Government of Wales Act 2006

4 Power to vary date of ordinary general election U.K.

[F1 (1) Subject to section 3(1A), the Presiding Officer may propose, for the holding of the poll at an ordinary general election, a day which is not more than one month earlier, nor more than one month later, than the first Thursday in May.]

[F1 (2) If the Presiding Officer proposes a day under subsection (1), Her Majesty may by proclamation under the Welsh Seal—

(a) dissolve the [F2 Senedd] ,

(b) require the poll at the election to be held on the day proposed, and

(c) require the [F2 Senedd] to meet within the period of seven days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.]

[F1 (2A) Where a day is specified by an order under section 3(1B), subsection (1) applies as if the reference to the first Thursday in May were a reference to that day.]

(3) In calculating any period of days for the purposes of provision made by virtue of subsection [F3 (2)(c)] , the following days are to be disregarded—

(a) Saturday and Sunday,

(b) Good Friday,

(c) any day which is a bank holiday in Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (c. 80), and

(d) any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

(4) [F4 The Welsh Ministers may by order] make provision for—

(a) any provision of, or made under, the Representation of the People Acts, or

(b) any other enactment relating to the election of [F5 Members of the Senedd ] ,

to have effect with such modifications or exceptions as the [F6 Welsh Ministers consider] appropriate in connection with the alteration of the day of the poll [F7 under this section ].

F8 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of [F9 the [F2 Senedd]] .

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 4(1)-(2A) substituted for s. 4(1)(2) (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(7), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)

F2 Words in Act substituted (6.5.2020) by Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 (anaw 1), s. 42(2), Sch. 1 para. 2(19) (with Sch. 1 para. 2(11)-(14))

F3 Word in s. 4(3) substituted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(8), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)

F4 Words in s. 4(4) substituted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(9)(a), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)

F5 Words in Act substituted (6.5.2020) by Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 (anaw 1), s. 42(2), Sch. 1 para. 2(17) (with Sch. 1 para. 2(11)(12)(14))

F6 Words in s. 4(4) substituted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(9)(b), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)

F7 Words in s. 4(4) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(9)(c), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)

F8 S. 4(5) omitted (1.4.2018) by virtue of Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(10), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)

F9 Words in s. 4(6) substituted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(11), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)

Commencement Information

I1 Ss. 1-94, 97-106 in force immediately after "the 2007 election" by s. 161(1) (subject to s. 161(4)(5))