Section 54: Returning officers etc.
189.Section 54 provides that the police area returning officer is a person who is an acting returning officer for Parliamentary elections for a constituency falling partly or wholly within the police area and who is designated as such by order made by the Secretary of State. Under subsection (2) the Secretary of State may by regulations confer functions on both the returning officer and local returning officers (a local returning officer for this purpose is defined in subsection (5) as a person who acts as returning officer for certain local elections under section 35 of the Representation of the People Act 1983). Such regulations may apply or incorporate, with or without modifications or exceptions, provisions of other legislation about elections, and are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.
190.Subsection (4) requires certain local authorities to make other staff available to assist the returning officer for the police area and local returning officers in carrying out their functions.
