{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/representation-of-the-people-act-1983/section-37",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/representation-of-the-people-act-1983/section-37.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1983/2",
  "legislation_title": "Representation of the People Act 1983",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/representation-of-the-people-act-1983",
  "path": "section/37",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "37",
  "heading": "Ordinary day of local elections in England ...",
  "text": "(1) In every year the ordinary day of election of councillors is the same for all local government areas in England ... and is—\n(a) the first Thursday in May;\n(b) such other day as may be fixed by the Secretary of State by order made not later than 1st February in the year preceding the year (or, in the case of an order affecting more than one year, the first year) in which the order is to take effect.\n(2) As respects Authority elections, the power conferred by subsection (1)(b) above shall include power to make an order fixing a day other than the first Thursday in May as the day on which the poll is to be held at an ordinary election other than the first.\n(2A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(3) The power to make an order under this section is exercisable by statutory instrument.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 17(1) substituted (29.1.2001 for certain purposes and 16.2.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 2, s. 8(a), Sch. 1 para. 10; S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)(2) (with art. 2(4))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 37 renumbered as s. 37(1) (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 5(2) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 37(1) omitted (1.4.2018) by virtue of Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(16)(a), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words substituted by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 18(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 37(2) inserted (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 5(5) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 37(2A) repealed (31.12.2020) by The European Parliamentary Elections Etc. (Repeal, Revocation, Amendment and Saving Provisions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1310), reg. 1, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (as amended by S.I. 2019/1389, regs. 1, 2(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 37 renumbered as s. 37(3) (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 5(4) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 37 heading omitted (1.4.2018) by virtue of Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 6(16)(a), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 37 excluded (6.2.2004) by The Local Government (Ordinary Day of Election) (Wales) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/218), art. 2(1)S. 37 excluded (13.3.2004) by The Local Elections (Ordinary Day of Election 2004) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/222), art. 2(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/2/section/37",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-07T03:33:48.049414+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."
}