Representation of the People Act 1985

15 Combination of polls at parliamentary, [F1European Parliamentary] and local elections.U.K.

(1)Where the polls at—

(a)a parliamentary general election and an [F1European Parliamentary] general election;

(b)an ordinary local government election and a parliamentary general election; or

(c)an ordinary local government election and an [F1European Parliamentary] general election,

are to be taken on the same date, they shall be taken together.

(2)Where the polls at elections for related areas are to be taken on the same date but are not required by subsection (1) above or section 36 of the principal Act to be taken together, they may nevertheless be so taken if the returning officer for each election thinks fit.

(3)In subsection (2) above the reference to elections includes [F1European Parliamentary] elections but does not include elections under the local government Act which are not local government elections; and for the purposes of that subsection two areas are related if one is coterminous with or situated wholly or partly within the other.

[F2(3A)Where the polls at an election of the Northern Ireland Assembly are to be taken on the same date as the polls at one or more elections of the kind mentioned in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland may direct that the polls at the election of the Assembly are to be taken together with the polls at the other election or elections.]

(4)Where the polls at any elections are combined under this section 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.

(5)The Secretary of State may by regulations make such provision as he thinks fit in connection with the combining of polls at any elections under this section including provision modifying the Representation of the People Acts in relation to such elections.

[F3(5A)The power under subsection (5) above to make provision in connection with the combining under this section of polls at—

(a)a local government election in England and Wales, and

(b)the European Parliamentary general election in 2004,

includes power to make provision modifying, in relation to such elections, any enactment relating to election of members of the European Parliament or any instrument made under any such enactment or under the Representation of the People Acts.]

[F4(5B)The power under subsection (5) above to make provision in connection with the combining of polls under subsection (3A) includes power to modify—

(a)Part 2 or 3 of the Schedule to the Elections Act 2001 (in addition to the power conferred by paragraph 32 of that Schedule);

(b)any provision made under section 34(4) or 84(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 or section 38(1)(a) of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (see section 95(1) of the 1998 Act);

(c)any provision made by or under Northern Ireland legislation relating to local elections.]

[F5(5C)Before making provision under subsection (5) in connection with the combination of polls where one of the elections is a local government election in Scotland, the Secretary of State must consult the Scottish Ministers.]

[F6(5D)Before making provision under subsection (5) in connection with the combination of polls where one of the elections is a local government election in Wales, the Secretary of State must consult the Welsh Ministers.]

[F7(6)In its application to Northern Ireland, subsection (1) above shall have effect as if the references to an ordinary local government election were to a local election.]