Regulation 39 Opening of return envelopes

When a ballot box has been opened, the returning officer must count and note the number of return envelopes and must then open each return envelope separately.

Where a return envelope does not contain a ballot paper the returning officer must mark the return envelope “rejected”, attach to it the contents (if any) of the return envelope and place it in a separate receptacle (referred to as “the receptacle for rejected votes”).

Where a return envelope does contain a ballot paper, the returning officer must place it face up in a different receptacle from the receptacle for rejected votes.