The Postponement of Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2009
Under section 11 of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (“the 1962 Act”) local general elections are held on a four year cycle commencing 1973. Article 2 of this Order postpones the elections due to be held in 2009 until 2011 and amends the 1962 Act so that the four year cycle commences (again) in 2011. Local general elections are normally, by virtue of section 11(1A) of the 1962 Act held on the first Thursday in May in the election year. Article 2 also disapplies this provision. Instead the date of the local elections in 2011 will need to be set by further order.