{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-government-act-2000/section-85",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-government-act-2000/section-85.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2000/22",
  "legislation_title": "Local Government Act 2000",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-government-act-2000",
  "path": "section/85",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "85",
  "heading": "Options for elections England.",
  "text": "(1) For the purposes of this Part as it applies in relation to a principal council for an area in England, the three options for the scheme for the ordinary elections of councillors of such a principal council are those set out in this section.\n(2) The first option is for a scheme under which—\n(a) the term of office of councillors is four years,\n(b) the elections are held in a given year and every fourth year after it,\n(c) all the councillors are elected in each year in which the elections are held, and\n(d) the councillors retire together.\n(3) The second option is for a scheme under which—\n(a) the term of office of councillors is four years,\n(b) the elections are held in a given year and every second year after it,\n(c) one half (or as nearly as may be) of the councillors are elected in each year in which the elections are held, and\n(d) one half (or as nearly as may be) of the councillors retire in each year in which the elections are held.\n(4) The third option is for a scheme under which—\n(a) the term of office of councillors is four years,\n(b) the elections are held in a given year and every year after it other than every third year after it,\n(c) one third (or as nearly as may be) of the councillors are elected in each year in which the elections are held, and\n(d) one third (or as nearly as may be) of the councillors retire in each year in which the elections are held.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 85(1) inserted (20.3.2021) by Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1), s. 175(3)(f), Sch. 2 para. 9(2)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Word in s. 85(1) inserted (20.3.2021) by Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1), s. 175(3)(f), Sch. 2 para. 9(2)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in s. 85 heading inserted (20.3.2021) by Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1), s. 175(3)(f), Sch. 2 para. 9(2)(c)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/22/section/85",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:20:52.095320+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."
}