Government of Wales Act 2006

4 Power to vary date of ordinary general election

(1) The Secretary of State may by order provide for the poll at an ordinary general election to be held on a day which is neither—

(a) more than one month earlier, nor

(b) more than one month later,

than the first Thursday in May.

(2) An order under this section must make provision for the Assembly—

(a) to be dissolved on a day specified in the order, and

(b) to meet within the period of seven days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.

(3) In calculating any period of days for the purposes of provision made by virtue of subsection (2)(b), the following days are to be disregarded—

(a) Saturday and Sunday,

(b) Good Friday,

(c) any day which is a bank holiday in Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (c. 80), and

(d) any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

(4) An order under this section may make provision for—

(a) any provision of, or made under, the Representation of the People Acts, or

(b) any other enactment relating to the election of Assembly members,

to have effect with such modifications or exceptions as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in connection with the alteration of the day of the poll.

(5) No order is to be made under this section unless the Secretary of State has consulted the Welsh Ministers about it.

(6) A statutory instrument containing an order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.