Referendums Act 1997

A returning officer may suspend the poll at a polling booth on polling day for not more than 4 hours if the returning officer is satisfied the taking of the poll is, or is likely to be, temporarily interrupted or obstructed by—

a serious threat of a riot or open violence happening; or

a serious risk to the health or safety of persons at the polling booth; or

another emergency.

The returning officer must ensure an elector who attends the polling booth while the poll is suspended is given information to assist the elector to vote at the referendum, including—

the time the poll is expected to resume at the polling booth; and

the location of other polling booths.

The returning officer must adjourn the conduct of the poll at the polling booth if—

for any reason, taking of the poll at the polling booth can not resume on polling day; or

the returning officer is satisfied that it is unreasonable for an elector who would have otherwise cast a vote at the polling booth while it was suspended to have cast a vote at another polling booth.