These Regulations are the third set of commencement regulations made under the Elections Act 2022 (c. 37). Regulation 2 brings into force section 13 of that Act, which amends the existing primary legislation providing for the election of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales, and the election of the Mayor of London, combined authority mayors and local authority mayors in England, to change the voting system from the Supplementary Vote (SV) system to the Simple Majority system, also known as “First Past the Post”.

Regulation 2 provides for the coming into force of these Regulations on 26th October 2022, while regulation 3 sets out that these Regulations will not have effect in relation to an election where the date of the poll specified in the notice of election is before the ordinary day of local election in 2023 (as determined in accordance with section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2)).

An impact assessment has been produced for the Elections Act 2022 including an Addendum on the “First Past the Post” provision. No, or no significant, impact on business, charities or the public or voluntary sector is foreseen. Copies can be obtained at https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3020/publications or from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF.