Article 2 Amendment of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Minimum Period) Order 2010

For article 2(1) of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Minimum Period) Order 2010^f1 substitute—

“(1)

The minimum period for the purpose of section 31 (6) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (date of elections and dissolutions) is—

(a)

26 days; or

(b)

where paragraph (1A) applies, 30 days.

(1A)

This paragraph applies where—

(a)

the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland^f2, in accordance with section 15 (3A) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (combination of polls at Northern Ireland Assembly elections with polls at parliamentary and local elections)^f3, has directed that the polls at an election of the Northern Ireland Assembly are to be taken together with the polls at any other election or elections; and

(b)

that direction is given no later than 31 days before the date of the polls.”.