Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/1?view=extent
Timestamp: 2014-07-26 11:56:35
Document Index: 505621712

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'ART 2', 'ART 3', 'art 1', 'art 7']

Skip to main contentSkip to navigationlegislation.gov.ukThe National ArchivesHelpSite MapAccessibilityContact UsCymraegHomeAbout UsBrowse LegislationNew LegislationChanges To LegislationSearch LegislationSearch LegislationTitle: (or keywords in the title)Year:Number:Type:All Legislation (excluding draft)All Primary Legislation UK Public General Acts UK Local Acts Acts of the Scottish Parliament Acts of the National Assembly for Wales Measures of the National Assembly for Wales Church Measures Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly Acts of the Old Scottish Parliament Acts of the English Parliament Acts of the Old Irish Parliament Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain Northern Ireland Orders in Council Measures of the Northern Ireland Assembly Acts of the Northern Ireland ParliamentAll Secondary Legislation UK Statutory Instruments Wales Statutory Instruments Scottish Statutory Instruments Northern Ireland Statutory Rules Church Instruments UK Ministerial Orders UK Statutory Rules and OrdersAll Draft Legislation UK Draft Statutory Instruments Scottish Draft Statutory Instruments Northern Ireland Draft Statutory RulesAll Impact Assessments UK Impact AssessmentsSearchAdvanced SearchParliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011You are here:2011 c. 1Whole ActTable of ContentsContentExplanatory NotesMore ResourcesPreviousNextPlain ViewPrint OptionsWhat VersionLatest available (Revised)Original (As enacted)Advanced FeaturesShow Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)Show Timeline of ChangesOpening OptionsOpen whole ActOpen Act without schedulesOpen Schedules onlyMore ResourcesOriginal Print PDFCorrection Slip - 06/05/2011View moreStatus:This version of this Act contains provisions that are prospective.StatusThe term provision is used to describe a definable element in a piece of legislation that has legislative effect – such as a Part, Chapter or section. A version of a provision is prospective either:where the provision (Part, Chapter or section) has never come into force or;where the text of the provision is subject to change, but no date has yet been appointed by the appropriate person or body for those changes to come into force.Commencement Orders listed in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ box as not yet applied may bring this prospective version into force.Changes to legislation:There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.Changes to LegislationRevised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.E+W+S+N.I.Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 20112011 CHAPTER 1An Act to make provision for a referendum on the voting system for parliamentary elections and to provide for parliamentary elections to be held under the alternative vote system if a majority of those voting in the referendum are in favour of that; to make provision about the number and size of parliamentary constituencies; and for connected purposes.[16th February 2011]Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
PART 1 E+W+S+N.I.Voting system for parliamentary electionsThe referendumE+W+S+N.I.1Referendum on the alternative vote systemE+W+S+N.I.(1)A referendum is to be held on the voting system for parliamentary elections.
“Ar hyn o bryd, mae'r DU yn defnyddio'r system “y cyntaf i'r felin” i ethol ASau i Dŷ'r Cyffredin. A ddylid defnyddio'r system “pleidlais amgen” yn lle hynny?”
2Entitlement to vote in the referendumE+W+S+N.I.(1)Those entitled to vote in the referendum are—
3Conduct of the referendumE+W+S+N.I.(1)The referendum is to be conducted in accordance with the rules set out in Part 1 of Schedule 2.
4Combination of pollsE+W+S+N.I.(1)Where the date of the poll for one or more of the following is the same as the date of the poll for the referendum, the polls are to be taken together—
5Press comment etc not subject to spending controlsE+W+S+N.I.Expenses incurred in respect of the publication of any matter relating to the referendum, other than an advertisement, in—
6Control of loans etc to permitted participantsE+W+S+N.I.(1)The 2000 Act has effect in relation to the referendum as if the Schedule set out in Schedule 9 to this Act were inserted in that Act as Schedule 15A.
(2)Section 120 of the 2000 Act (returns as to referendum expenses) has effect in relation to the referendum as if at the end of subsection (2)(d) there were inserted “ and a statement of regulated transactions entered into in respect of the referendum which complies with the requirements of paragraphs 11 to 15 of Schedule 15A ”.
(a)in the case of any donation by an individual, the donor's address;
(b)in the case of a transaction entered into by the permitted participant with an individual, the individual's address.”
