Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024

Proposals for pilots

8 Proposals for pilots made by the Welsh Ministers

(1) Before making pilot regulations that have not been the subject of a proposal under sections 9 to 11, the Welsh Ministers must consult each returning officer for an area to which the regulations will apply about their proposals for the pilot to be provided for in the regulations.

(2) After consulting in accordance with subsection (1) and before making pilot regulations relating to any relevant electoral matter, the Welsh Ministers must—

(a) submit proposals for the pilot to be provided for in regulations to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, and

(b) have regard to the Commission’s report on the proposals under section 14.

(3) This section does not apply to pilot regulations that only contain provision of the kind specified in section 5(4) if they are made before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which this Act receives Royal Assent.

9 Proposals for pilots made by principal councils

(1) A principal council may propose to the Welsh Ministers that pilot regulations are made in relation to any relevant electoral matter in so far as it relates to local government elections.

(2) Before making a proposal under subsection (1), the principal council must consult the Welsh Ministers.

(3) After consulting in accordance with subsection (2) and before making a proposal under subsection (1), the principal council must—

(a) submit the proposal for the pilot to be provided for in regulations to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, and

(b) have regard to the Commission’s report on the proposal under section 14.

(4) If a principal council makes a proposal under subsection (1), it must send a copy of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru report on the proposals under section 14 to the Welsh Ministers.

10 Proposals for pilots made jointly by the Electoral Commission and principal councils

(1) The Electoral Commission and one or more principal councils (“relevant councils”) may, acting jointly, propose to the Welsh Ministers that pilot regulations are made in relation to any relevant electoral matter in so far as it relates to local government elections.

(2) Before making a proposal under subsection (1), the Electoral Commission and each relevant council acting jointly must consult the Welsh Ministers.

(3) After consulting in accordance with subsection (2) and before making a proposal under subsection (1), the Electoral Commission and each relevant council acting jointly must—

(a) submit the proposal for the pilot to be provided for in regulations to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, and

(b) have regard to the Commission’s report on the proposal under section 14.

(4) If the Electoral Commission and each relevant council acting jointly makes a proposal under subsection (1), they must send a copy of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru report on the proposal under section 14 to the Welsh Ministers.

11 Proposals for pilots made by electoral registration officers

(1) An electoral registration officer may propose to the Welsh Ministers that pilot regulations are made in relation to ascertaining—

(a) the names and addresses of persons who are not registered in a register but who are entitled to be registered;

(b) those persons who are registered in a register but who are not entitled to be registered.

(2) Before making a proposal under subsection (1), an electoral registration officer must consult the Welsh Ministers.

(3) After consulting in accordance with subsection (2) and before making a proposal under subsection (1), the electoral registration officer must—

(a) submit the proposal for the pilot to be provided for in regulations to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, and

(b) have regard to the Commission’s report on the proposal under section 14.

(4) If an electoral registration officer makes a proposal under subsection (1), the officer must send a copy of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru report on the proposal under section 14 to the Welsh Ministers.

12 Joint proposals for pilots

(1) A person who may make a proposal under any of sections 9 to 11 may make the proposal jointly with one or more other persons making a proposal under any of those sections.

(2) Any duty to consult a person with whom the person makes a joint proposal does not apply.

(3) If the joint proposal relates to matters that the person does not have the power to propose, the person may still make the proposal in so far as the person does have the power to do so.

13 Electoral Commission recommendations

The Electoral Commission may recommend proposals for pilot regulations to a person that may make a proposal under any of sections 9 to 11.