Paragraph 20 Opening of postal voters’ ballot boxI1

Each postal voters ballot box must be opened by the returning officer in the presence of any agents, if in attendance.

So long as the returning officer ensures that there is at least one sealed postal voters ballot box for the reception of covering envelopes up to the time of the close of the poll, the returning officer may open the other postal voters ballot boxes prior to that time.

The last postal voters ballot box and all postal ballot boxes must be opened at the counting of the votes under rule 58 of Schedule 5 (the count: steps).