This Order sets electoral administration rules, including who acts as returning officer, when nomination papers may be delivered, and when polling takes place.
Electoral Law (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 This Order may be cited as the Electoral Law (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 … Commencement … The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to an Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland. In this Order “the principal Act” means the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 and this Order shall be construed as one with that Act. Para. (3) rep. by SLR 1976 Art. 3(1) substitutes ss. 11, 12 of 1962 c. 14 (NI); Para (2) rep. by SI 1985/454 Paras. (1)‐(7) rep. by SLR 1980 Para. (8) rep. in pt. by SLR 1980, residue spent Paras. (9)‐(12) rep. by SLR 1980 The Ministry may whether by notices in newspapers and periodicals or otherwise give information and guidance regarding elections conducted according to the principle of proportional representation. Art. 5 rep. by SLR 1976 Art. 6(1) substitutes ss. 14, 14A, 14B in 1962 c. 14 (NI); Para.(2) spent Paras. (1)‐(6) rep. by 1989 c.3 . . . there shall be paid into the [ Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom] by each district council such proportion (if any) of all expenses properly incurred in connection with the registration of local electors as the Ministry with the concurrence of the Ministry of Finance may, by regulations subject to affirmative resolution, prescribe. Art. 8 amends schs. 4, 5, 10 of 1962 c. 14 (NI) The Chief Electoral Officer shall be the returning officer for all elections to district councils and for all elections held on or after 1st April 1973 to the [ Assembly]. The clerk of a district council shall be the deputy returning officer for elections to that council held on or after [ 1st October 1973] and shall perform, on behalf of the Chief Electoral Officer, such functions in relation to those elections as shall be delegated to him by the Chief Electoral Officer. Para. (3) spent Art. 10 rep. by SI 1985/454 The period during which nomination papers for candidates at parliamentary. . . elections may be delivered to the returning officer shall be between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and accordingly … residue amends sch.4 to 1962 c.14 (NI) Art. 12 spent Subject to paragraph (2), sections 39 to 52 of the principal Act (which relate to the expenses of a candidate at a parliamentary election and to the limitation of those expenses) shall apply in relation to an election to a district council in like manner as they apply in relation to a parliamentary election and accordingly … residue amends ss.39‐52 of 1962 c.14 (NI) Para. (2) amends ss. 40, 42, 48 and repeals s. 41(4) of 1962 c. 14 (NI) The hours of polling at a parliamentary. . . election shall be between 7 o'clock in the morning and 10 o'clock in the evening and accordingly … residue amends schs.4, 5 to 1962 c.14 (NI) Art. 15 rep. by SLR 1976 Para. (1), with Schedule 2, effects amendments The Ministry may by order subject to affirmative resolution make any further amendments of the Electoral Law Acts (Northern Ireland) 1962 to 1971 which it considers necessary being amendments consequent on the provisions of this Order or on the re-organisation of local government. The amendments made by paragraph (1) and Schedule 2 or by an order under paragraph (2) shall have effect for the purposes of— the register of electors to be published … in each … year and the electors lists from which such registers are derived; all elections to district councils and all matters relating to district councils and their members; Sub-para.(c) rep. by SLR 1976 all elections to the Assembly;] and all matters incidental to the preparation and publication of such lists and registers and the holding of such elections; but a polling station scheme approved under section 65 of the principal Act as amended by this Order shall be used for the purposes of any parliamentary election held after the date of its publication. Arts. 17, 18 rep. by SLR 1980 Schedule 1 rep. by SI 1985/454 Schedule 2—Amendments Schedule 3 rep. by SLR 1980 1954 c.33 1962 c.14 SI 1973/2163 1989 c.3 1972 NI 21 SI 1985/454 SI 1977/428 SLR 1976 Art. 9 applied (with modifications) (12.12.2013) by The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/3156), arts. 1(1), 5(3)