Paragraph 43 Alternative means of returning postal ballot paper or postal voting statement

For the purposes of rule 49(2) of the PCC elections rules, the manner in which a postal ballot paper or postal voting statement at a PCC election for any police area may be returned to a polling station is by hand.

For those purposes, the manner in which such a paper or statement may be returned to the local returning officer, is by hand or by post.

Subject to F1sub-paragraphs (3A) and (4), the presiding officer of the polling station must deliver, or cause to be delivered, any postal ballot paper or postal voting statement returned to that station F2and any return of postal voting documents form to the local returning officer in the same manner and at the same time as the presiding officer delivers, or causes to be delivered, the packets referred to in rule 47(1) of the PCC elections rules.

A postal ballot paper or postal voting statement may only be delivered to the local returning officer in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) if the requirements of paragraph 43A are met and the paper and statement are not rejected in accordance with paragraph 43B or 43D.

The local returning officer may collect, or cause to be collected, any postal ballot paper or postal voting statement F4and any return of postal voting documents form which by virtue of sub-paragraph (3) the presiding officer of a polling station would otherwise be required to deliver or cause to be delivered to the local returning officer.

Where the local returning officer collects, or causes to be collected, any postal ballot paper or postal voting statement or return of postal voting documents form in accordance with sub-paragraph (4), the presiding officer must first make up into separate packets sealed with the presiding officer’s own seal and the seals of such polling agents as are present and desire to affix their seals with a description of its contents written on each packet—