# The Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025, Paragraph 19: Receipt of covering envelope

Extent: E+W

(1) Where, before the close of the poll, the returning officer receives—
(a) a covering envelope, or
(b) an envelope which is stated to include a postal vote,
the returning officer must immediately place that envelope unopened in a postal voters’ ballot box.
(2) Where an envelope, other than a covering envelope issued by the returning officer—
(a) has been opened, and
(b) contains a ballot paper envelope, postal voting statement or ballot paper,
the first-mentioned envelope, together with its contents, must be placed in a postal voters’ ballot box.
(3) The returning officer may collect, or cause to be collected, any postal ballot paper or postal voting statement which by virtue of rule 55 of Schedule 5 (procedure on close of poll) the presiding officer of a polling station would otherwise be required to deliver or cause to be delivered to the returning officer.
(4) Where the returning officer collects, or causes to be collected, any postal ballot paper or postal voting statement in accordance with sub-paragraph (3), the presiding officer must first make it, or them, up into a packet, or packets, sealed with the presiding officer’s own seal and the seals of any polling agents as are present and who wish to add their seals.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2025/864/schedule/2/paragraph/19 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/senedd-cymru-representation-of-the-people-order-2025/schedule-2/paragraph-19
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.