1. Introductory Text

  2. PART 1 General

    1. 1.Citation, commencement and revocation

    2. 2.Interpretation

  3. PART 2 Assembly franchise and its exercise

    1. 3.Voting at Assembly elections

    2. 4.Registers of electors etc

    3. 5.Registration appeals

    4. 6.Polling districts and places at Assembly elections

    5. 7.Manner of voting at Assembly elections

    6. 8.Absent vote at Assembly elections for a particular or an indefinite period

    7. 9.Absent vote at a particular Assembly election

    8. 10.Absent voters lists at Assembly elections

    9. 11.Proxies at Assembly elections

    10. 12.Voting as proxy at Assembly elections

    11. 13.Electors' signatures and use of personal identifier information

    12. 14.Offences

    13. 15.Absent voting at Assembly elections: miscellaneous

    14. 16.Combination of polls at Assembly and local government elections

    15. 16A.Combination of polls at Assembly and police and crime commissioner elections

    16. 17.Rules for Assembly elections

    17. 18.Returning officers

    18. 19.Officers of councils to be placed at disposal of returning officers

    19. 20.Returning officers: discharge of functions

    20. 21.Returning officers: correction of procedural errors

    21. 22.Returning officers: general

    22. 23.Payments by and to returning officer

    23. 23A.Inadequate performance of returning officer: reduction of charges

    24. 24.Detailed assessment of returning officer’s account

    25. 25.Loan of equipment for Assembly elections

    26. 26.Effect of registers

    27. 27.Effect of misdescription

    28. 28.Discharge of registration duties

    29. 29.Payment of expenses of registration

    30. 30.Personation

    31. 31.Other voting offences

    32. 32.Breach of official duty

    33. 33.Tampering with nomination papers, ballot papers etc

    34. 34.False statements in nomination papers etc

    35. 35.Requirement of secrecy

    36. 36.Prohibition on publication of exit polls

  4. PART 3 The election campaign

    1. 37.Appointment of election agent

    2. 38.Nomination of sub-agent

    3. 39.Office of election agent and sub-agent

    4. 40.Effect of default in election agent’s appointment

    5. 41.Control of donations to constituency and individual candidates

    6. 42.Expenses of constituency candidate

    7. 43.Constituency and individual candidates: payment of expenses by or through election agent

    8. 44.Expenses which may be paid otherwise than by election agent

    9. 45.Expenses incurred otherwise than for election purposes

    10. 46.Constituency and individual candidates: prohibition of expenses not authorised by election agent etc

    11. 47.Constituency and individual candidates: limitation of election expenses

    12. 48.Power to vary provisions concerning election expenses

    13. 49.Time for sending in and paying claims

    14. 50.Disputed claims

    15. 51.Election agent’s claim

    16. 52.Constituency and individual candidates: return as to election expenses

    17. 53.Constituency and individual candidates: declaration as to election expenses

    18. 54.Party list candidates: declarations as to election expenses

    19. 55.Circumstances in which no return or declaration is required

    20. 56.Penalty for failure as respects return or declarations

    21. 57.Penalty for sitting or voting where no return and declarations are delivered etc

    22. 58.Authorised excuses for failures as to return and declarations

    23. 59.Court’s power to require information from election agent or sub-agent

    24. 60.Duty of appropriate returning officer to forward returns and declarations to the Commission

    25. 61.Publication of time and place of inspection of returns and declarations

    26. 62.Constituency and individual candidates: inspection of returns and declarations

    27. 63.Meaning of “election expenses”

    28. 64.Property, goods, services etc. provided free of charge or at a discount

    29. 65.Right to send election address post free

    30. 66.Broadcasting from outside United Kingdom

    31. 67.Broadcasting of local items during election period.

