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Paragraph 35 Opening of ballot boxes and covering envelopes

Changes not yet applied. Later legislation changes this provision in ways not yet written into the text below:

(1)

The count is begun by the returning officer opening each ballot box.

(2)

The returning officer must then—

(a)

count and note the number of covering envelopes; and

(b)

open each covering envelope separately.

(3)

If a covering envelope does not contain a ballot paper the returning officer must—

(a)

mark the covering envelope with the word “rejected”;

(b)

attach to it the contents (if any) of the envelope; and

(c)

place the envelope in a separate receptacle (the “rejected votes box”).

(4)

If a covering envelope does contain a ballot paper, the returning officer must place it in a different receptacle from the rejected votes box.