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Paragraph 48 Procedure on close of poll

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

(1)

As soon as practicable after the close of the poll at an ordinary election where electors have been entitled to give two votes at the polling station, the presiding officer shall, in the presence of the polling agents, make up into separate packets, sealed with his own seal and the seals of such polling agents as desire to affix their seals—

(a)

each ballot box in use at the station, sealed so as to prevent the introduction of additional ballot papers and unopened,

(b)

the unused and spoilt ballot papers placed together relating to the constituency election,

(c)

the unused and spoilt ballot papers placed together relating to the regional election,

(d)

the tendered ballot papers relating to the consistuency election,

(e)

the tendered ballot papers relating to the regional election,

(f)

the marked copies of the register of electors and of the list of proxies,

(g)

the counterfoils of the used ballot papers relating to the consistuency election,

(h)

the counterfoils of the used ballot papers relating to the regional election,

(i)

the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll, and

(j)

the tendered votes list, the list of the blind voters assisted by companions, the list of votes marked by the presiding officer, a statement of the number of voters whose votes are so marked by the presiding officer under the heads “physical incapacity” and “unable to read”, and the declarations made by the companions of blind voters.

(2)

Where sub-paragraph (1) does not apply at an Assembly election, as soon as practicable after the close of the poll, the presiding officer shall, in the presence of the polling agents, make up into separate packets, sealed with his own seal and the seals of such polling agents as desire to affix their seals—

(a)

each ballot box in use at the station, sealed so as to prevent the introduction of additional ballot papers and unopened,

(b)

the unused and spoilt ballot papers placed together,

(c)

the tendered ballot papers,

(d)

the marked copies of the register of electors and of the list of proxies,

(e)

the counterfoils of the used ballot papers,

(f)

the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll, and

(g)

the tendered votes list, the list of blind voters assisted by companions, the list of votes marked by the presiding officer, a statement of the number of voters whose votes are so marked by the presiding officer under the heads “physical incapacity” and “unable to read”, and the declarations made by the companions of blind voters.

(3)

The presiding officer shall deliver the packets made up under sub-paragraph (1) or (2), or cause them to be delivered, to the constituency returning officer to be taken charge of by him; but if the packets are not delivered by the presiding officer personally to the constituency returning officer, the arrangements for their delivery shall require the constituency returning officer’s approval.

(4)

The packets at an Assembly election shall be accompanied by—

(a)

a separate statement relating to each Assembly election where sub-paragraph (1) applies, or

(b)

a statement relating to the Assembly election where sub-paragraph (2) applies,

(in this Schedule referred to as “the ballot paper account”) made by the presiding officer showing the number of ballot papers entrusted to him, and accounting for them under the heads of ballot papers issued and not otherwise accounted for, unused, spoilt and tendered ballot papers.