Paragraph 40 Procedure on close of poll

(1)

As soon as practicable after every voter has cast their vote in terms of rule 33, the presiding officer shall, in the presence of the polling agents, using the presiding officer’s own seal and the seals of such polling agents as desire to affix their seals, seal each ballot box in use at the station so as to prevent the introduction of additional ballot papers and thereafter separate and make up into separate packets, sealed with the presiding officer’s own seal and the seals of such polling agents as desire to affix their seals—

(a)

the unused and spoilt ballot papers placed together;

(b)

the tendered ballot papers;

(c)

the marked copies of the register of electors and any notices setting out an alteration to the register of electors referred to in rule 19(b), the marked copies of the postal voters list, the list of proxies and the proxy postal voters list;

(d)

the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll surrendered under rule 28(4);

(e)

part two of the corresponding number list completed in accordance with rule 33(1)(b) (referred to in these rules as “the completed corresponding number list”);

(f)

any postal ballot paper or postal voting statement returned to the station in terms of rule 43(2);

(g)

as a single packet—

(i)

the list of votes marked by the presiding officer maintained under rule 34(2) together with a statement of the number of voters whose votes are marked under the heads ‘disability’ and ‘unable to read’;

(ii)

the declarations made by the companions of voters with disabilities under rule 35(2)(b);

(iii)

the list of voters with disabilities assisted by companions maintained under rule 35(4);

(iv)

the tendered votes list maintained under rule 36(7); and

(v)

the list maintained under rule 38,

and shall deliver the sealed ballot boxes or packets or cause them to be delivered to the returning officer to be taken charge of by the returning officer; but if the sealed ballot boxes or packets are not delivered by the presiding officer personally to the returning officer, the arrangements for their delivery shall require the returning officer’s approval.

(2)

The marked copies of the register of electors and of the list of proxies shall be in one packet but shall not be in the same packet as the lists mentioned in paragraph (1)(e) or the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll.

(3)

The packets shall be accompanied by a statement (in these rules referred to as the “ballot paper account”) made by the presiding officer, showing the number of ballot papers entrusted to the presiding officer and accounting of them under the heads of ballot papers issued and not otherwise accounted for, unused, spoilt and tendered ballot papers.