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The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006

S.I. 2006/3304 · Made 12 December 2006

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 10 March 2026.

representation of the people, england and wales

Made 12th December 2006

Laid before Parliament 12th December 2006

Coming into force in accordance with rule 1(2)

The Secretary of State makes the following Rules in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by section 36(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1983f1.

In accordance with section 7(1) and (2)(d) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000f2 he has consulted the Electoral Commission.C1C2C3C4C5

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Rules modified (16.2.2011) by Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 (c. 1), s. 19(2), Sch. 5 para. 7

C2

Rules restricted (E.) (18.3.2022) by The North Yorkshire (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/328), arts. 1(1), 14(4)

C3

Rules restricted (E.) (18.3.2022) by The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/331), arts. 1(1), 5(5), 20(4)

C4

Rules restricted (E.) (18.3.2022) by The Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/329), arts. 1(1), 14(3)

C5

Rules restricted (E.) (10.3.2026) by The Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/264), arts. 1(1), 45(4), 46(4), 48(4)

Footnotes

f1

1983 c.2

f2

2000 c.41

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement, extent and revocations
  2. 2Interpretation
  3. 3Elections Rules
  4. 4Combination of polls
  5. Signature
  6. Schedule 1Revocations
  7. Schedule 2: Rules for Conduct of an Election of Councillors of a Principal Area where Poll is not taken together with Poll at another Election
  8. Part 1: Provisions as to Time
  9. 1Timetable
  10. 2Computation of time
  11. Part 2: Stages Common to Contested and Uncontested Elections
  12. 3Notice of election
  13. 4Nomination of candidates
  14. 5Nomination papers: name of registered political party
  15. 6Subscription of nomination paper
  16. 7Consent to nomination
  17. 8Decisions as to validity of nomination papers
  18. 9Publication of statement of persons nominated
  19. 10Correction of minor errors
  20. 11Inspection of nomination papers and consents to nomination
  21. 11AInspection of home address forms
  22. 12Nomination in more than one electoral area
  23. 13Withdrawal of candidates
  24. 14Method of election
  25. Part 3: Contested Elections
  26. Chapter 1: General Provisions
  27. 15Poll to be taken by ballot
  28. 16The ballot papers
  29. 17The corresponding number list
  30. 18The official mark
  31. 19Prohibition of disclosure of vote
  32. 20Use of schools and public rooms
  33. Chapter 2: Action to be Taken Before the Poll
  34. 21Notice of poll
  35. 22Postal ballot papers
  36. 23Provision of polling stations
  37. 24Appointment of presiding officers and polling clerks
  38. 25Issue of official poll cards
  39. 26Equipment of polling stations
  40. 27Appointment of polling and counting agents
  41. 28Notification of requirement of secrecy
  42. 29Return of postal ballot papers
  43. Chapter 3: The Poll
  44. 30Admission to polling station
  45. 31Keeping of order in station
  46. 32Sealing of ballot boxes
  47. 33Questions to be put to voters
  48. 34Challenge of voter
  49. 35Voting procedure
  50. 36Votes marked by presiding officer
  51. 37Voting by persons with disabilities
  52. 38Tendered ballot papers: circumstances where available
  53. 39Tendered ballot papers: general provisions
  54. 39ARefusal to deliver ballot paper
  55. 40Spoilt ballot papers
  56. 41Correction of errors on day of poll
  57. 41ACollection and disclosure of information relating to applications made under rules 35 to 38
  58. 42Adjournment of poll in case of riot
  59. 43Procedure on close of poll
  60. Chapter 4: Counting of Votes
  61. 44Attendance at counting of votes
  62. 45The count
  63. 46Re-count
  64. 47Rejected ballot papers
  65. 48Decisions on ballot papers
  66. 49Equality of votes
  67. Part 4: Final Proceedings in Contested and Uncontested Elections
  68. 50Declaration of result
  69. Part 5: Disposal of Documents
  70. 50ADestruction of home address forms
  71. 51Sealing up of ballot papers
  72. 52Delivery of documents to relevant registration officer
  73. 53Orders for production of documents
  74. 54Retention of documents
  75. Part 6: Death of Candidate
  76. 55Countermand or abandonment of poll on death of a candidate
  77. 7Appendix of Forms
  78. Schedule 3: Rules for Conduct of an Election of Councillors of a Principal Area where the Poll is taken together with the Poll at a Relevant Election or Referendum
  79. Part 1: Provisions as to Time
  80. 1Timetable
  81. 2Computation of time
  82. Part 2: Stages Common to Contested and Uncontested Elections
  83. 3Notice of election
  84. 4Nomination of candidates
  85. 5Nomination papers: name of registered political party
  86. 6Subscription of nomination paper
  87. 7Consent to nomination
  88. 8Decisions as to validity of nomination papers
  89. 9Publication of statement of persons nominated
  90. 10Correction of minor errors
  91. 11Inspection of nomination papers and consents to nomination
  92. 11AInspection of home address forms
  93. 12Nomination in more than one electoral area
  94. 13Withdrawal of candidates
  95. 14Method of election
  96. Part 3: Contested Elections
  97. Chapter 1: General Provisions
  98. 15Poll to be taken by ballot
  99. 16The ballot papers
  100. 17The corresponding number list
  101. 18The official mark
  102. 19Prohibition of disclosure of vote
  103. 20Use of schools and public rooms
  104. Chapter 2: Action to be Taken Before the Poll
  105. 21Notice of Poll
  106. 22Postal ballot papers
  107. 23Provision of polling stations
  108. 24Appointment of presiding officers and clerks
  109. 25Issue of official poll cards
  110. 26Equipment of polling stations
  111. 27Appointment of polling and counting agents
  112. 28Notification of requirement of secrecy
  113. 29Return of postal ballot papers
  114. Chapter 3: The Poll
  115. 30Admission to the polling station
  116. 31Keeping of order in station
  117. 32Sealing of ballot boxes
  118. 33Questions to be put to voters
  119. 34Challenge of voter
  120. 35Voting procedure
  121. 36Votes marked by presiding officer
  122. 37Voting by persons with disabilities
  123. 38Tendered ballot papers: circumstances where available
  124. 39Tendered ballot papers: general provisions
  125. 39ARefusal to deliver ballot paper
  126. 40Spoilt ballot papers
  127. 41Correction of errors on day of poll
  128. 41ACollection and disclosure of information relating to applications made under rules 35 to 38
  129. 42Adjournment of poll in case of riot
  130. 43Procedure on close of poll
  131. Chapter 4: Counting of Votes
  132. 44Attendance at counting of votes
  133. 45The count
  134. 46Re-count
  135. 47Rejected ballot papers
  136. 48Decisions on ballot papers
  137. 49Equality of votes
  138. Part 4: Final Proceedings in Contested and Uncontested Elections
  139. 50Declaration of result
  140. Part 5: Disposal of Documents
  141. 50ADestruction of home address forms
  142. 51Sealing up of ballot papers
  143. 52Delivery of documents to relevant registration officer
  144. 53Orders for production of documents
  145. 54Retention of documents
  146. Part 6: Death of Candidate
  147. 55Countermand or abandonment of poll on death of a candidate
  148. 7Appendix of Forms
  149. Explanatory note