Paragraph 20 Opening of covering envelopes

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

Sch. 3 para. 15(3A) inserted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(iv)
Sch. 3 para. 15(4) words substituted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(v)(aa)
Sch. 3 para. 15(4) words omitted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(v)(bb)
Sch. 3 para. 15(6) substituted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(vi)
Sch. 3 para. 15(7) word inserted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(vii)(aa)
Sch. 3 para. 14(1)(2) substituted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(a)(i)
Sch. 3 para. 14(3) words inserted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(a)(ii)(aa)
Sch. 3 para. 14(3) words omitted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(a)(ii)(bb)
Sch. 3 para. 14(3A) inserted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(a)(iii)
Sch. 3 para. 14(5) substituted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(a)(iv)
Sch. 3 para. 14(7) substituted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(a)(v)
Sch. 3 para. 15(1) substituted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(i)
Sch. 3 para. 15(2A)(2B)(2C) inserted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(ii)
Sch. 3 para. 15(3) words substituted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(iii)(aa)
Sch. 3 para. 15(3) words omitted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(iii)(bb)
Sch. 3 para. 15(3) words inserted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(iii)(cc)
Sch. 3 para. 15(3) words inserted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(iii)(dd)
Sch. 3 para. 15(7) words substituted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(b)(vii)(bb)
Sch. 3 para. 27(1) word inserted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(c)(i)
Sch. 3 para. 27(4) words inserted by National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) 2006 art. 7(c)(ii)

(1)

When a postal voters' ballot box is opened, the constituency returning officer shall count and record the number of covering envelopes, and shall then open each covering envelope (including any envelope described in paragraph 18(2)) separately.

(2)

The procedure in paragraph 21 applies where a covering envelope (including an envelope to which paragraph 18(2) applies) contains both—

(a)

a declaration of identity, and

(b)

a ballot paper envelope, or if there is no ballot envelope, a ballot paper (or ballot papers).

(3)

Where the covering envelope does not contain the declaration of identity separately, the constituency returning officer shall open the ballot paper envelope to ascertain whether the declaration of identity is inside.

(4)

Where a covering envelope does not contain both—

(a)

a declaration of identity (whether separately or not), and

(b)

a ballot paper envelope or, if there is no ballot paper envelope, a ballot paper, (or ballot papers),

the constituency returning officer shall mark the covering envelope “provisionally rejected”, attach its contents (if any) and place it in the receptacle for rejected votes.