7InterpretationE+W+S+N.I.(1)In this Part—
(a)any provision of an Act,
(d)any provision of subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978);
Result of the referendumE+W+S+N.I.8Commencement or repeal of amending provisionsE+W+S+N.I.(1)The Minister must make an order bringing into force section 9, Schedule 10 and Part 1 of Schedule 12 (“the alternative vote provisions”) if—
Prospective9The alternative vote system: amendmentsE+W+S+N.I.(1)In Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act (parliamentary elections rules), after rule 37 there is inserted—
“37A“How votes are to be given(1)A voter votes by marking the ballot paper with—
(a)the number 1 opposite the name of the candidate who is the voter's first preference (or, as the case may be, the only candidate for whom the voter wishes to vote),
(b)if the voter wishes, the number 2 opposite the name of the candidate who is the voter's second preference,
“45A“How votes are to be counted(1)This rule sets out how votes are to be counted, in one or more stages of counting, in order to give effect to the preferences marked by voters on their ballot papers and so to determine which candidate is elected.
(2)Votes shall be allocated to candidates in accordance with voters' first preferences and, if one candidate has more votes than the other candidates put together, that candidate is elected.
(3)If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and that candidate's votes shall be dealt with as follows—
45BInformation to be given by returning officer after each stage of counting(1)If no candidate is elected (as mentioned in rule 45A(2)) at the first stage of counting, the returning officer shall, immediately after that stage, record and make publicly available the following information—
PART 2 E+W+S+N.I.Parliamentary constituencies10Boundary Commissions: reports etcE+W+S+N.I.(1)In the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (“the 1986 Act”) section 3 (reports of the Boundary Commissions) is amended as set out in subsections (2) to (7).
(a)in paragraph (a), for “paragraphs 1 to 6 of Schedule 2 to this Act (read with paragraph 7 of that Schedule)” there is substituted “ Schedule 2 to this Act ”;
(8)In section 4(2) of the 1986 Act (Orders in Council), for “a statement” there is substituted “ the statement submitted under section 3(5B)(c) above ”.
(a)for “and the” there is substituted “ , the ”;
(b)at the end there is inserted “ and the Chief Survey Officer of Land and Property Services ”.
(a)in sub-paragraph (1), for the words after “assistant Commissioners” there is substituted “ to assist the Commission in the discharge of their functions. ”;
(b)in sub-paragraph (2), for “inquiry” there is substituted “ matter ”.
11Number and distribution of seatsE+W+S+N.I.(1)For Schedule 2 to the 1986 Act there is substituted—
Section 3“SCHEDULE 2E+W+S+N.I.Rules for distribution of seatsNumber of constituenciesE+W+S+N.I.1The number of constituencies in the United Kingdom shall be 600.Electorate per constituencyE+W+S+N.I.2(1)The electorate of any constituency shall be—
Allocation of constituencies to parts of the United KingdomE+W+S+N.I.3(1)Each constituency shall be wholly in one of the four parts of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland).
Area of constituenciesE+W+S+N.I.4(1)A constituency shall not have an area of more than 13,000 square kilometres.
FactorsE+W+S+N.I.5(1)A Boundary Commission may take into account, if and to such extent as they think fit—
Protected constituenciesE+W+S+N.I.6(1)There shall be two constituencies in the Isle of Wight.
Northern IrelandE+W+S+N.I.7(1)In relation to Northern Ireland, sub-paragraph (2) below applies in place of rule 2 where—
The allocation methodE+W+S+N.I.8(1)The allocation method referred to in rule 3(2) is as follows.
InterpretationE+W+S+N.I.9(1)This rule has effect for the purposes of this Schedule.
(a)in the entry for Member of Her Majesty's Commission of Lieutenancy for the City of London, for “The constituency comprising the whole of” there is substituted “ Any constituency comprising the whole or part of ”;
(b)in the entry for Governor of the Isle of Wight, for “The Isle of Wight” there is substituted “ Any constituency comprising any part of the Isle of Wight ”.
12Boundary Commission proposals: publicity and consultationE+W+S+N.I.(1)For section 5 of the 1986 Act (notices) there is substituted—
“5Publicity and consultation(1)Once a Boundary Commission have decided what constituencies they propose to recommend in a report under section 3(1)(a) above—
13National Assembly for WalesE+W+S+N.I.(1)In section 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Assembly constituencies and electoral regions), for subsection (1) there is substituted—
14Review of reduction in number of constituenciesE+W+S+N.I.(1)The Minister must make arrangements—
PART 3 E+W+S+N.I.Miscellaneous and general15OrdersE+W+S+N.I.A power under this Act to make an order is exercisable by statutory instrument.