    32. 68.Imitation poll cards

    33. 69.Schools and rooms for Assembly election meetings

    34. 70.Disturbances at Assembly election meetings

    35. 71.Officials not to act for candidates

    36. 72.Illegal canvassing by police officers

    37. 73.False statements as to candidates

    38. 74.Corrupt withdrawal from candidature

    39. 75.Payments for exhibition of election notices

    40. 76.Printer’s name and address on election publications

    41. 77.Prohibition of paid canvassers

    42. 78.Providing money for illegal purposes

    43. 79.Bribery

    44. 80.Treating

    45. 81.Undue influence

    46. 82.Rights of creditors

    47. 83.Savings as to Assembly elections

    48. 84.Interpretation of Part 3

    49. 85.Computation of time for purposes of Part 3

  5. PART 4 Legal proceedings

    1. 86.Method of questioning Assembly election

    2. 87.Presentation and service of Assembly election petition

    3. 88.Time for presentation or amendment of Assembly election petition

    4. 89.Constitution of election court and place of trial

    5. 90.Judges' expenses and reception

    6. 91.Attendance of shorthand writer

    7. 92.Security for costs

    8. 93.Petition at issue

    9. 94.List of petitions

    10. 95.Trial of petition

    11. 96.Witnesses

    12. 97.Duty to answer relevant questions

    13. 98.Expenses of witnesses

    14. 99.Conclusion of trial of Assembly election petition

    15. 100.Election court determination in respect of a constituency election etc

    16. 101.Regional election determined to be void by election court

    17. 102.Special case for determination of High Court

    18. 103.Withdrawal of petition

    19. 104.Costs of petition

    20. 105.Neglect or refusal to pay costs

    21. 106.Further provision as to costs

    22. 107.Appeals and jurisdiction

    23. 108.Report as to candidate guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice

    24. 109.Candidate reported guilty of corrupt or illegal practice

    25. 110.Persons reported personally guilty of corrupt or illegal practices

    26. 111.Persons reported personally guilty of corrupt or illegal practices at parliamentary elections or local government elections

    27. 112.Persons reported personally guilty of corrupt or illegal practices at European parliamentary elections

    28. 113.Justice of the peace

    29. 114.Members of legal and certain other professions

    30. 115.Holder of licence or certificate under Licensing Acts

    31. 116.Avoidance of election for general corruption etc

    32. 117.Avoidance of election for employing corrupt agent

    33. 118.Votes to be struck off for corrupt or illegal practices

    34. 119.Application for relief

    35. 120.Prosecutions for corrupt practices

    36. 121.Prosecutions for illegal practices

    37. 122.Conviction of illegal practice on charge of corrupt practice etc

    38. 123.Incapacities on conviction of corrupt or illegal practice

    39. 124.Incapacities on conviction of corrupt or illegal practice at parliamentary or local government elections

    40. 125.Incapacities on conviction of corrupt or illegal practice at European parliamentary elections

    41. 126.Mitigation and remission etc

    42. 127.Illegal payments etc

    43. 128.Time limit for prosecutions

    44. 129.Prosecution of offences committed outside the United Kingdom

    45. 130.Offences by associations

    46. 131.Evidence by certificate of holding of Assembly elections

    47. 132.Evidence by certificate of electoral registration

    48. 133.Director of Public Prosecutions

    49. 134.Rules of procedure

    50. 135.Costs

    51. 136.Service of notices

    52. 137.Interpretation of Part 4

    53. 138.Computation of time for purposes of Part 4

  6. PART 5 Miscellaneous and supplemental

    1. 139.Advertisements

    2. 140.Assembly constituencies not wholly within a county or county borough

    3. 141.Translations etc. of certain documents

    4. 142.Forms: general

    5. 143.Public notices, and declarations

    6. 144.Sending of applications and notices; electronic signatures and related certificates

    7. 145.Publication of documents

    8. 146.Interference with notices etc

    9. 147.Premises used for election purposes

    10. 148.Dissolution of the Assembly

    11. 149.Saving and transitional provision as to incapacities in respect of Assembly elections

  7. Signature

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Absent voting at Assembly elections

      1. 1.General requirements for applications

      2. 2.The personal identifiers record

      3. 2A.Notification of rejected postal voting statement

      4. 3.Additional requirements for applications for appointment of a proxy

      5. 4.Additional requirements for applications on grounds of severe sight-impairment or other disability

      6. 5.Additional requirements for applications for a proxy vote based on occupation, service, employment or attendance on a course

      7. 6.Additional requirements for applications to vote by proxy in respect of a particular Assembly election

      8. 6A.Additional requirements for application for an emergency proxy vote in respect of a particular election

      9. 7.Closing dates for applications

      10. 8.Grant or refusal of applications

      11. 9.Notice of appeal

      12. 10.Cancellation of proxy appointment

      13. 11.Inquiries by registration officer

      14. 12.Requirement to provide fresh signatures at five yearly intervals

      15. 12A.Requirement to provide fresh signatures following rejection of postal voting statement

