The Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioner (Coronavirus) (Postponement of Elections and Referendums) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020

The poll for the election of a councillor to fill a casual vacancy in the office of councillor for any principal area in England that, pursuant to section 89(1) of the 1972 Act (filling of casual vacancies in case of councillors), would otherwise be held, or have been held, on a day during the relevant period is to be held instead on the ordinary day of election in 2021.

In so far as section 89(3) of the 1972 Act applies to a vacancy referred to in paragraph (1) during the relevant period, that section is to be read as if for the words from “unless” to “not held” there were substituted “ and ”.

Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to a poll for the election of a councillor that has been held, pursuant to section 89(1) of the 1972 Act, on a day during the antecedent period.

In this regulation—

• “principal area” has the same meaning as in section 270 of the 1972 Act (general provisions as to interpretation) and includes the area of the Council of the Isles of Scilly;

• “the relevant provisions” means—

  1. a

     section 17 of the 1992 Act (implementation of recommendations by order) F7;

  2. b

     sections 7 (implementation of proposals by order), 10 (implementation of recommendations by order) and 32 (resolution for whole-council elections) of the 2007 Act;

  3. c

     section 59 of the 2009 Act (implementation of review recommendations); and

  4. d

     section 60(2) of the 2020 Act (postponement of elections due to be held on 7 May 2020).

The poll for the election of a councillor to fill a casual vacancy in the office of parish councillor that, pursuant to rule 5(3) of the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 F8 (filling of casual vacancies) (“the 2006 Rules”), would otherwise be held, or have been held, on a day during the relevant period is to be held instead on the ordinary day of election in 2021.

Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to a poll for the election of a councillor that has been held, pursuant to rule 5(3) of the 2006 Rules, on a day during the antecedent period.

In this regulation—

The poll for an election to fill a casual vacancy in the office of an elected mayor that, pursuant to regulation 9(1) of the 2012 Regulations (filling of casual vacancies), would otherwise be held on a day during the relevant period is to be held instead on the ordinary day of election in 2021.

In this regulation—

• “the 2012 Regulations” means the Local Authorities (Elected Mayors) (Elections, Terms of Office and Casual Vacancies) (England) Regulations 2012 F9;

• “elected mayor” has the same meaning as in section 9H(1) of the 2000 Act (elected mayors, etc) F10.

The poll for an election to fill a vacancy in the office of a combined authority mayor that, pursuant to regulation 3(2) of the 2017 Order (filling of vacancies in the office of elected mayor), would otherwise be held on a day during the relevant period is to be held instead on the ordinary day of election in 2021.

In this regulation—

• “the 2017 Order” means the Combined Authorities (Mayors) (Filling of Vacancies) Order 2017 F12;

• “combined authority mayor” means a mayor in relation to whose office an order has been made under section 107A(1) of the 2009 Act (power to provide for election of mayor) F13.

The poll for an election to fill a vacancy in the office of an Assembly member of the Greater London Authority returned for an Assembly constituency that, pursuant to section 10 of the 1999 Act (filling a vacancy in an Assembly constituency), would otherwise be held on a day during the relevant period is to be held instead on the ordinary day of election in 2021.

The poll for an election to fill a vacancy in the office of Mayor of London that, pursuant to section 16 of the 1999 Act (filling a vacancy), would otherwise be held on a day during the relevant period is to be held instead on the ordinary day of election in 2021.

If a vacancy referred to in paragraphs (1) or (2) relates to an office for which, pursuant to section 60 of the 2020 Act, an election is to be held on the ordinary day of election in 2021 the vacancy is to be filled at the ordinary election on that day and a poll is not to be held pursuant to sections 10 or 16 of the 1999 Act to fill the vacancy.

In this regulation “the 1999 Act” means the Greater London Authority Act 1999 F14.

The poll for an election to fill a vacancy in the office of police and crime commissioner for any police area in England and Wales F15 that, pursuant to section 51 of the 2011 Act (election to fill vacancy in office of commissioner), would otherwise be held on a day during the relevant period is to be held instead on the ordinary day of election in 2021.

