Arrangements for Elections
(1) For the purposes of every general election of members of the House, and for the purposes of the election of members to fill vacancies in the House caused by death, resignation, or otherwise, the Governor General shall issue writs under the Public Seal of the State, addressed to the returning officers of the respective electoral districts for which members are to be returned. Such writs shall be forwarded to the Commission for transmission to the several returning officers.
(2) Every writ shall be in the form set out as Form I in Schedule 3 and shall specify—
(a) the day of the nomination of candidates being not less than 7 and not more than 14 days after the day of issue of the writ;
(b) the day upon which, if necessary, the poll shall be taken, being not less than 7 days and not more than 14 days after the day of the nomination of candidates;
(c) the day the writ is returnable to the Governor General being not more than 7 days after the polling day.
(2A) A writ shall not be issued so as to cause the day of nomination under subsection (2)(a) and the day that the poll is taken under subsection (2)(b) to fall on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday. (Inserted by Act 1 of 2017)
(3) Upon receipt of such writ every returning officer shall proceed to hold the election in the manner hereinafter provided.