      16. 13.Records and lists kept under articles 8, 10 and 12

      17. 14.Conditions on the use, supply and inspection of absent voter records or lists

      18. 14A.Protection of information about persons aged under 16

      19. 15.Marked register for polling stations

      20. 16.Certificate of employment at an Assembly election

      21. 17.Notification by registration officer

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Absent voting (transitional provisions)

      1. 1.Requiring personal identifiers from existing absent voters

      2. 2.Required information to be provided to existing absent voters

      3. 3.Additional steps and determination by registration officer

      4. 4.Removal from absent voting records

      5. 5.Pending applications

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      Issue and receipt of postal ballot papers

      1. 1.Interpretation

      2. Issue of postal ballot papers

        1. 2.Combination of polls

        2. 3.Form of postal voting statement

        3. 4.Regional elections

        4. 5.Persons entitled to be present at proceedings on issue of postal ballot papers.

        5. 6.Persons entitled to be present at proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers

        6. 7.Notification of requirement of secrecy

        7. 8.Time when postal ballot papers are to be issued

        8. 9.Procedure on issue of postal ballot paper

        9. 10.Refusal to issue postal ballot papers

        10. 11.Envelopes

        11. 12.Sealing up of completed corresponding number lists and security of special lists

        12. 13.Delivery of postal ballot papers

        13. 14.Spoilt postal ballot paper

        14. 15.Lost postal ballot papers

        15. 15A.Cancellation of postal ballot papers

      3. Receipt of postal ballot papers

        1. 16.Notice of opening of postal ballot paper envelopes

        2. 17.Postal ballot boxes and receptacles

        3. 18.Receipt of covering envelope

        4. 19.Opening of postal voters' ballot box

        5. 20.Opening of covering envelopes

        6. 21.Confirming receipt of postal voting statements

        7. 22.Procedure in relation to postal voting statements

        8. 23.Procedure in relation to postal voting statements: personal identifier verification

        9. 24.Postal voting statements: additional personal identifier verification

        10. 25.Opening of ballot paper envelopes

        11. 26.Retrieval of cancelled postal ballot papers

        12. 27.Lists of rejected postal ballot papers

        13. 28.Checking of lists kept under paragraph 27

        14. 29.Sealing of receptacles

        15. 30.Abandoned poll

        16. 31.Forwarding of documents

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      Combination of polls : Assembly elections and local government elections

      1. PART 1 General

        1. 1.Returning officers and polling stations

        2. 2.Functions at combined polls

        3. 3.Modification of provisions about expenses in this Order and the 1983 Act

      2. PART 2 Modifications to Schedule 5 to apply where the poll at an Assembly election is taken together with a poll at a local government election under Article 16 (1) or (2)

        1. 4.Modifications to Schedule 5: general provision

        2. 5.Rule 28 of Schedule 5 (colour of ballot papers)

        3. 6.Rule 32 of Schedule 5 (notice of poll)

        4. 7.Rule 36 of Schedule 5 (issue of official poll cards)

        5. 8.Rule 37 of Schedule 5 (equipment of polling stations)

        6. 9.Rule 38 of Schedule 5 (appointment of polling and counting agents)

        7. 10.Rule 41 of Schedule 5 (admission to polling station)

        8. 11.Rule 44 of Schedule 5 (questions to be put to voters)

        9. 12.Rule 46 of Schedule 5 (voting procedure)

        10. 13.Rule 47 of Schedule 5 (votes marked by presiding officer)

        11. 14.Rule 48 of Schedule 5 (voting by persons with disabilities)

        12. 15.Rule 49 of Schedule 5 (tendered ballot papers)

        13. 16.Rule 51 of Schedule 5 (correction of errors on the day of poll)

        14. 17.Rule 52 of Schedule 5 (adjournment of poll in case of riot)

        15. 18.Rule 53 of Schedule 5 (procedure on close of poll)

        16. 19.Rule 54 of Schedule 5 (time of, and attendance at, counting of votes)

        17. 20.Rule 55 of Schedule 5 (the count)

        18. 21.Rule 67 of Schedule 5 (delivery of documents to relevant registration officer)

        19. 22.Rule 70 of Schedule 5 (constituency election: death of independent candidate)

        20. 23.Rule 73 of Schedule 5 (constituency election: death of party candidate)

        21. 24.Rule 76 of Schedule 5 (abandoned poll)

        22. 25.Schedule 10 (appendix of forms)(form CP)

        23. 26.Schedule 10 (appendix of forms) (form CQ)

      3. PART 3 Application of the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (Wales) Rules 2021 where the poll at an election of councillors to a county or county borough council is taken together with the poll at a Senedd Cymru election under article 16(1) or (2)

        1. 27.The following provisions of the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (Wales)...

