secretary of State shall appoint a Chief Counting Officer for Wales.

(5) The Chief Counting Officer shall appoint a counting officer for each county or county borough in Wales.

(6) Each counting officer shall—

(a) conduct the counting of votes cast in the area for which he is appointed in accordance with paragraph 11 of Schedule 3 and any directions given by the Chief Counting Officer, and

(b) certify the number of ballot papers counted by him and the number of votes cast for each proposition.

(7) The Chief Counting Officer shall certify the total of—

(a) the ballot papers counted, and

(b) the votes cast for each proposition,

for the whole of Wales.