Schedule 8: Combination of Polls: Northern Ireland
125.Schedule 8 sets out the modifications which must be made to the rules governing the conduct of the referendum and the rules governing the conduct of the Northern Ireland Assembly general election and Northern Ireland local elections where the polls are taken together under section 4. The provisions are modelled on those modifications that are made in relation to the combination of polls in England set out in Schedule 5, but include appropriate adaptations to reflect the role of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland. In particular, rather than specifying that certain functions for the combined polls are to be carried out by the counting officer for the referendum, provision is made that when the Chief Electoral Officer carries out some functions in relation to the Northern Ireland Assembly general election or the Northern Ireland local elections, the Chief Electoral officer acts under the power of direction of the Chief Counting Officer. Schedule 8 also allows the Chief Electoral Officer (with the agreement of the Chief Counting Officer) to decide to issue joint postal ballot packs for the referendum, the Northern Ireland Assembly general election and Northern Ireland local elections.