37.The extension of the franchise will apply to local government elections and local referendums that take place on or after 5 May 2022. The provisions of the Act relating to the extension of the franchise in local government elections in Wales need to be in force before that date for the purposes of the preparatory work needed for such elections and referendums, such as arrangements for proxy or postal voting.
38.Section 171(3) of the Act provides for the coming into force of the following provisions of the Act two months after the day of Royal Assent:
sections 2(1) and (3) (extension of right to vote in local government elections),
section 29 (translations etc. of documents at local government elections in Wales), and
paragraphs 2(11), 8(3)(b) and 20 of Schedule 2 to the Act (effect of registers and proxy voting).
39.This section makes transitional provision so that the provisions mentioned in subsection (2) only have effect in relation to local government elections and local referendums taking place on or after 5 May 2022, despite the coming into force of the provisions 2 months after Royal Assent. This means that they will be in effect for the purposes of making arrangements for things like proxy and postal votes for local authority elections and local referendums on or after 5 May 2022, but will not have effect for the purposes of local authority by-elections or local referendums that take place before 5 May.
40.The relevant local referendums are set out in subsection (3) and relate to mayoral referendums.