The Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums Order 2004

The ballot paper

6.—(1) The ballot of every voter shall consist of a ballot paper, which shall be printed in the form set out in Form 1, Form 2 or Form 3, as appropriate, and according to the directions as specified, in the Appendix to these Rules.

(2) Each ballot paper—

(a) for a Regional Assembly referendum shall set out—

(i) the question specified in section 3(1) of the Preparations Act, and

(ii) the statement, which is to precede the question, as specified in section 3(2) of the Preparations Act;

(b) for a local government referendum shall set out—

(i) the question specified in section 3(3) of the Preparations Act and the order made under section 2(2) of that Act which caused the local government referendum to be held, and

(ii) the statement, which is to precede the question, as specified in section 3(4) or (5) of the Preparations Act (as the case may be);

(c) shall be capable of being folded up;

(d) shall have a ballot number printed on the back;

(e) where the referendum is combined with another referendum, shall be of a different colour from the ballot paper for the referendum with which it is combined, unless a combined ballot paper is used;

(f) may have attached to it, in a manner which incorporates perforations to enable it to be detached, one or more of the following—

(i) a security statement;

(ii) instructions to the voter; and

(iii) the ballot paper for any referendum with which the poll is combined.

(3) With respect to combined polls, the Chief Counting Officer may determine that the ballot papers for the referendums shall be combined (in these Rules referred to as “a combined ballot paper”).

(4) The Chief Counting Officer may determine that a combined ballot paper shall have attached to it, in a manner which incorporates perforations to enable it to be detached, one or more of the following—

(a) a security statement; and

(b) instructions to the voter.

(5) Any requirement in these Rules in respect of a ballot paper shall, in the case of a combined ballot paper, be treated as a requirement for the ballot paper at each of the combined referendums, except where the context otherwise requires.

(6) A ballot number on a ballot paper shall not be the same as the number of the elector on the register of electors in respect of whom the ballot paper is issued.