Rule 55 Procedure on close of pollI1

England and Wales

(1)

This rule sets out the steps that must be taken by the presiding officer as soon as practicable after every voter has cast their vote.

(2)

In the presence of any polling agents who are in the polling station, the presiding officer must—

(a)

seal each ballot box in use at the polling station so as to prevent the introduction of additional ballot papers, using the presiding officer’s seal and the seals of any polling agents who wish to affix their seals, and

(b)

attach any ballot box key to the ballot box.

(3)

The presiding officer must place each of the following in separate packets, sealed using the presiding officer’s seal and the seals of any polling agents who wish to affix their seal—

(a)

the unused and spoilt ballot papers, together;

(b)

the tendered ballot papers;

(c)

the marked copies of the registration records and list of proxies, together;

(d)

the polling station’s corresponding number list, as marked (see rule 46(2)(c));

(e)

any certificates surrendered under rule 41(5) or (6) (surrender of certificates issued to constables or staff of returning officers);

(f)

the following lists and declarations, together—

(i)

the list of votes marked by the presiding officer, together with a statement of the number of voters whose votes were marked because they were disabled or unable to read (see rule 47);

(ii)

the declarations made by the companions of voters with disabilities (see rule 48);

(iii)

the list of voters with disabilities assisted by companions (see rule 49);

(iv)

the tendered votes list (see rule 51);

(v)

the list maintained under rule 53 (correction of errors on day of poll);

(g)

the postal ballot papers and postal voting statements which have been returned by hand to the polling station (unless previously collected in accordance with paragraph 19(3) of Schedule 2).

(4)

The presiding officer must do anything required by paragraph (3)(a), (b), (e), (f) or (g) in the polling station, in the presence of any polling agents who are there.

(5)

The presiding officer may do anything required by paragraph (3)(c) or (d)—

(a)

in the polling station, in the presence of any polling agents who are there, or

(b)

if the presiding officer has informed the polling agents and given them an opportunity to attend, at any other place that the presiding officer considers appropriate, in the presence of any polling agents who are there.

(6)

Documents sealed in accordance with paragraphs (3)(c) and (d) and (5) may be sealed in physical packets or electronic packets, and seals that are applied to those packets may be applied physically or electronically, as appropriate.

(7)

The presiding officer must deliver the sealed ballot boxes and packets to the returning officer or cause them to be delivered in accordance with the security and access arrangements approved by the returning officer.

(8)

The packets must be accompanied by a statement (“a ballot paper account”) prepared by the presiding officer showing—

(a)

the number of ballot papers given to the presiding officer, and

(b)

how the ballot papers are accounted for under the following headings—

(i)

the number of ballot papers issued and not otherwise accounted for;

(ii)

the number of ballot papers unused;

(iii)

the number of spoilt ballot papers;

(iv)

the number of tendered ballot papers.

(9)

In this rule, “the marked copies of the registration records” means the copies of the registration records, as defined by rule 44(8), as marked in accordance with these rules.

Annotations

Commencement

I1: Sch. 5 rule 55 in force at 18.7.2025, see art. 1(2)