Paragraph 28 Forwarding of documents

(1)

The constituency returning officer shall forward to the sheriff clerk at the same time as he forwards the documents mentioned in rule 69 of the Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules–

(a)

any packets referred to in paragraphs 12, 13(7), 14(5) and 26, subject to paragraph 27, endorsing on each packet a description of its contents, the date of the election to which it relates and the name of the constituency or electoral ward for which the election (or elections) was (or were) held; and

(b)

a completed statement in form W set out in the Appendix of the number of postal ballot papers issued.

(2)

Where–

(a)

any covering envelopes are received by the constituency returning officer after the close of the poll (apart from those delivered in accordance with Rule 53(1)(g) of the Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules);

(b)

any envelopes addressed to postal voters are returned as undelivered too late to be readdressed; or

(c)

any spoilt postal ballot papers are returned too late to enable other postal ballot papers to be issued

the constituency returning officer shall put them unopened in a separate packet, seal up such packet and endorse and forward it at a subsequent date in the manner described in sub paragraph (1).

(3)

Rules 68 and 69 of the Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules shall apply to any packet or document forwarded under this paragraph.

(4)

A copy of the statement referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b) shall be provided by the constituency returning officer to the Secretary of State and the Electoral Commission in the period which starts 10 days after the day of the poll and ends 15 days after the day of the poll.