Elections Act 1958 · Updated to 1 Dec 2016 · Part V · Conduct of Elections
12. Writs of election
Feedback & supportFor the purposes of every general election and of any by-election, the Election Commission shall issue writs addressed to the returning officer of each constituency for which a member is to be elected.
election
“election” means a Parliamentary election or a State election, as the case may be;
Every writ issued under subsection (1) shall be in the prescribed form and shall be returned to the Election Commission in the prescribed manner.
In relation to a vacancy which is to be filled at a by-election, a writ shall be issued not earlier than four days and not later than ten days from the date on which it is established by the Election Commission that there is a vacancy.
Upon receipt of a writ issued under subsection (1), the returning officer shall proceed to hold an election in the prescribed manner.
returning officer
“returning officer” means an officer appointed under section 3 and includes an assistant returning officer;