R21-36

There should be a 12-month limit on the duration of Electoral Commission investigations under PPERA. This period should be capable of being extended on application to a court by up to 12 months in exceptional circumstances and/or where the subject of investigation has caused or contributed significantly to the delay. In a case where the Commission goes to court to force a party to comply with an investigation notice, the Commission should have the ability to ask the court to extend the time limit further. The extension would be the period from the first request by the Commission to the date on which the party in question supplies the information.