{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/senedd-cymru-representation-of-the-people-order-2025/schedule-5/rule-60",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/senedd-cymru-representation-of-the-people-order-2025/schedule-5/rule-60.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/60",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "60",
  "heading": "The count: rejected ballot papers",
  "text": "(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), the following ballot papers are void and must not be counted—\n(a) a ballot paper that does not bear the official mark;\n(b) a ballot paper on which more than one vote is given;\n(c) a ballot paper on which anything is written or marked by which the voter can be identified except the printed number and other unique identifying mark on the back;\n(d) a ballot paper that is unmarked or void for uncertainty.\n(2) Paragraphs (3) and (4) apply to a ballot paper on which a vote is marked—\n(a) elsewhere than in the proper place,\n(b) otherwise than by means of a cross, or\n(c) by more than one mark.\n(3) The ballot paper is not, by reason only of how the vote is marked, to be treated as void, either wholly or as respects that vote, if—\n(a) it is clear from the ballot paper that the voter intended to vote for one or other of the candidates,\n(b) the way the ballot paper is marked does not itself identify the voter, and\n(c) the returning officer is satisfied that the voter cannot be identified from the ballot paper.\n(4) A ballot paper on which a vote is marked for a particular party list candidate on the party list of a registered political party is, if otherwise valid, to be treated as a vote for that party, whether or not there is also a vote marked for that party.\n(5) The returning officer must endorse the word “gwrthodwyd” or the word “rejected” or both, on any ballot paper which, in accordance with this rule, is not to be counted.\n(6) If a counting agent objects to the returning officer’s decision, the returning officer must add the words “gwrthwynebwyd y gwrthodiad” or the words “rejection objected to” or both, to the endorsement.\n(7) The returning officer must prepare a statement showing the number of ballot papers rejected.\n(8) The statement must set out the number rejected under each of the headings in paragraph (1).",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Sch. 5 rule 60 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/60",
    "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."
}