# The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006, Paragraph 26: Equipment of polling stations


(1) The returning officer must provide each presiding officer with such number of ballot boxes and ballot papers as in the returning officer’s opinion may be necessary.
(2) The same ballot box may be used for the poll at the principal area election and the poll at every relevant election or referendum, if the returning officer thinks fit.
(3) Every ballot box must be so constructed that the ballot papers can be put in it, but cannot be withdrawn from it, without the box being unlocked or, where the box has no lock, the seal being broken.
(4) The returning officer must provide each polling station with—
(a) materials to enable voters to mark the ballot papers;
(b) copies of the register of electors for the electoral area or such part of it as contains the names of the electors allotted to the station;
(c) the parts of any special lists prepared for the election corresponding to the register of electors for the electoral area or the part of it provided under sub-paragraph (b);
(d) a list consisting of that part of the list prepared under rule 17 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.
(5) The reference in paragraph (4)(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 in respect of alterations to the register.
(5ZA) The returning officer must also provide each polling station with a ballot paper refusal list, in the appropriate form in the Appendix or a form to the like effect, on which entries are to be made as mentioned in rule 39A (refusal to deliver ballot paper).
(5A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6) The returning officer must also provide each polling station with—
(a) ... at least one large version of the ballot paper which must be printed on the same colour paper as the ballot papers and displayed inside the polling station for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted; ...
(aa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) 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 35 (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—
(i) blindness or partial sight, or
(ii) another disability.
(6ZA) Paragraph (10) of rule 29 of Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act (Parliamentary elections rules: guidance to returning officers) applies for the purposes of paragraph (6)(b) of this rule as it applies for the purposes of that rule, but as if the reference in that paragraph to paragraph (3A)(b) were a reference to paragraph (6)(b) of this rule.
(6A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(7) Where notwithstanding paragraph (2) separate ballot boxes are to be used, each ballot box must be clearly marked with—
(a) the election or referendum to which it relates, as shown on the ballot papers for that election or referendum; and
(b) the words “Place the [specify colour of ballot papers in question] ballot papers in here”.
(8) A notice in the form in the Appendix, giving directions for the guidance of voters in voting, must be printed in conspicuous characters and exhibited inside and outside every polling station.
(9) The returning officer may also provide copies of the notice mentioned in paragraph (8) in Braille or translated into languages other than English as he considers appropriate, provided that these notices are accurate reproductions in Braille or that other language of that notice.
(9A) 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.
(10) In every compartment of every polling station there must be exhibited the notice—
*PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION
([Specify colour] ballot paper)
Vote for ONLY ONE CANDIDATE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.
...
*[Specify name of council] COUNCIL ELECTION
([Specify colour] ballot paper)
*[Vote for NO MORE THAN … CANDIDATES by putting a cross [X] in the box next to EACH of your choices.]
*[Vote ONLY ONCE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.]
*ELECTION OF THE MAYOR OF LONDON
([Specify colour] ballot paper)
#On the ballot paper for the election of the Mayor, vote ONCE for your first choice and ONCE for your second choice.
*ELECTION OF THE LONDON ASSEMBLY
#On the constituency members ballot paper ([specify colour]) vote for ONE candidate only.
#On the London members ballot paper ([specify colour]) vote for ONE party or individual candidate only.
*[Specify other] ELECTION/REFERENDUM
([Specify colour] ballot paper)
[Specify voting instructions in accordance with the legislation governing the election or referendum]
PUT NO OTHER MARK ON THE BALLOT PAPER OR YOUR VOTE MAY NOT COUNT.
*[PLEASE DO NOT FOLD THE BALLOT PAPERS FOR [specify the election(s) and/or referendum(s) at which the votes are to be counted electronically]. Post them, face downwards, in the [*appropriate] ballot box.]
*Complete or omit as necessary.
Alternatively, insert such information as the GLRO may decide.
(11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/3304/schedule/3/paragraph/26 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/local-elections-principal-areas-england-and-wales-rules-2006/schedule-3/paragraph-26
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.