{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/referendums-scotland-act-2020/section-3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/referendums-scotland-act-2020/section-3.json",
  "legislation": "asp/2020/2",
  "legislation_title": "Referendums (Scotland) Act 2020",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/referendums-scotland-act-2020",
  "path": "section/3",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "3",
  "heading": "Power to change date of referendum if UK election on same date",
  "text": "(1) The date of a referendum must not be the same as the date on which any other election or poll is scheduled to be held throughout Scotland.\n(2) If the date of a referendum is the same as the date of a UK parliamentary general election, the Presiding Officer may appoint a later date on which the poll at that referendum is to be held.\n(3) The date appointed under subsection (2) may not be more than 6 weeks later.\n(4) The Presiding Officer may appoint a date under subsection (2) only if the Scottish Parliament is dissolved or in recess.\n(5) Before appointing a date under subsection (2), the Presiding Officer must consult the Electoral Commission.\n(6) The Presiding Officer must publish a statement of the date appointed under subsection (2).\n(7) In this section—\n“date of a referendum” means the date on which the poll at a referendum is to be held in pursuance of provision made by or under an Act of the Scottish Parliament,\n...",
  "extent": "S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 3(2) inserted (24.3.2022) by Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 (c. 11), s. 6(3), Sch. para. 33(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 3(7) omitted (24.3.2022) by virtue of Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 (c. 11), s. 6(3), Sch. para. 33(b)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2020/2/section/3",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:12:54.149805+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."
}