Commentary on Sections and Schedules General Elections Section 3: Ordinary general elections
44.This section provides that Assembly ordinary general elections are to take place every four years, on the first Thursday in May, subject to a power under which the Secretary of State may change the date of an ordinary general election by order under section 4.
45.In advance of an ordinary general election the Assembly is to be dissolved a specified number of days before that Thursday. This number of days (“the minimum period”) will either be specified in an Order made by the Secretary of State under section 13, or calculated in accordance with rules set out in the Order. This is the minimum period to which subsection (3) refers.
46.The section also provides that the Assembly must meet within seven days after the day of the poll (excluding certain days such as Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays).