Rule 39 Sealing of ballot boxesI1

England and Wales

(1)

The presiding officer must take the following steps immediately before the poll begins.

(2)

The presiding officer must show the empty ballot box to those people (if any) who are present in the polling station, so that they may see that it is empty.

(3)

The presiding officer must then—

(a)

lock up the box, if it has a lock, and

(b)

place the F1presiding officer’s seal on it, in such a way as to prevent it being opened without breaking the seal.

(4)

The presiding officer must then place the box, within the presiding officer’s view, for the receipt of ballot papers.

(5)

The presiding officer must keep the box locked and sealed or (if it does not have a lock) keep it sealed.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in Sch. 2 rule 39(3)(b) substituted (13.3.2026) by The Local Elections (Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2026 (W.S.I. 2026/84), rules 1(2), 96 (with rule 1(3))

Commencement

I1: Sch. 2 rule 39 in force at 17.12.2021, see rule 1

Notes on Schedule 2

Modifications

C1: Sch. 2 applied (with modifications) (18.7.2025) by The Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/864), art. 1(2), Sch. 3 paras. 26, 29 (with art. 1(4))