Paragraph 41 Procedure on close of poll
As soon as practicable after the close of the poll, the presiding officer shall, in the presence of the polling agents appointed for the purpose of the London Members election and for each relevant election or referendum, make up into separate packets, sealed with his own seal and the seals of such polling agents as desire to affix their seals—
each ballot box in use at the station, sealed so as to prevent the introduction of additional ballot papers and unopened, but with the key attached,
the unused and spoilt ballot papers placed together,
the tendered ballot papers,
the marked copies of the register of electors and of the list of proxies,
the counterfoils of the used ballot papers and the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll,
the tendered votes list, the list of voters with disabilities assisted by companions, the list of votes marked by the presiding officer, a statement of the number of voters whose votes are so marked by the presiding officer under the heads “physical incapacity” and “unable to read”, and the declarations made by the companions of voters with disabilities,
and shall deliver the packets or cause them to be delivered to the CRO to be taken charge of by him; but if the packets are not delivered by the presiding officer personally to the CRO, the arrangements for their delivery shall require the CRO’s approval.
Subject to paragraph (6), the contents of the packets referred to in sub-paragraphs (b), (c) and (e) of paragraph (1) shall not be combined with the contents of the packets made under the corresponding rule that applies at a relevant election or referendum; nor shall the statement prepared under paragraph (5) be so combined.
References to the CRO in paragraph (1) are references to the returning officer who discharges the functions specified in regulation 5 of the Combination of Polls Regulations.
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 counterfoils of the used ballot papers and the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll.
The packets shall be accompanied by a statement (“ballot paper account”) showing the number of ballot papers entrusted to the presiding officer, and accounting for them under the heads—
ballot papers issued and not otherwise accounted for,
unused ballot papers,
spoilt ballot papers, and
tendered ballot papers.
Where at an ordinary election the GLRO determines, in accordance with rule 16(9), that ballot papers at the ordinary election shall be on the same sheet of paper, ballot paper accounts in relation to the ballot papers on the same sheet of paper shall also be combined.