Commentary on Sections Part 1 Electoral Administration and Registration Chapter 3: Welsh Elections Piloting and Reform Section 19 – Electoral reform regulations: procedure
69.Section 19 sets out the Senedd procedure that must be followed when making electoral reform regulations. It provides for additional and enhanced scrutiny steps to be undertaken which includes, the requirement of a Senedd Committee to consider the regulations and their implications. The Senedd will also have a longer period in which to consider the regulations and their implications. When the regulations or draft regulations are laid the Welsh Ministers are required to also a lay before the Senedd a copy of the Electoral Commission’s report on the pilot regulations prepared under section 17.
70.Where Welsh Ministers have decided not to accept a committee’s recommendation to make material changes to draft regulations, either wholly or in part, or make material changes to the draft regulations which are materially different to those recommended by a committee, they must lay a statement before the Senedd setting out the reasons for this decision.