Article 2 Unfilled seats at an election

After article 7^f1 of the 2001 Order (by-elections) insert—

“Unfilled seats at an election

8.

(1)

If at an Assembly election no person is or remains, or an insufficient number of persons are or remain, validly nominated to fill the vacancy or vacancies in respect of which the election is held, the Chief Electoral Officer must order an election to fill any vacancy which remains unfilled.

(2)

The day appointed for the poll shall be the first Thursday after the expiry of 30 days beginning with the day fixed as the day of the election mentioned in paragraph (1).

(3)

In computing the period of time mentioned in paragraph (2), any day which is a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday is to be disregarded.

(4)

In paragraph (3) “bank holiday” means a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971^f2 in Northern Ireland.”.