Paragraph 45 The countC1C2

in the presence of the counting agents appointed for the purposes of the poll at the parish ... election and each relevant election or referendum open each ballot box and record separately the number of ballot papers used in each election;

in the presence of the counting agents appointed for the purposes of the poll at the parish ... election and the election agents appointed for the purposes of the poll at each relevant election or referendum, verify each ballot paper account;

count such of the postal ballot papers as have been duly returned and record separately the number counted at the poll at the parish ... election and each relevant election or referendum;

separate the ballot papers relating to the parish ... election from the ballot papers relating to each relevant election or referendum;

make up into packets the ballot papers for each relevant election or referendum and seal them up in separate containers endorsing on each a description of the area to which the ballot papers relate;

deliver or cause to be delivered to the returning officer for the relevant election or referendum to which the ballot papers relate—

at the same time deliver or cause to be delivered to that officer packets that so relate containing—

on receipt of containers from the returning officer who does discharge those functions, and after the time specified in the notice given under rule 44(2)(b), in the presence of the counting agents open each container;

where the proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers are not taken together with those proceedings at a relevant election or referendum under regulation 65 of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 M1 or under that regulation as applied by regulations made under F4section 9HE, 9MG, 44 or 45, whether or not in addition to 105 of the Local Government Act 2000 M2, count such of the postal ballot papers as have been duly returned and record the number counted; and

mix together the postal ballot papers and the ballot papers from all of the containers and count the votes given on them,

it is returned in the manner set out in paragraph (6) and reaches the returning officer or any polling station in the appropriate electoral area (as defined in paragraph (7)) before the close of the poll;

the postal voting statement, duly signed, is also returned in the manner set out in paragraph (6) and reaches him or such a polling station before that time;

the postal voting statement also states the date of birth of the elector or proxy (as the case may be); F5...

in a case where steps for verifying the date of birth and signature of the voter have been prescribed by regulations made under the 1983 Act M3, the returning officer (having taken such steps) verifies the date of birth and signature of the voter; F6and

the postal ballot paper is not one that falls to be rejected in accordance with regulation 79B, 79D, 82B or 82D of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001.

to the returning officer, is by hand or by post; and

to a polling station, is by hand.

the area which is common to the parliamentary constituency M4, electoral area, F8... local authority area or voting area (as the case may be) in which the polls at the parish F9... election and any relevant election or referendum are being taken together; and

in respect of which polls the postal voter has been issued with a ballot paper.

place the ballot papers and other documents relating to the election under his own seal and the seals of such of the counting agents as desire to affix their seals; and

otherwise take proper precautions for the security of the papers and documents.