Section 36B
Change in hours for nomination of candidates, etc.
of Presidential Elections Act 1991
(1)
Despite any other provision of this Act but subject to subsection (3), at any time before the nomination day for any election, the Returning Officer may change the hours for nomination proceedings to another time, because of —
riot or open violence;
the threat of riot or open violence;
storm, tempest, flood or an occurrence of a similar kind;
a health hazard;
a fire or the activation of fire safety equipment (such as sprinklers or alarms); or
any other reason related to the safety of assistants, clerks, candidates and other persons authorised under section 11 to be present at the place of nomination, or to difficulties in the physical conduct of nomination proceedings.
(2)
Any change in the hours for nomination proceedings to another time under subsection (1) must be —
by notice in the Gazette describing the change in the hours for nomination proceedings; or
if publication under paragraph (a) is not practicable, by notice published in such manner as will secure adequate publicity to the general public describing the change in the hours for nomination proceedings,and any change so made is valid and sufficient.
(3)
In changing the hours for nomination proceedings under subsection (1), the Returning Officer may specify such other times in the day but —
must specify a period of one hour for the Returning Officer to receive nomination papers;
must specify a period of 90 minutes for the making of objections to any nomination paper; (c)must specify the latest time by which a candidate must make his or her deposit for the purposes of section 10, may correct errors in the nomination papers and may withdraw his or her candidature; and
must specify the latest time by which a candidate must make his or her indication (regarding his or her name) to the Returning Officer under section 11(5).
(4)
Any changes in time under subsection (1) in lieu of the hours fixed by the notice of the issue of the writ under section 7 for an election are deemed to be the hours for nomination proceedings so fixed, and sections 9 to 15 apply with such modifications as are necessary.