Regulation 25 Counting of votes

(1)

In respect of the relevant Assembly election—

(a)

rule 44(1) of the AER is to be read as if the reference to “after the close of the poll” was instead a reference to after the conclusion of the proceedings under regulation 24 of these Regulations;

(b)

rule 44(2) of the AER is to be read as if it included a reference to the persons specified in rule 44(1) of the LER;

(c)

rule 44B(1) of the AER is to be disregarded.

(2)

In respect of the relevant local election—

(a)

rule 43(1) of the LER is to be read as if the reference to “9 in the morning on the day after the day of the poll” was instead a reference to 9 in the morning on the fourth day after the day of the polls at the relevant elections or at such later time and date as the returning officer may direct;

(b)

rule 44(1) of the LER is to be read as if it included a reference to the persons specified in rule 44(2) of the AER;

(c)

rule 45(1) of the LER is to be disregarded and the procedure in paragraph (3) of this regulation is to be followed instead.

(3)

Before counting the votes relating to the relevant local election in accordance with rule 45 of the LER, the returning officer must, in the presence of the counting agents appointed for that poll—

(a)

open each ballot box and take out the ballot papers, and

(b)

mix together the whole of the ballot papers (including those postal ballot papers that have been duly returned in accordance with the requirements of rule 45(2) of the LER).