The Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2002.

These Regulations, which extend to England and Wales, amend the Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2002 (the Principal Regulations) as they apply where the poll at a mayoral election is taken together with the poll at one or more of a number of other types of election or referendum.

Regulation 2 provides additional definitions and substitutes a new regulation 5 of the Principal Regulations.

A new schedule is substituted for Schedule 3 to the Principal Regulations.

The new Schedule 3 contains a modified version of the regulations in Schedule 1 of the Principal Regulations, which applies where the poll is to be combined with the poll at—

• a Parliamentary election;

• a European Parliamentary election;

• a local government election (which includes Greater London Authority elections in London); or

• another mayoral election; or

• a referendum.

The main modifications are—

• extending the period within which nominations must be delivered where the poll is combined with the poll at a European parliamentary election,

• making use of the same ballot box optional in the case of all possible combined polls,

• allowing for the translation of notices for the guidance of voters into languages other than English,

• entitling representatives of the Electoral Commission to attend the polling stations, verification and count,

• allowing those who are entitled to attend the count at the poll which is combined to attend at the joint verification of ballot paper accounts,

• requiring that postal ballot papers which are returned to a polling station are returned to a polling station located in the area which is common to the electoral areas in which each poll is taking place, and

• ensuring that forms which are or may be used for all polls, such as notices in polling stations and declarations by disabled voters are in a form which is consistent with those applying under the legislation governing the election with which the mayoral election is combined.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument, as it has no impact on the costs of businesses, charities or voluntary bodies.