Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent

1.—(1) These rules may be cited as the Local Elections (Principal Areas and Parishes and Communities) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Rules 2006.

(2) These rules come into force on 24^th March 2006 except for the purpose of any election if the last day for publication of the notice of election in respect of that election precedes that date.

(3) In these Rules—

(a)“the Principal Areas Rules” means the Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 1986(3); and

(b)“the Parishes and Communities Rules” means the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 1986(4).

(4) These Rules extend to England and Wales.

Amendment to polling hours in the Principal Areas Rules

2.—(1) The Principal Areas Rules shall be amended as follows.

(2) In Schedule 2—

(a)in the table in rule 1 (Timetable), for “8 in the morning and 9 at night” substitute “7 in the morning and 10 at night”;

(b)in the Appendix of Forms—

(i)in the Elector’s official poll card, in that part relating to polling hours, for “8 a.m. to 9 p.m. substitute “7 a.m. to 10 p.m.”; and

(ii)in the Proxy’s official poll card, for “The poll will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.” substitute “The poll will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.”.

(3) In Schedule 3—

(a)In the table in rule 1 (Timetable), for “Between the hours of 8” to “during those hours.” substitute “Between the hours of 7 in the morning and 10 at night on the day of the election.”;

(b)in the Appendix of Forms—

(i)in the Elector’s official poll card, in that part relating to polling hours, for “*[7][8] a.m. to *[9][10]p.m.” substitute “7 a.m. to 10 p.m.” and omit the corresponding instruction “*delete as appropriate”; and

(ii)in the Proxy’s official poll card, for “*[7][8] a.m. to [9][10]p.m.” substitute “7 a.m. to 10 p.m.” and omit the corresponding instruction “*delete as appropriate”.

Amendment to polling hours in the Parishes and Communities Rules

3.—(1) The Parishes and Communities Rules shall be amended as follows.

(2) In Schedule 2—

(a)in the table in rule 1 (Timetable), for “8 in the morning and 9 at night” substitute “7 in the morning and 10 at night”;

(b)in the Appendix of Forms—

(i)in the Elector’s official poll card, for “8 a.m. to 9 p.m.” substitute “7 a.m. to 10 p.m.”;

(ii)in the Proxy’s official poll card, for “The poll will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.” substitute “The poll will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.”.

(3) In Schedule 3—

(a)In the table in rule 1 (Timetable), for “Between the hours of 8” to “during those hours” substitute “Between the hours of 7 in the morning and 10 at night on the day of the election”;

(b)in the Appendix of Forms—

(i)in the Elector’s official poll card, in that part relating to polling hours, for “*[7][8] a.m. to [9][10] p.m.” substitute “7 a.m. to 10 p.m.” and omit the corresponding instruction “*delete as appropriate”; and

(ii)in the Proxy’s official poll card, for “*[7][8] a.m. to [9][10] p.m.” substitute “7 a.m. to 10 p.m.” and omit the corresponding instruction “*delete as appropriate”.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These rules amend the Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 1986 and the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 1986.

The effect of the amendments in respect of both instruments is to change the hours of polling at relevant elections from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.