1) The Returning Officer shall fix the date, hour and place for the following stages of the election, namely — a) receipt of nomination papers;
b) scrutiny of nomination papers;
ba) withdrawal of candidature;
c) receipt of ballot papers ; and d) counting of votes.
2) The date of the receipt of nomination papers shall be not less than forty days before the date fixed for the receipt of ballot papers. The date fixed for scrutiny of nomination papers shall be not less than thirty five days before the date fixed for receipt of ballot papers. The date fixed for withdrawals of candidature shall be not later than three days after completion of scrutiny of nomination papers or, if that day is a public holiday, the next succeeding day which is not a public holiday.