Combination of polls at Assembly and local government elections
14.—(1) Where the polls at an ordinary Assembly election and an ordinary local government election are to be taken on the same date, they shall be taken together.
(2) Where the polls at an Assembly election and local government election for related areas are to be taken on the same date but are not required by paragraph (1) to be taken together, they may nevertheless be so taken if the returning officer for each election thinks fit.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2), two areas are related if one is coterminous with or situated wholly or partly within the other.
(4) Where the polls at an ordinary Assembly election and an ordinary local government election are combined under paragraph (1) the cost of taking the combined polls (excluding any cost solely attributable to one election) and any cost attributable to their combination shall be apportioned among the elections in such proportions as the Assembly may by order specify; and an order under this paragraph may specify different proportions in relation to different functions.
(5) Where the polls at an Assembly election and another election are combined under paragraph (2) the cost of taking the combined polls (excluding any cost solely attributable to one election) and any cost attributable to their combination shall be apportioned equally among the elections.
(6) The power to make orders under paragraph (4) shall be exercised by statutory instrument.
(7) Schedule 4 (which makes provision in connection with the combination of polls at Assembly and local government elections) has effect.
(8) Before the day of the first ordinary Assembly election the reference in paragraph (4) to the Assembly shall be construed as a reference to the Secretary of State.