{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/electoral-law-act-northern-ireland-1962/schedule-5/paragraph-31",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/electoral-law-act-northern-ireland-1962/schedule-5/paragraph-31.json",
  "legislation": "apni/1962/14",
  "legislation_title": "Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/electoral-law-act-northern-ireland-1962",
  "path": "schedule/5/paragraph/31",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "31",
  "heading": "Sealing of ballot boxes",
  "text": "Immediately before the commencement of the poll, the presiding officer shall show the ballot box empty to such persons, if any, as are present in the polling station, so that they may see that it is empty, and shall then lock it up (if it has a lock) and place his seal on it in such a manner as to prevent its being opened without breaking the seal, and shall place it in his view for the receipt of ballot papers, and keep it so locked (if it has a lock) and sealed.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 5 rule 31 inserted (16.12.2010) by Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. 1 para. 65(a) (with art. 1(3))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 5 rule 31 inserted (16.12.2010) by Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. 1 para. 65(b) (with art. 1(3))"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1962/14/schedule/5/paragraph/31",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T21:32:59.497504+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}