16RepealsE+W+S+N.I.Schedule 12 (repeals) has effect.
17Financial provisionsE+W+S+N.I.(1)There is to be paid out of money provided by Parliament any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable under any other Act out of money so provided.
18ExtentE+W+S+N.I.This Act extends to the whole of the United Kingdom, except that—
19CommencementE+W+S+N.I.(1)Section 9, Schedule 10 and Part 1 of Schedule 12 come into force in accordance with provision made by an order under section 8(1).
20Short titleE+W+S+N.I.This Act may be cited as the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011.
SCHEDULESSection 1SCHEDULE 1E+W+S+N.I.Further provisions about the referendumReferendum periodE+W+S+N.I.1For the purposes of Part 7 of the 2000 Act the referendum period for the referendum—E+W+S+N.I.(a)begins with the day on which this Act is passed, and(b)ends with the date of the poll.Counting officersE+W+S+N.I.2(1)The counting officer for a voting area that is—E+W+S+N.I.(a)a district in England,(b)a county in England, or(c)a London borough,is the person who, by virtue of section 35 of the 1983 Act, is the returning officer for elections of councillors of the district, county or borough.
(2)The counting officer for the City of London voting area is the person who, by virtue of that section, is the returning officer for elections of councillors of the London borough of Westminster.(3)The counting officer for the Isles of Scilly voting area is the person who, by virtue of that section, is the returning officer for elections to the Council of the Isles of Scilly.(4)The counting officer for a voting area in Wales is the person who, by virtue of provision made under section 13(1)(a) of the Government of Wales Act 2006, is the returning officer for elections of members of the National Assembly for Wales for the constituency that forms the voting area.(5)The counting officer for a voting area in Scotland is the person who, by virtue of provision made under section 12(1)(a) of the Scotland Act 1998, is the returning officer for elections of members of the Scottish Parliament for the constituency that forms the voting area.(6)The counting officer for the Northern Ireland voting area is the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland.Regional Counting OfficersE+W+S+N.I.3(1)The Chief Counting Officer may appoint a Regional Counting Officer for any region in Great Britain.E+W+S+N.I.(2)For the purposes of this paragraph the regions are—East Midlands;
The regions in England comprise the areas specified in the Table in Schedule 1 to the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002 (ignoring paragraph 2(2) of that Schedule and the references to Gibraltar) as it has effect for the time being.
Assistance to counting officers etcE+W+S+N.I.4(1)A local authority whose area forms, or forms part of, a particular voting area must place the services of their officers at the disposal of—E+W+S+N.I.(a)the counting officer for the voting area, and(b)the Regional Counting Officer (if any) appointed for the region that includes the voting area,for the purpose of assisting the officer in the discharge of his or her functions.
(2)In this paragraph “local authority”—(a)in the case of a voting area that is a district or county in England, or a London borough, means the council for that district, county or borough;(b)in the case of the City of London voting area, means the Common Council of the City of London;(c)in the case of the Isles of Scilly voting area, means the Council of the Isles of Scilly;(d)in the case of a voting area in Wales, means the council of a county or county borough;(e)in the case of a voting area in Scotland, means the council of a local government area.General duties of counting officers etcE+W+S+N.I.5(1)The Chief Counting Officer, Regional Counting Officers and counting officers must do whatever things are necessary for conducting the referendum in the manner provided by this Part.E+W+S+N.I.(2)The counting officer for a voting area is responsible, as regards that area, for—(a)the conduct of the poll,(b)(subject to sub-paragraph (3)) the printing of the ballot papers,(c)the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers for persons entitled to vote on their own behalf in the referendum and for their proxies,(d)the verification of the statements made under rule 38(6) of the referendum rules (ballot paper accounts), and(e)the counting of the votes cast.(3)Responsibility for the printing of the ballot papers for a voting area may be taken—(a)by the Chief Counting Officer;(b)in the case of a voting area in a region for which a Regional Counting Officer is appointed, by the Chief Counting Officer or the Regional Counting Officer.The Chief Counting Officer or Regional Counting Officer may direct the counting officer concerned accordingly.
