Explanatory note

By virtue of section 31 (1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47), ordinary general elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly are held on the first Thursday in May every five years. The predecessor Assembly must be dissolved at the start of the minimum period which ends with the date of the poll for the election and that period is determined in accordance with an Order made by the Secretary of State.

This Order makes provision for the determination of the minimum period which is to be 26 days or 30 days, computed in accordance with rule 2 of the Assembly Elections Rules (which makes provision for days that are to be disregarded). The minimum period will only be 30 days if the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland has directed that the polls at an election of the Northern Ireland Assembly are to be taken together with the polls at one or more other elections. The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland has this power under section 15(3A) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50).

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.