http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2944/article/2/made

The Northern Ireland Assembly (Minimum Period) Order 2010

Northern Ireland Executive

en

King's Printer of Acts of Parliament

2020-02-26

NORTHERN IRELAND

By virtue of section 31 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, ordinary general elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly are held on the first Thursday in May every four years. The predecessor Assembly must be dissolved at the start of the minimum period which ends with the date of the poll for the election and that period is determined in accordance with an Order made by the Secretary of State.