If a vacancy referred to in paragraph (1) relates to an office for which, pursuant to section 51 of the 2011 Act or section 60 of the 2020 Act, an election is to be held on the ordinary day of election in 2021 the vacancy is to be filled at the ordinary election on that day and a poll is not to be held pursuant to section 51 of the 2011 Act to fill the vacancy.

If, on 24th March 2020, a vacancy existed in the office of police and crime commissioner for any police area, that vacancy is to remain unfilled until the ordinary day of election in 2021 and is to be filled at the election on that day.

In this regulation “the 2011 Act” means the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 F16.

Where a poll under section 116 of the Local Government Act 2003 F17 (local polls) (“the 2003 Act”) is to be conducted during the relevant period the poll is instead to be conducted on the ordinary day of election in 2021.

Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to a poll that has been held, pursuant to section 116 of the 2003 Act, on a day during the antecedent period.

A referendum under section 9MB of the 2000 Act (requirement to hold and give effect to referendum) F18 that would otherwise be held, or have been held, during the relevant period is to be held instead on the ordinary day of election in 2021.

A referendum that, pursuant to regulation 16 of the 2011 Regulations (timing of referendum in consequence of valid petition), would otherwise be held, or have been held, during the relevant period is to be held instead on the ordinary day of election in 2021.

Regulation 9 of the 2011 Regulations (validity of petitions) is to be read during the relevant period as if that period were to be disregarded for the purposes of calculating the period of 12 months mentioned in paragraph (5) of that regulation.

Subject to paragraph (3B), for the purposes of the 2011 Regulations a petition presented to, or received by, a local authority on any day during the period beginning with 16th March 2020 and ending with 8th February 2021 is to be treated as having been presented or received on 9th February 2021.

In relation to a petition mentioned in paragraph (3A), for the purposes of satisfying himself or herself of the validity of the petition in accordance with regulations 9 (validity of petitions) and 11 (procedure on receipt of petition) of the 2011 Regulations, the proper officer must use the version of the electoral register (or versions of the registers) which had effect for the area on the day during the period beginning with 16th March 2020 and ending with the 8th February 2021 on which the petition was presented to the authority.

Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to a referendum that has been held on a day during the antecedent period.

In this regulation “the 2011 Regulations” means the Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions) (England) Regulations 2011 F19.

A referendum that, pursuant to regulation 2A of the Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 F20 (date by which referendum must be held), would otherwise be held, or have been held, during the relevant period is to be held instead on the ordinary day of election in 2021.

Paragraph (1) does not apply to a referendum that has been held on a day during the antecedent period.

Section 39 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (local elections void, etc) F21 does not apply, and is treated as never having applied, in relation to the poll.

Section 63 of that Act (breach of official duty) F22 does not apply, and is treated as never having applied, in relation to any act or omission in connection with the poll.

In relation to a poll for the election of a police and crime commissioner, article 19 of the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012 (breach of official duty) F23 does not apply, and is treated as never having applied, in relation to any act or omission in connection with the poll.

In determining for the purposes of this regulation whether a poll has been held, postal votes are to be ignored.

In this regulation—

• “local government area” has the same meaning as in section 203(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983;

• “relevant election” means—

  1. a

     an election of a councillor for any local government area in England to fill a casual vacancy;

  2. b

     an election to fill a casual vacancy in respect of a constituency member of the Greater London Assembly;

  3. c

     an election to fill a vacancy in the office of Mayor of London;

  4. d

     an election to fill a casual vacancy in the office of an elected mayor under Part 1A of the 2000 Act;

  5. e

     an election to fill a vacancy in the office of mayor for the area of a combined authority under Part 6 of the 2009 Act;

  6. f

     an election to fill a vacancy in the office of a police and crime commissioner for a police area; and

• “relevant referendum” means—

  1. a

     a referendum under section 9MB of the 2000 Act (requirement to hold and give effect to referendum);

  2. b

     a referendum by virtue of section 9MC of the 2000 Act (referendums following petition);

  3. c

     a referendum under section 52ZG or 52ZN of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (referendums in relation to council tax) F24;

  4. d

     a referendum under or by virtue of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (process for making neighbourhood development orders) F25.