(4)In the case of a region for which a Regional Counting Officer is appointed, the officer must certify as regards the votes cast in the region—(a)the total number of ballot papers counted, and(b)the total number of votes cast in favour of each answer to the question asked in the referendum.Where two or more forms of ballot paper are used in the referendum, a separate number must be certified under paragraph (a) in relation to each form of ballot paper used.
(5)The Chief Counting Officer may give Regional Counting Officers or counting officers—(a)directions about the discharge of their functions;(b)directions requiring them to take specified steps in preparation for the referendum;(c)directions requiring them to provide the Chief Counting Officer with information that they have or are entitled to have.(6)A Regional Counting Officer for a region may give counting officers for voting areas within that region—(a)directions about the discharge of their functions;(b)directions requiring them to take specified steps in preparation for the referendum;(c)directions requiring them to provide the Regional Counting Officer with information that they have or are entitled to have.(7)A power under this paragraph of a Regional Counting Officer to give a direction to a counting officer is exercisable only in accordance with a specific or general authorisation or direction given by the Chief Counting Officer.(8)A person to whom a direction is given under this paragraph must comply with it.(9)This paragraph applies in addition to section 128 of the 2000 Act (Chief Counting Officers, and counting officers, for referendums).(10)The number of ballot papers or votes purportedly certified under this paragraph or section 128 of the 2000 Act is not liable to be questioned by reason of a defect in the title, or a lack of title, of any person purporting to exercise functions in relation to the referendum, if the person was then in actual possession of, or acting in, the office giving the right to exercise the functions.Appointment of deputies and clerksE+W+S+N.I.6(1)The Chief Counting Officer or a Regional Counting Officer or counting officer may appoint deputies to carry out any or all of the officer's functions.E+W+S+N.I.(2)An appointment under sub-paragraph (1) must be in writing.(3)A Regional Counting Officer may appoint however many clerks are necessary to assist in carrying out the officer's functions.Counting officers etc: correction of procedural errorsE+W+S+N.I.7(1)A Regional Counting Officer or counting officer may take whatever steps the officer thinks appropriate to remedy any act or omission on the part of the officer or a relevant person that—E+W+S+N.I.(a)arises in connection with any function that the officer or relevant person has in relation to the referendum, and(b)is not in accordance with the referendum rules or any other requirements applicable to the referendum.(2)But a counting officer may not under this paragraph conduct a re-count of the votes once a direction has been given under rule 43(3)(b) of the referendum rules.(3)The relevant persons are—(a)a registration officer;(b)a presiding officer appointed under rule 14 of the referendum rules;(c)a clerk of, or a person providing goods or services to, the Regional Counting Officer or the counting officer;(d)a deputy or assistant of—(i)the Regional Counting Officer or the counting officer, or(ii)a person mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).(4)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3)(d) a person (“A”) is an assistant of another person (“P”) if—(a)A is appointed to assist P, or(b)in the course of employment A is assisting P,in connection with any function in relation to the referendum.
Public noticesE+W+S+N.I.8A public notice required by this Part to be given by the Chief Counting Officer, a Regional Officer or a counting officer must be given—E+W+S+N.I.(a)by posting the notice in some conspicuous place in the area or region for which the officer acts, or(b)in whatever other manner the officer thinks desirable for publicising it.Role of Electoral CommissionE+W+S+N.I.9(1)The Electoral Commission must take whatever steps they think appropriate to promote public awareness about the referendum and how to vote in it.E+W+S+N.I.(2)The Electoral Commission may take whatever steps they think appropriate to provide, for persons entitled to vote in the referendum, information about each of the two voting systems referred to in the referendum question.(3)Following the referendum, the Electoral Commission must—(a)publish the most accurate estimate that it is reasonably possible to make of the turnout in each of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland;(b)include that information in any report they submit under section 6(1)(b) of the 2000 Act to do with the referendum.(4)In sub-paragraph (3) “turnout” means the percentage of those entitled to vote in the referendum who did so.A ballot paper recorded under head (b), (c) or (d) of rule 42(4) of the referendum rules is to be treated as a vote for this purpose.
Encouraging participationE+W+S+N.I.10(1)The Chief Counting Officer must take whatever steps the officer thinks appropriate to encourage participation in the referendum.E+W+S+N.I.(2)An officer to whom sub-paragraph (3) applies must take whatever steps the officer thinks appropriate to encourage participation in the referendum in the area or region for which the officer acts.(3)This sub-paragraph applies to—(a)a Regional Counting Officer;(b)a counting officer;