{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/electoral-law-act-northern-ireland-1962/schedule-5/paragraph-64",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/electoral-law-act-northern-ireland-1962/schedule-5/paragraph-64.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/64",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "64",
  "heading": "Abandoned poll",
  "text": "(1) This rule applies to a poll which is abandoned in pursuance of rules 61(4)(b) or 63(2)(b).\n(2) The presiding officer at a polling station must take the like steps (so far as not already taken) for the delivery to the returning officer of ballot boxes and ballot papers and other documents as the presiding officer is required to take on the close of the poll.\n(3) It is not necessary for a ballot paper account to be prepared or verified.\n(4) No step or further step is to be taken for the counting of the ballot papers or of the votes.\n(5) The returning officer must seal up all the ballot papers (whether the votes on them have been counted or not) and it is not necessary to seal up counted and rejected ballot papers in separate packets.\n(6) The returning officer must dispose of the ballot papers and other documents in the returning officer’s possession as the returning officer is required to do on the completion of the counting of the votes.\n(7) The provisions of these rules as to the inspection, production, retention and destruction of ballot papers and other documents relating to a poll at an election apply subject to paragraphs (8) and (9).\n(8) Ballot papers on which the votes were neither counted nor rejected must be treated as counted ballot papers.\n(9) No order is to be made for—\n(a) the production or inspection of any ballot papers, or\n(b) the opening of a sealed packet of the completed corresponding number lists or of certificates as to employment on the day of the poll, unless the order is made by a court with reference to a prosecution.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Sch. 5 rules 61-64 substituted for Sch. 5 rule 61 (16.12.2010) by The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2977), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 78 (with art. 1(3))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Sch. 5 rule 64(1)-(6) excluded (16.2.2011) by Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 (c. 1), s. 19(1), Sch. 8 para. 40"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1962/14/schedule/5/paragraph/64",
    "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."
}