        2. 28.(1) Rule 3 (interpretation) is modified as follows.

        3. 29.In rule 5 (conduct of elections to the council of...

        4. 30.(1) Schedule 2 (Rules for conduct of an election of...

      4. PART 4 Application of the Local Elections (Communities) (Wales) Rules 2021 where the poll at an election of councillors to a community council is taken together with the poll at a Senedd Cymru election under article 16(1) or (2)

        1. 31.The following provisions of the Local Elections (Communities) (Wales) Rules...

        2. 32.(1) Rule 3 (interpretation) is modified as follows.

        3. 33.In rule 4 (conduct of elections to a community council),...

        4. 34.(1) Schedule 2 (Rules for conduct of an election of...

    5. SCHEDULE 4A

      Combination of polls: Assembly elections and police and crime commissioner elections

      1. 1.Application and modification of Schedule 4 to combined Assembly and police and crime commissioner elections

    6. SCHEDULE 5

      Assembly election rules

      1. PART 1 Provision as to time

        1. 1.Timetable

        2. 2.Computation of time

      2. PART 2 Stages common to contested and uncontested elections

        1. Notice of election

          1. 3.Notice of election: constituency election and regional election

        2. Nomination

          1. 4.Nomination of candidates at a constituency election

          2. 5.Constituency nomination paper: name or description of registered political party

          3. 6.Nomination of individual candidates at a regional election

          4. 7.Nomination of parties and party list candidates at a regional election

          5. 8.Party nomination paper: name or description of registered political party

          6. 9.Consent to nomination

          7. 10.Deposit

          8. 11.Place for delivery of nomination papers

          9. 12.Right to attend nomination

          10. 13.Decisions as to validity of individual and constituency nomination papers

          11. 14.Decisions as to validity of party nomination papers

          12. 15.Withdrawal of candidates

          13. 16.Constituency election: publication of statement of persons nominated

          14. 17.Regional election: publication of statement of parties and other persons nominated

          15. 18.Correction of minor errors

          16. 19.Disqualification by Representation of the People Act 1981

          17. 20.Adjournment of nomination proceedings in the case of riot

          18. 21.Method of election at a constituency election

          19. 22.Method of election at a regional election

      3. PART 3 Contested elections

        1. General provisions

          1. 23.Poll to be taken by ballot

          2. 24.The ballot paper at a constituency election

          3. 25.The ballot paper at a regional election

          4. 26.Polls with two ballot papers

          5. 27.Corresponding number list

          6. 28.Colour of ballot papers

          7. 29.The official mark

          8. 30.Prohibition of disclosure of vote

          9. 31.Use of schools and public rooms

        2. Action to be taken before the poll

          1. 32.Notice of poll

          2. 33.Postal ballot papers

          3. 34.Provision of polling stations

          4. 35.Appointment of presiding officers and clerks

          5. 36.Issue of official poll cards

          6. 37.Equipment of polling stations

          7. 38.Appointment of polling and counting agents

          8. 39.Notification of requirement of secrecy

          9. 40.Return of postal ballot papers

        3. The poll

          1. 41.Admission to polling station

          2. 42.Keeping of order in the polling station

          3. 43.Sealing of ballot boxes

          4. 44.Questions to be put to voters

          5. 45.Challenge of voter

          6. 46.Voting procedure

          7. 47.Votes marked by presiding officer

          8. 48.Voting by persons with disabilities

          9. 49.Tendered ballot papers

          10. 50.Spoilt ballot papers

          11. 51.Correction of errors on the day of poll

          12. 52.Adjournment of poll in case of riot

          13. 53.Procedure on close of poll

        4. Counting of votes

          1. 54.Time of, and attendance at, counting of votes

          2. 55.The count

          3. 56.Re-count at a constituency election

          4. 57.Re-count of electoral region votes in an Assembly constituency

          5. 58.Rejected ballot papers

          6. 59.Decisions on ballot papers

          7. 60.Equality of votes at a constituency election

          8. 61.Regional election: conveying results of count etc. to regional returning officer

