Elections and Registration Act 1915

The Elections and Registration Act 1915 (5 & 6 Geo. 5. c. 76) was a war time act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that postponed local elections and the preparation of registers of electors. Initially the postponement was for one year, but the Act was renewed annually until the electoral cycle was resumed in 1919 following the cessation of hostilities.

Background
Elections to local authorities in the United Kingdom were held annually in either April or November. In August 1914 war broke out, although this did not initially effect the municipal elections which were duly held in November 1914 and April 1915.

A coalition government was formed in May 1915, and in June it was announced that the cabinet intended to introduce legislation to both extend the life of Parliament by a year to 1917, and also to postpone the November 1915 borough elections. The postponement of elections would also mean that local authorities would not need to compile new electoral registers.

The Elections and Registration Bill was duly introduced to the Commons only 22 July. The bill passed all stages in both houses rapidly, and received royal assent on 29 July.

Provisions
The Act was a short document containing only four sections.

Renewal
With the continuation of the war until November 1918, the provisions of the 1915 legislation had to be renewed on three occasions by the Parliament and Local Elections Act 1916 (6 & 7 Geo. 5. c. 44), Parliament and Local Elections Act 1917 (7 & 8 Geo. 5. c. 13) and the Parliament and Local Elections (No. 2) Act 1917 (7 & 8 Geo. 5. c. 50).