Referendum required if Citizens' Assembly recommends change

1  If the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform recommends, in its final report, a model for electing Members of the Legislative Assembly that is different from the current model, a referendum respecting the recommended model must be held in conjunction with the general election required under the Constitution Act to be held in May 2005.

Referendum to be conducted under Referendum Act

2  Subject to this Act, the Referendum Act applies to a referendum required under section 1.

Special rules for electoral reform referendum

3  (1)  Section 3 of the Referendum Act does not apply and, instead, the Chief Electoral Officer must announce the results of the referendum in a manner that the Chief Electoral Officer considers will inform the electorate of the results of the referendum.

(2)  Section 4 of the Referendum Act does not apply and, instead, the results of a referendum under section 1 are binding on the government only if

(a) at least 60% of the validly cast ballots vote the same way on the question that is stated for the referendum, and

(b) in at least 48 of the 79 electoral districts, more than 50% of the validly cast ballots vote that same way on the question.

(3)  Section 5 of the Referendum Act does not apply and, instead, if the results of a referendum under section 1 are binding on the government, the government is required to introduce the legislation needed to implement the results in sufficient time for the new electoral model to be in place for the general election required under the Constitution Act to be held in May 2009.

Commencement

4  This Act comes into force on the date of Royal Assent.