Commentary on Sections Part 1: Referendums Section 9: Provision of information to voters
47.Under section 108 of the PPER Act, the Electoral Commission has the power to designate one “permitted participant” (such as a political party or a campaign group) as a campaign representative for each possible outcome of an assembly referendum. The benefits of such a designation are outlined in paragraph 16 above.
48.But if, for whatever reason, the Electoral Commission do not act under section 108, section 9 gives the Commission the power to make available to those entitled to vote in an assembly referendum information aimed at promoting awareness about the arguments for and against each answer to the referendum question.
49.Subsection (6) similarly enables the Electoral Commission to provide information for persons entitled to vote at a local government referendum in order to promote awareness about the arguments relating to the options proposed for unitary local government. This power is not subject to the procedural requirements that apply to the power to provide information to voters in assembly referendums.