6.—(1) In rule 7 (modifications to the election timetable at by-elections), in the timetable—
(a)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “delivery of nomination papers”, for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”;
(b)after that entry insert—
| “Delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature | Not later than 4 in the afternoon on the nineteenth day before the day of election”; |
(c)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “publication of statement as to persons nominated”—
(i)for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”; and
(ii)for “seventeenth” substitute “eighteenth”; and
(d)after that entry, omit the entry for delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature.
(2) In rule 3 of Schedule 1 (timetable), in the timetable—
(a)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “delivery of nomination papers”, for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”;
(b)after that entry insert—
| “ Delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature | Not later than 4 in the afternoon on the twenty-fourth day before the day of election”; |
(c)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “publication of statement as to persons nominated” for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon; and
(d)after that entry, omit the entry for delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature.
(3) In rule 10 of Schedule 1 (publication of statement of persons nominated)—
(a)in paragraph (1), after “prepare and” insert “(subject to paragraph (11))”;
(b)for paragraph (8) substitute—
“(8) Paragraphs (9) to (11) apply at an ordinary election.
(9) As soon as possible after all decisions under rule 9 which are required to be made have been made, the CRO must arrange for a copy of the statement that the CRO has prepared and proposes to publish to be delivered to the GLRO.
(10) If, after having delivered the statement mentioned in paragraph (9) to the GLRO, the CRO receives notification from the GLRO under rule 13(4) that a candidate is deemed to have withdrawn his or her candidature, the CRO must amend that statement accordingly.
(11) The CRO may not publish the statement under paragraph (1) until—
(a)the CRO has made any amendments required under paragraph (10), or
(b)where no notification under rule 13(4) is received from the GLRO, the time by which the GLRO must give such a notification has passed.”
(4) For rule 13 of Schedule 1 (nomination in more than one Assembly constituency) substitute—
“13.—(1) This rule applies at an ordinary election.
(2) A candidate who is validly nominated in more than one Assembly constituency must withdraw his or her candidature, in accordance with rule 14, in all but one of those constituencies.
(3) Where a candidate does not withdraw his or her candidature as mentioned in paragraph (2), he or she is deemed, after the last time for delivery of notices of withdrawals, to have withdrawn his or her candidature from all the Assembly constituencies in which he or she is, but for this rule, validly nominated.
(4) Where, having reviewed the proposed statements of persons nominated delivered under rule 10(9), it appears to the GLRO that a candidate (“C”) appears (but for this rule) to have been validly nominated in more than one Assembly constituency (“a relevant constituency”), the GLRO must at least one hour before the last time for publication of the statement as to persons nominated as set out in the timetable in rule 3, notify the CRO for each relevant constituency that C’s candidature is deemed to have been withdrawn in that constituency.
(5) A CRO must, as soon as practicable after receiving the notification mentioned in paragraph (4), notify C that C’s candidature is deemed to have been withdrawn in that constituency.”
(5) In rule 15 of Schedule 1 (method of election), for “rule 14”, both times it occurs, substitute “these Rules”.
(6) In rule 3 of Schedule 2 (timetable), in the timetable—
(a)in the entry for “delivery of nomination papers”—
(i)in the left-hand column, after “delivery of nomination papers” insert “and party lists”;
(ii)in the right-hand column, for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”;
(b)after that entry insert—
| “ Delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature | Not later than 4 in the afternoon on the twenty-fourth day before the day of election”; |
(c)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “publication of statement as to persons nominated” for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”; and
(d)after that entry omit the entry for delivery of notices of withdrawals.
(7) In rule 3 of Schedule 3 (timetable), in the timetable—
(a)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “delivery of nomination papers” for “noon” substitute “4pm”;
(b)after that entry insert—
| “ Delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature | Not later than 4 in the afternoon on the twenty-fourth day before the day of election”; |
(c)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “publication of statement as to persons nominated” for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”; and
(d)after that entry, omit the entry for delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature.
(8) In rule 3 of Schedule 5 (timetable), in the timetable—
(a)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “delivery of nomination papers” for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”;
(b)after that entry insert—
| “Delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature | Not later than 4 in the afternoon on the twenty-fourth day before the day of election”; |
(c)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “publication of statement as to persons nominated” for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”; and
(d)after that entry, omit the entry for delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature.
(9) In rule 10 of Schedule 5 (publication of statement of persons nominated)—
(a)in paragraph (1), after “prepare and” insert “(subject to paragraph (11))”:
(b)for paragraph (8) substitute—
“(8) Paragraphs (9) to (11) apply at an ordinary election.
(9) As soon as possible after all decisions under rule 9 which are required to be made have been made, the CRO must arrange for a copy of the statement that the CRO has prepared and proposes to publish to be delivered to the GLRO.
(10) If, after having delivered the statement mentioned in paragraph (9) to the GLRO, the CRO receives notification from the GLRO under rule 13(4) that a candidate is deemed to have withdrawn his or her candidature, the CRO must amend that statement accordingly.
(11) The CRO may not publish the statement under paragraph (1) until—
(a)the CRO has made any amendments required under paragraph (10), or
(b)where no notification under rule 13(4) is received from the GLRO, the time by which the GLRO must give such notification has passed.”
(10) For rule 13 of Schedule 5 (nomination in more than one Assembly constituency) substitute—
“13.—(1) This rule applies at an ordinary election.
(2) A candidate who is validly nominated in more than one Assembly constituency must withdraw his or her candidature, in accordance with rule 14, in all but one of those constituencies.
(3) Where a candidate does not withdraw his or her candidature as mentioned in paragraph (2), he or she is deemed, after the last time for delivery of notices of withdrawals, to have withdrawn his or her candidature from all the Assembly constituencies in which he or she is, but for this rule, validly nominated.
(4) Where, having reviewed the proposed statements of persons nominated delivered under rule 10(9), it appears to the GLRO that a candidate (“C”) appears (but for this rule) to have been validly nominated in more than one Assembly constituency (“a relevant constituency”), the GLRO must at least one hour before the last time for publication of the statement as to persons nominated as set out in the timetable in rule 3, inform the CRO for each relevant constituency that C’s candidature is deemed to have been withdrawn in that constituency.
(5) A CRO must, as soon as practicable, after receiving the notification mentioned in paragraph (4), notify C that C’s candidature is deemed to have been withdrawn in that constituency.”
(11) In rule 15 of Schedule 5 (method of election), for “rule 14”, both times it occurs, substitute “these Rules”.
(12) In rule 3 of Schedule 6 (timetable), in the timetable—
(a)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “delivery of nomination papers and party lists” for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”;
(b)after that entry insert—
| “Delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature | Not later than 4 in the afternoon on the twenty-fourth day before the day of election”; |
(c)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “publication of statement as to persons nominated” for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”; and
(d)after that entry, omit the entry for delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature.
(13) In rule 3 of Schedule 7 (timetable), in the timetable—
(a)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “delivery of nomination papers” for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”;
(b)after that entry insert—
| “ Delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature | Not later than 4 in the afternoon on the twenty-fourth day before the day of election”; |
(c)in the right-hand column, in the entry alongside “publication of statement as to persons nominated” for “noon” substitute “4 in the afternoon”; and
(d)after that entry, omit the entry for delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature.