Legal basis for administrative requirements at the national level
United Kingdom
POLITICALPARTIES, ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS ACT
(Adopted 2000)
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/41/contents
PartI – The Electoral Commission
1Establishment of the Electoral Commission.
(1) There shall bea body corporate to be known as the Electoral Commission or, in Welsh, Comisiwn Etholiadol (in this Act referred to as “theCommission”).
5Reports on elections and referendums
(1) The Commissionshall, after –
if the chairman of the Commission appointssome other person to act as Chief Counting Officer for the referendum, theperson so appointed.
(3) The ChiefCounting Officer for the referendum shall appoint a counting officer for eachrelevant area in Great Britain.
(4) The localauthority in the case of each such area shall place the services of theirofficers at the disposal of the counting officer for the area for the purposeof assisting him in the discharge of his functions.
129Orders regulating conduct of referendums.
(1) The Secretaryof State may by order make such provision as he considers expedient for or inconnection with regulating the conduct of referendums to which this Partapplies.
European Union Act of 2011
The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act provides the legalframework under which national referendums may be held. Nevertheless,parliament must pass a specific law in each instance in order for a referendumto be held.
