Derived from the Electoral Commission's best practice guide for local authority electoral administrators.   This information was correct at 24 December 2002

Relevant laws	Representation of the People Act 1983   RPA1983 Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 1986 Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 1986 European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 1999 Greater London Authority Elections (No. 2) Rules 2000 Representation of the People Regulations 2001   RPR 2001 Postal votes, amendments, cancellations  RPR 2001, regulation 56 Clerical errors   RPA1983, section 13B Election agents   RPA1983, section 67(1) Replacement ballot papers   RPR2001, regulations 77 & 78 Election expenses   RPA1983, section 81
Abbreviations	ERO = Electoral Registration Officer at the Town Hall PER = Parliamentary Election Rules   RPA 1983, Schedule 1

With the exception of United Kingdom Parliamentary elections, the timetables are calculated retrospectively from Election Day (Day 0).

Some deadlines are not defined by legislation. They are chosen by the Returning Officer, for example:

• the issuing of polling cards
• the issuing of postal votes
• the opening of postal votes

When no specific time is specified as the deadline (e.g. noon or 5 p.m.) the deadline is midnight on that day, meaning 23:59 hours.

Days before Election Day are always working days meaning Mondays to Fridays. Weekends and holidays are excluded. Days after Election Day include weekends and holidays. The excluded pre-election days are called dies non.

The counting of votes can be refused on dies non days. However this does NOT apply to European Union elections.

Dies non days are:

• Saturdays and Sundays
• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
• Maundy Thursday and Good Friday
• a public thanksgiving day or a public mourning day
• a bank holiday defined by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 and applicable to:
   
  • the country of a council election; or
  • the constituency of a parliamentary by-election; or
  • any part of the United Kingdon for a parliamentary general election.