Earlier today the Statutory Instrument to combine 2009’s local and European elections on the same date went through the Commons.
Key points to note:
- The elections will be combined in June.
- Parish elections can also be held on the same date (the usual rule which would require them to be postponed is being waived).
- The elections will be administered (and the results declared, I expect) based on local authority areas rather than on Westminster constituencies.
- The cut off date for the “six-month rule” (after which a council vacancy doesn’t cause a by-election) becomes 7th November.
- 82% of the councils who are due to have elections next year and responded to the previous consultation said they were in favour of the elections being combined.


