{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-elections-parishes-and-communities-england-and-wales-rules-2006/article-2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-elections-parishes-and-communities-england-and-wales-rules-2006/article-2.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2006/3305",
  "legislation_title": "The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-elections-parishes-and-communities-england-and-wales-rules-2006",
  "path": "article/2",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "2",
  "heading": "Interpretation",
  "text": "(1) In these Rules,\n“1983 Act” means the Representation of the People Act 1983;\n“anonymous elector’s document” has the same meaning as in regulation 3(1) of the Voter Identification Regulations 2022;\n“the Combination of Polls Regulations” means the Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) Regulations 2004 ;\n“combined authority mayoral election” means an election of a mayor for a combined authority under Part 6 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;\n“combined county authority mayoral election” means an election of a mayor for a combined county authority under Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023;\n“counting observer” shall have the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2012;\n“counting officer” shall have the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2012;\n...\n...\n“mayoral election” means an election conducted under the Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007;\n“petition organiser” shall have the same meaning as in regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions and Directions) (England) Regulations 2000 ;\n“police and crime commissioner election” means an election of a police and crime commissioner in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act;\n“polling observer” shall have the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2012;\n“principal area” means, a county in England, a district or a London borough;\n“referendum” means a referendum conducted under the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2012;\n“temporary electoral identity document” has the same meaning as in regulation 3(1) of the Voter Identification Regulations 2022;\n“voting area” shall have the same meaning as in regulation 2 of the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2012.\n(2) In these Rules, “relevant election or referendum” means one or more of the following—\n(a) a Parliamentary election ;\n(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(c) another local government election;\n(d) a mayoral election; and\n(da) a combined authority mayoral election;\n(db) a combined county authority mayoral election;\n(e) a referendum,\n(f) a police and crime commissioner election,\nthe poll at which is taken together with the poll at the parish ... election.\n(3) In the case of a referendum, a reference to—\n(a) a “candidate” shall be construed as a reference to a petition organiser;\n(b) an “election agent” or a “counting agent” shall be construed as a reference to a counting observer;\n(c) a “polling agent” shall be construed as a reference to a polling observer; and\n(d) a “returning officer” shall be construed as a reference to a counting officer.\n(4) Any reference in these Rules to a district shall be construed as a reference to a county in the case of a county in which there are no district councils.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in rule 2(1) inserted (16.1.2023) by The Voter Identification (Principal Area, Parish and Greater London Authority Elections) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. 2022/1397), rules 1(1), 7(a) (with rule 1(3)(4))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in rule 2(1) inserted (31.1.2017) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/67), reg. 1, Sch. 4 para. 4(2)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in rule 2(1) inserted (7.2.2024) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/131), regs. 1(3), 18(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in rule 2 substituted (6.4.2014) by The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/492), rules 1(2), 2(2) (with rule 1(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in rule 2(1) revoked (31.12.2020) by The European Parliamentary Elections Etc. (Repeal, Revocation, Amendment and Saving Provisions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1310), reg. 1, Sch. 1 Pt. 2 Table 1 (as amended by S.I. 2019/1389, regs. 1, 2(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in rule 2 substituted (6.4.2014) by The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/492), rules 1(2), 2(3) (with rule 1(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in rule 2(1) inserted (25.7.2012) by The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/1917), art. 1(2), Sch. 4 para. 11(2)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in rule 2(1) substituted (10.3.2022) by The Local Elections (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/263), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 2(2) (with reg. 12(d))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in rule 2(1) inserted (16.1.2023) by The Voter Identification (Principal Area, Parish and Greater London Authority Elections) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. 2022/1397), rules 1(1), 7(b) (with rule 1(3)(4))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Rule 2(2)(b) revoked (31.12.2020) by The European Parliamentary Elections Etc. (Repeal, Revocation, Amendment and Saving Provisions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1310), reg. 1, Sch. 1 Pt. 2 Table 1 (as amended by S.I. 2019/1389, regs. 1, 2(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in rule 2(2) inserted (31.1.2017) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/67), reg. 1, Sch. 4 para. 4(2)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Words in rule 2(2) inserted (7.2.2024) by The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/131), regs. 1(3), 18(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in rule 2(2) inserted (25.7.2012) by The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/1917), art. 1(2), Sch. 4 para. 11(2)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Words in rule 2(2) omitted (10.3.2022) by virtue of The Local Elections (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/263), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 2(3) (with reg. 12(d))"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "S.I. 2004/294 as amended by S.I. 2006/3278."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M2",
      "text": "S.I. 2000/2852"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M3",
      "text": "For the definition of “Parliamentary election”, see the Interpretation Act 1978 (c.30), Schedule 1."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Rule 2 applied (with modifications) (18.2.2012) by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/444), reg. 1, Sch. 4 para. 1 Table 10 (with reg. 27)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Rule 2(1) modified (3.8.2012) by The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2031), regs. 1, 8, 12, 13, Sch. 4 para. 19 (as amended (6.4.2014) by S.I. 2014/333, regs. 1(6), 11 (with reg. 1(7)))"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/3305/article/2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T04:13:09.369839+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}