      4. PART 4 Final proceedings in contested and uncontested elections

        1. 62.Declaration of result at a constituency election

        2. 63.Ascertainment of results at a contested regional election

        3. 64.Declaration of results at a regional election

        4. 65.Return or forfeiture of deposit

      5. PART 5 Disposal of documents

        1. 66.Sealing up of ballot papers

        2. 67.Delivery of documents to relevant registration officer

        3. 68.Order for production of documents

        4. 69.Retention and public inspection of documents

      6. PART 6 Death of candidate

        1. 70.Constituency election: death of independent candidate

        2. 71.Constituency election: deceased independent candidate wins

        3. 72.Constituency election: deceased independent candidate with equality of votes

        4. 73.Constituency election: death of party candidate

        5. 74.Regional election: effect of countermand or abandonment of constituency poll

        6. 75.Regional election: death of candidate

        7. 76.Abandoned poll

      7. PART 7 Miscellaneous

        1. 77.Vacancies: Assembly constituency seats

        2. 78.Vacancies: return of electoral region members

        3. 79.Return of Assembly members and record of returns etc

        4. 80.Registered political parties

        5. 81.Party’s registered nominating officer: discharge of functions

    7. SCHEDULE 6

      Control of donations to candidates

      1. PART 1 General

        1. 1.Interpretation

        2. 2.Donations: general rules

        3. 3.Sponsorship

        4. 4.Payments etc. not to be regarded as donations

        5. 5.Value of donations

      2. PART 2 Controls on donations

        1. 6.Prohibition on accepting donations from impermissible donors

        2. 7.Acceptance or return of donations

        3. 8.Transfer of donations received by candidate to election agent

        4. 9.Evasion of restrictions on donations

      3. PART 3 Reporting of donations

        1. 10.Statement of relevant donations

        2. 11.Donations from permissible donors

        3. 12.Donations from impermissible donors

    8. SCHEDULE 7

      Election expenses

      1. PART 1 List of matters

        1. 1.Advertising of any nature (whatever the medium used). Expenses in...

        2. 2.Unsolicited material addressed to electors (whether addressed to them by...

        3. 3.Transport (by any means) of persons to any place. Expenses...

        4. 4.Public meetings (of any kind). Expenses in respect of such...

        5. 5.The services of an election agent or any other person...

        6. 6.Accommodation and administrative costs.

      2. PART 2 General exclusions

        1. 7.The payment of any deposit required by rule 10 of...

        2. 8.The publication of any matter, other than an advertisement, relating...

        3. 9.The provision of any facilities provided in pursuance of any...

        4. 10.The provision by an individual of his own services which...

        5. 11.(1) Accommodation which is the candidate’s sole or main residence....

        6. 12.(1) Transport by a means of transport which was acquired...

        7. 13.(1) Computing or printing equipment which was acquired by the...

        8. 13A.(1) Any matter that is reasonably attributable to the candidate’s...

        9. 13B.Expenses incurred in respect of, or in consequence of, the...

      3. PART 3 Supplemental

        1. 14.Guidance by the Commission

    9. SCHEDULE 8

      Use for Assembly election meetings of rooms in school premises and of meeting rooms

      1. 1.Use of rooms in school premises

      2. 2.Lists of rooms in school premises

      3. 3.Lists of meeting rooms

      4. 4.Lists to be kept by registration officer etc

      5. 5.Inspection etc. of lists

    10. SCHEDULE 9

      Modification of Election Petition Rules 1960

      1. 1.Assembly election petition: modification of the Election Petition Rules 1960

      2. 2.Rule 2(2) of the 1960 Rules (definitions)

      3. 3.Rule 2(3) of the 1960 Rules (prescribed officer)

      4. 4.Rule 4(1) of the 1960 Rules (form of petition)

      5. 5.Rule 9(3) of the 1960 Rules (display etc. of notice of time and place of trial)

      6. 6.Rule 10(1) of the 1960 Rules (identifying votes at issue)

      7. 7.References to “election” in the 1960 Rules

      8. 8.Form of election petition in the 1960 Rules

      9. 9.References to the 1983 Act

    11. SCHEDULE 10

      Appendix of forms

  9. Explanatory Note