Commentary Power to change date of referendum if UK election on the same day Section 3 – Power to change date of referendum if UK election on the same day
20.Section 3 sets out that the date set for the poll at a referendum must not be the same as the date of poll for any other election or referendum held throughout Scotland. It also allows the Presiding Officer, if the Parliament is dissolved or in recess, to appoint a later date for the poll at the referendum, if the date of the poll is the same as the date of a UK election. Before doing so the Presiding Officer must consult the Electoral Commission. The new date must be no more than 6 weeks after the original date of the poll and the Presiding Officer must publish a statement giving the date.