European Union Act 2011

Further provisions about referendums held in pursuance of section 2, 3 or 6

11Persons entitled to vote in referendum

(1)The persons entitled to vote in any referendum held in pursuance of section 2, 3 or 6 are to be as follows—

(a)the persons who, on the date of the referendum, would be entitled to vote as an elector at a parliamentary election in a constituency in the United Kingdom;

(b)the persons who, on that date, are disqualified by reason of being peers from voting as electors in parliamentary elections but—

(i)would be entitled to vote as electors at a local government election in any electoral area in Great Britain,

(ii)would be entitled to vote as electors at a local election in any district electoral area in Northern Ireland, or

(iii)would be entitled to vote as electors at a European Parliamentary election in any electoral region by virtue of section 3 of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (peers resident outside the United Kingdom);

(c)if the referendum is also held in Gibraltar, the Commonwealth citizens who, on the date of the referendum, would be entitled to vote in Gibraltar at a European Parliamentary election in the combined electoral region in which Gibraltar is comprised.

(2)In subsection (1)(b)(i) “local government election” includes a municipal election in the City of London (that is, an election to the office of mayor, alderman, common councilman or sheriff and also the election of any officer elected by the mayor, aldermen and liverymen in common hall).

12Separate questions

If a referendum is to be held in pursuance of any of sections 2, 3 and 6 in relation to two or more treaties or decisions, or in relation to one or more treaties and one or more decisions, a separate question must be included on the ballot paper in relation to each treaty or decision.

13Role of Electoral Commission

Where an Act provides for a referendum to be held in pursuance of section 2, 3 or 6, the Electoral Commission—

(a)must take whatever steps they think appropriate to promote public awareness of the referendum and how to vote in it, and

(b)may take whatever steps they think appropriate to promote public awareness of the subject-matter of the referendum.