Paragraph 29 Equipment of polling stations

(1)

The CRO must provide each presiding officer with—

(a)

such ballot papers as may be necessary, and

(b)

such ballot boxes as may be necessary having taken account of any direction made by the GLRO in accordance with paragraph (9).

(2)

Every ballot box must be so constructed that the ballot papers can be put in it, but cannot be withdrawn from it, without the box being unlocked or, where the box has no lock, the seal being broken.

(3)

The CRO must provide each polling station with—

(a)

materials to enable voters to mark the ballot papers,

(b)

copies of the register of electors or such part of it as contains the entries relating to the electors allotted to the station,

(c)

the parts of any special lists prepared for the election corresponding to the register of electors or the part of it provided under sub-paragraph (b),

(d)

a notice of the death of any person of whose death he has been informed as mentioned in rule 15(4),

(e)

a list consisting of that part of the list prepared under rule 19 which contains the numbers (but not the other unique identifying marks) corresponding to those on the ballot papers provided to the presiding officer of the polling station.

(4)

The reference in paragraph (3)(b) to the copies of the register of electors includes a reference to copies of any notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act M1 in respect of alterations to the register.

F1(4A)

The CRO must also provide each polling station with a ballot paper refusal list, in the appropriate form or a form to like effect, on which entries are to be made as mentioned in rule 43A (refusal to deliver ballot paper).

F2(5)

The CRO must also provide each polling station with such equipment as it is reasonable to provide for the purposes of enabling, or making it easier for, relevant persons to vote independently in the manner directed by rule 39 (voting procedure), including in relation to voting secretly; and for this purpose “relevant persons” means persons who find it difficult or impossible to vote in that manner because of—

(a)

blindness or partial sight, or

(b)

another disability.

(5A)

Paragraph (10) of rule 29 of Schedule 1 to 1983 Act (Parliamentary elections rules: guidance to returning officers) applies for the purposes of paragraph (5) of this rule as it applies for the purposes of that rule, but as if—

(a)

the reference in that paragraph to the returning officer were a reference to the CRO, and

(b)

the reference in that paragraph to paragraph (3A)(b) were a reference to paragraph (5) of this rule.

F3(6)

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(7)

The enlarged sample copies of the ballot paper that the GLRO is required to provide, or cause to be displayed at every polling station (in accordance with section 199B(5) and (7) of the 1983 Act) must—

(a)

be provided to the CRO who will deliver them to the polling stations, and

(b)

be of the same colour as the ballot paper at the election.

(8)

The CRO must also provide each polling station with notices for the guidance of voters, which must be exhibited—

(a)

outside the polling station,

(b)

inside the polling station—

(i)

in the communal areas, and

(ii)

in every voting compartment.

F4(8A)

A large notice must be displayed inside each polling station containing—

(a)

details of the documents the voter needs to produce when applying for a ballot paper, namely—

(i)

in the case of an elector (other than an elector with an anonymous entry) or a proxy, any of the forms of identification for the time being referred to in rule 37(1H) of the parliamentary election rules;

(ii)

in the case of an elector with an anonymous entry, the elector’s official poll card and an anonymous elector’s document showing the same electoral number as the electoral number shown on the official poll card; and

(b)

a statement that further proof of identity may be required to resolve any discrepancy between the name of the holder of a form of identification and the name of the elector or proxy that the voter claims to be.

(9)

If the GLRO thinks fit he may, not later than the date of the notice of election, direct the CRO that joint ballot boxes must be used for the ballot papers at the election and any or all Authority elections with which the election is taken.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Sch. 2 rule 29(4A) inserted (with application in accordance with rule 1(3)(4) of the amending S.I.) by The Voter Identification (Principal Area, Parish and Greater London Authority Elections) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. 2022/1397), rules 1(1), 13(5)(a)
F2: Sch. 2 rule 29(5)(5A) substituted for Sch. 2 rule 29(5) (29.12.2022) by The Assistance with Voting for Persons with Disabilities (Principal Area, Parish and Greater London Authority Elections) (Amendments) Rules 2022 (S.I. 2022/1284), rules 1(1), 5(3)(a)(i) (with rule 1(2))
F3: Sch. 2 rule 29(6) omitted (29.12.2022) by virtue of The Assistance with Voting for Persons with Disabilities (Principal Area, Parish and Greater London Authority Elections) (Amendments) Rules 2022 (S.I. 2022/1284), rules 1(1), 5(3)(a)(ii) (with rule 1(2))
F4: Sch. 2 rule 29(8A) inserted (with application in accordance with rule 1(3)(4) of the amending S.I.) by The Voter Identification (Principal Area, Parish and Greater London Authority Elections) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. 2022/1397), rules 1(1), 13(5)(b)

Marginal citations

M1: Section 13B of the 1983 Act was inserted by paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (c.2) and amended by section 11(3) of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c.22). Subsections (3B) and (3D) of section 13B were inserted by section 11(4) of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c.22).