senators at a half-Senate election must take place in the year before the terms expire, except if parliament is dissolved earlier. The terms of senators from the territories align with House elections. The latest date that a half-Senate election can be held must allow time for the votes to be counted and the writs to be returned before the newly elected senators take office on 1 July. This took over a month in 2016, so practically, the date in which a half-Senate election is to take place must be between 1 July of the year before Senate terms expire until mid-May of the expiry year. A double dissolution cannot take place within six months before the date of the expiry of the House of Representatives. Constitutional and legal provisions The Constitutional and legal provisions which impact on the choice of election dates include: Section 12 of the Constitution says: "The Governor of any State may cause writs to be issued for the election of Senators for that State" Section 13 of the Constitution provides that the election of senators shall be held in the period of twelve months before the places become vacant. Section 28 of the Constitution says: "Every House of Representatives shall continue for three years from the first sitting of the House, and no longer, but may be sooner dissolved by the Governor-General." Since the 46th Parliament of Australia opened on 2 July 2019, it will expire on 1 July 2022. Section 32 of the Constitution says: "The writs shall be issued within ten days from the expiry of a House of Representatives or from the proclamation of a dissolution thereof." Ten days after 1 July 2022 is 11 July 2022. Section 156 (1) of the CEA says: "The date fixed for the nomination of the candidates shall not be less than 10 days nor more than 27 days after the date of the writ". Twenty-seven days after 11 July 2022 is 7 August 2022. Section 157 of the CEA says: "The date fixed for the polling shall not be less than 23 days nor more than 31 days after the date of nomination". Thirty-one days after 7 August 2022 is 7 September 2022, a Wednesday. Section 158 of the CEA says: "The day fixed for the polling shall be a Saturday". The Saturday before 7 September 2022 is 3 September 2022. This is therefore the latest