1Year of local government elections
(1)In section 5 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c. 39) (elections etc. of councillors), after subsection (1) insert—
“(1A)Following the ordinary election of councillors held in 2007 the next ordinary election of councillors shall take place in 2012.
(1B)After the ordinary election of councillors in 2012 the next ordinary election shall take place in 2017, and ordinary elections shall take place every fourth year after that.”.
(2)The schedule to this Act, which contains consequential modifications and the repeal of certain enactments already obsolete or unnecessary, has effect.
2Voting information from local government elections
(1)In the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 9), after section 3 insert—
“3AVoting information from local government elections
(1)The Scottish Ministers may by order make provision as to the publication of information about votes cast at elections of councillors.
(2)Such an order may, in particular—
(a)specify information to which the provisions shall apply,
(b)make provision about access to information to facilitate publication,
(c)specify limitations on the publication of information,
(d)make provision relating to votes cast in part of an electoral ward.
(3)Nothing may be done by virtue of an order under this section which would make it possible to ascertain whether or not a particular elector voted.
(4)An order under this section may make provision which applies to any voting information held by virtue of this Act in relation to the local government elections held in 2007.”.
(2)In section 16 of that Act (orders and regulations)—
(a)in subsection (3) after “3(1)” insert “, 3A”,
(b)in subsection (5), at the end of paragraph (a) insert—
“(aa)order containing provisions made under section 3A,”.
3Short title and commencement
(1)This Act may be cited as the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Act 2009.
(2)This section comes into force on Royal Assent.
(3)The remaining provisions of this Act come into force on such day as the Scottish Ministers may by order made by statutory instrument appoint; and different days may be appointed for different purposes.