Scotland Act 1998

12 Power [F1 of the Scottish Ministers] to make provision about elections. U.K.

(1) The [F2 Scottish Ministers] may by order make provision as to—

(a) the conduct of elections for membership of the Parliament, [F3 and]

(b) the questioning of such an election and the consequences of irregularities, F4 ...

F4 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) The provision that may be made under subsection (1)(a) [F5 does not include provision that may be made by the Secretary of State under section 12A but, subject to that, ] includes, in particular, provision—

[F6 (a) about supplying or otherwise dealing with a register of electors,]

F7 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) about the limitation of the election expenses of candidates F8 . . ., [F9 and]

(d) for the combination of polls at elections for membership of the Parliament with polls at other elections[F10 , if the conduct of the other election falls within the legislative competence of the Parliament.]

F11 (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F11 (f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F12 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) An order under subsection (1) may—

(a) apply, with or without modifications or exceptions, any provision made by or under the Representation of the People Acts or [F13 the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002] or by any other enactment relating to parliamentary elections, European Parliamentary elections or local government elections,

F14 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F14 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) The return of a member of the Parliament at an election may be questioned only under Part III of the Representation of the M1 People Act 1983 as applied by an order under subsection (1).

(6) For the purposes of this Act, the regional returning officer for any region is the person designated as such in accordance with an order made by the [F15 Scottish Ministers] under this subsection.

[F16 (7) Before making an order under this section the Scottish Ministers must consult the Secretary of State.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 12 heading inserted (1.7.2015) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(8), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F2 Words in s. 12(1) substituted (1.7.2015) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(2)(a), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F3 Word in s. 12(1) inserted (1.7.2015) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(2)(b), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F4 S. 12(1)(c) and preceding word omitted (1.7.2015) by virtue of Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(2)(c), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F5 Words in s. 12(2) inserted (1.7.2015) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(3)(a), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F6 S. 12(2)(a) substituted (1.7.2015) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(3)(b), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F7 S. 12(2)(b) omitted (1.7.2015) by virtue of Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(3)(c), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F8 Words in s. 12(2)(c) repealed (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 158(1)(2), Sch. 21 para. 13(3), Sch. 22 (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I

F9 Word in s. 12(2)(c) inserted (1.7.2015) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(3)(d), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F10 Words in s. 12(2)(d) inserted (1.7.2015) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(3)(e), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F11 S. 12(2)(e)(f) omitted (1.7.2015) by virtue of Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(3)(f), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F12 S. 12(3) omitted (1.7.2015) by virtue of Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(4), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F13 Words in s. 12(4)(a) substituted (24.10.2002) by European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002 (c. 24), s. 15, Sch. 3 para. 7(2)

F14 S. 12(4)(b)(c) omitted (1.7.2015) by virtue of Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(5), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F15 Words in s. 12(6) substituted (1.7.2015) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(6), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

F16 S. 12(7) inserted (1.7.2015) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 1(7), 44(5); S.I. 2015/682, art. 2(a) (with saving in S.I. 2015/683, art. 2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 12 amended (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 8(3)(b) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I

C2 S. 12(1)(6) amended (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 7(2)(g), (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I

Marginal Citations

M1 1983 c. 2.