Part 2The Chief Electoral Officer
8Tenure
1
The Chief Electoral Officer—
a
is appointed by the Secretary of State, and
b
subject to what follows, holds office in accordance with the terms of his appointment (or re-appointment).
2
A person must not be appointed as Chief Electoral Officer for more than 5 years at a time.
3
The period for which a person holds office as Chief Electoral Officer must not exceed 10 years.
4
The Chief Electoral Officer may resign by notice in writing to the Secretary of State.
5
The Secretary of State may dismiss the Chief Electoral Officer if satisfied that—
a
he has without reasonable excuse failed to discharge his functions for a continuous period of 3 months beginning not earlier than 6 months before the day of dismissal,
b
he has been convicted of an offence,
c
a bankruptcy order has been made against him, or his estate has been sequestrated, or he has made a composition or arrangement with, or granted a trust deed for, his creditors, or
d
he is unable or unfit to carry out his functions.
6
This section applies in relation to the person who at commencement holds the office of Chief Electoral Officer as if—
a
subsection (2) required his appointment to end no later than 5 years after commencement, and
b
the total period which under subsection (3) must not be exceeded were 10 years plus the period of his appointment before commencement.
7
“Commencement” means the commencement of this section.
8
In this Part “Chief Electoral Officer” has the meaning given by section 14(1) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (c. 14 (N. I.)).
9Annual reports
1
The Chief Electoral Officer must each year—
a
prepare a report on how he has discharged his functions in the year to which the report relates, and
b
send a copy of the report to the Secretary of State by such date as the Secretary of State directs.
2
The report must include an assessment of the extent to which the relevant registration objectives in Northern Ireland have been met in the year to which the report relates.
3
“The relevant registration objectives” has the meaning given by section 10ZB of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2).
4
The Secretary of State must lay a copy of the report before each House of Parliament.