Commentary on Sections Death of Candidate New rule 64: Speaker of the House of Commons seeking re-election
151.Rule 64 applies where proof is given to the returning officer that the Speaker of the House of Commons has died while seeking re-election as a candidate, shown on the statement of nominated persons for a UK Parliamentary election.
152.Rule 64 (2) provides that where the circumstances in subsection (1) occur, the returning officer must, either countermand notice of the poll, or if polling has begun, direct that the poll be abandoned.
153.Rule 64 (3) provides that the proceedings with reference to the election must be commenced afresh, subject to paragraphs (4) to (6) of this rule, which provide that:
	the writ will be taken to have arrived on the first working day after the end of a period of seven days following the day that a returning officer receives proof of a party candidate’s death;
	the last date for new nominations to be delivered, or for a candidate already shown on the statement of persons nominated to withdraw his candidature, is the seventh working day after the day on which the writ is taken to be received; and
	the minimum number of days that may pass between the day on which the writ is taken to have been received and the poll is 15 working days. The maximum number of days is 19 working days.
154.Paragraph (7) states that for the purposes of this rule a working day is a day which is not a day specified in rule 2(1)(a) to (c) of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983. The specified days are a Saturday or Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday, a bank holiday, or a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.