Commentary Information, guidance and advice
284.Section 23 allows the Electoral Commission to give voters information on the referendum, the referendum question and voting in the referendum.
285.Section 24 gives the Commission power to issue guidance to the CCO regarding the CCO’s role under the Act, and with the CCO’s consent to issue guidance to counting officers. They may also issue guidance to permitted participants or potential permitted participants on the campaign rules (schedule 4), which must include information on what may constitute a common plan for the purposes of paragraph 20 of schedule 4. Section 24 also gives the CCO power to issue guidance to counting officers and registration officers about the exercise of their functions under the Act.
286.Section 25 gives the Commission power to offer information to anyone who requests it regarding the application of the Act or any other matter relating to the referendum.
287.Section 26 confers a power on the CCO to take whatever steps are considered by the CCO to be appropriate to encourage participation in the referendum, and to facilitate co-operation among counting officers in doing the same. The provisions also require a counting officer to take such steps as they think appropriate to encourage participation in the referendum in the local area for which they are responsible.