{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/senedd-cymru-representation-of-the-people-order-2025/schedule-5/rule-59",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/senedd-cymru-representation-of-the-people-order-2025/schedule-5/rule-59.json",
  "legislation": "wsi/2025/864",
  "legislation_title": "The Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/senedd-cymru-representation-of-the-people-order-2025",
  "path": "schedule/5/rule/59",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "59",
  "heading": "The count: general",
  "text": "(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the returning officer must, so far as practicable, proceed continuously with the counting of votes, allowing only time for refreshment.\n(2) The returning officer may agree with the counting agents appointed for the purposes of the election to exclude any or all of the hours between 7.00 p.m. and 9.00 a.m. the following day.\n(3) For the purposes of the exception in paragraph (2), the agreement of—\n(a) an individual candidate or the candidate’s election agent, or\n(b) the election agent for a registered political party standing nominated,\nwill be as effective as the agreement of the candidate’s or party’s counting agents.\n(4) During any time that is excluded, the returning officer must—\n(a) place the ballot papers and other documents relating to the election under the returning officer’s seal and the seals of any counting agents who wish to affix their seals, and\n(b) otherwise take proper precautions for the security of the ballot papers and other documents.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Sch. 5 rule 59 in force at 18.7.2025, see art. 1(2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2025/864/schedule/5/rule/59",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-14T03:35:52.324656+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}