Paragraph 3

The requirements in paragraphs 10, 13, 20, 26, and 28 of this Scheme that documents conveying respectively nominations, withdrawals of candidates, votes, returns and protests shall be received by days fixed under any of those paragraphs mean that such documents shall be valid only if delivered to or received by post at the address specified under paragraph 8(2) of this Scheme not later than 5.00 p.m. on the day fixed for the purpose:

Provided that the Returning Officer shall accept as valid any such document sent through the post and received at the appropriate address after 5.00 p.m. on the day fixed for the purpose, or by first post on the following day, if he is satisfied by examination of the post mark, or otherwise, that it was posted on a day preceding the day fixed for the purpose, at such a time that it would normally have been received not later than that day.