Paragraph 41 Opening of preliminary ballot box

Each preliminary ballot box shall be opened by the counting officer in the presence of the referendum agents and receipt agents, if any are in attendance.

As long as the counting officer ensures that there is at least one sealed preliminary ballot box for the reception of covering envelopes up to the time of the close of the poll, the other preliminary ballot boxes may be opened by him before that time.

The last preliminary ballot box shall be opened after the close of the poll.

In this rule and rules 42 to 47, “covering envelope” means a covering envelope issued as part of a ballot pack and any other envelope that appears to the counting officer to be likely to contain a security statement, ballot paper envelope or ballot paper.