3Time of ordinary elections
(1)The poll at the first ordinary election shall be held on 4th May 2000 or such later date as the Secretary of State may by order provide.
(2)The poll at each subsequent ordinary election shall be held on the first Thursday in May in the fourth calendar year following that in which the previous ordinary election was held.
(3)Subsection (2) above is subject to any order made by virtue of section 37(2) of the Representation of the [1983 c. 2.] People Act 1983 (power by order to fix a day other than the first Thursday in May).
(4)As respects the first ordinary election, the Secretary of State may by order make provision—
(a)modifying section 2(8) above in relation to the Mayor and Assembly members returned at that election;
(b)for the returning officer at the election of the Mayor and the election of the London members to be a person, or a person of a description, designated in the order (instead of the person specified in section 35(2C) of the Representation of the [1983 c. 2.] People Act 1983);
(c)for and in connection with modifying the entitlement to vote or the registration of electors, or with respect to the registers (or parts of registers) of electors to be used;
(d)for or in connection with enabling electors to vote in the poll at such polling stations or other places as may be prescribed, at such times as may be prescribed, on such one or more days preceding the date specified in or provided under subsection (1) above for the poll as may be specified in the order.
(5)The provision that may be made by an order under paragraph (d) of subsection (4) above includes provision for such enactments or statutory instruments as may be specified in the order to have effect with such modifications as may be so specified.
(6)In this section “prescribed” means specified in, or determined in accordance with, an order under this section.