Paragraph 15 Opening of postal voters' ballot box

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

Sch. 4 para. 10(1) words substituted by Postal Services Act 2000 (Consequential Modifications No. 1) 2001 Sch. 1 para. 131(9)
Sch. 4 para. 10(1) words revoked by Postal Services Act 2000 (Consequential Modifications No. 1) 2001 Sch. 2
Sch 4, para 1 defn(s) added by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (2)(a)
Sch 4, para 1 defn(s) am by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (2)(b)
Sch 4, para 3A added by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (3)
Sch 4, para 4 rev in pt by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (4)(a)(i), (iii), (b)
Sch 4, para 4 am by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (4)(a)(ii)
Sch 4, para 6 subst by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (5)
Sch 4, para 10 subst by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (6)
Sch 4, para 11 rev by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (7)
Sch 4, para 12 subst by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (8)
Sch 4, para 13 rev in pt by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (9)(a), (e)(ii)
Sch 4, para 13 am by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (9)(a)–(d), (e)(i), (f)
Sch 4, para 13A added by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (10)
Sch 4, para 14 rev by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (11)
Sch 4, paras 15–20 replaced (by paras 15–26) by Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) 2001 arts 3, 20(1), (12)

(1)

Each postal voters' ballot box shall be opened by the constituency returning officer in the presence of the agents.

(2)

So long as the constituency returning officer ensures that there is at least one postal voters' ballot box for the reception of covering envelopes up to the time of the close of the poll, the other postal voters' ballot boxes may previously be opened by him.

(3)

The constituency returning officer shall give each–

(a)

candidate for return as a constituency member; and

(b)

except in the case of an election to fill a vacancy in the seat of a constituency member, individual candidate for return as a regional member and the election agent for each registered party standing nominated,

not less than 48 hours notice in writing of the time and place of the opening of each postal voters' ballot box and the envelopes contained in it and of the number of agents such person may appoint under paragraph 4(2) above to be present at each opening.

(4)

The constituency returning officer shall provide a ballot box as a receptacle for postal ballot papers (referred to as “the receptacle for postal ballot papers”) and every such ballot box shall be shown open and empty to the agents present and shall then be locked by the constituency returning officer and sealed with the seal of the constituency returning officer and the seals of such of the agents as desire to affix their seals in such manner as to prevent its being opened without breaking the seal.

(5)

Every ballot box referred to in sub-paragraph (4) above shall be marked “postal voters' ballot papers” and with the name of the constituency in which the election is held.

(6)

The constituency returning officer shall make provision for the safe custody of every such ballot box.

(7)

The ballot box shall be opened at the counting of the votes under rule 53 of the Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules.