Commentary on Sections Section 8 – Further power to vary date of 2021 election
25.This section confers a power on the Llywydd to propose that the date of the poll for the election in 2021 fixed under section 6 of the Act be brought forward or postponed for up to a month. The exercise of this power does not have to be for reasons relating to coronavirus and may not be exercised to propose a date that is after 5 November 2021.
26.If the Llywydd proposes a date, Her Majesty may by proclamation under the Welsh Seal dissolve the Senedd and require the poll at the election to proceed on the day proposed. If the power under this section is exercised, section 5 of the Act requires the first meeting of the Senedd to take place within 21 days of the date of the poll. The Llywydd may only exercise the power to propose a variation of the date of the Senedd election under section 4 of the 2006 Act if the election is to be held on 6 May 2021. If the election is postponed under section 6 of the Act, and the Llywydd wishes to propose a variation of the date of the postponed election, the proposal can only be made and the date of the election can only be varied under this section.