Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/444/schedule/5/made
Timestamp: 2013-06-19 18:59:27
Document Index: 299590850

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 1', 'ART 2', 'ART 3', 'ART 4', 'ART 5', 'ART 6', 'ART 7', 'ART 8', 'ART 1', 'ART 2', 'ART 3', 'ART 5', 'ART 6', 'ART 7', 'ART 8']

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Status:This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.Regulation 18SCHEDULE 5The Local Government Finance Act Referendums (Combination of Polls) RulesThis schedule has no associated Explanatory MemorandumPART 1 Citation and interpretation1.Citation2.InterpretationPART 2 Provisions as to time3.Timetable4.Computation of timePART 3 General provisions5.Notice of referendum6.Poll to be taken by ballot7.The ballot papers8.The corresponding number list9.The official mark10.Prohibition of disclosure of vote11.Use of schools and public roomsPART 4 Action to be taken before the poll12.Notice of Poll13.Postal ballot papers14.Provision of polling stations15.Appointment of presiding officers and clerks16.Issue of official poll cards17.Equipment of polling stations18.Appointment of counting observers19.Appointment of polling observers20.Notification of requirement of secrecy in respect of polling stations21.Notification of requirement of secrecy in respect of the count22.Return of postal ballot papersPART 5 The poll23.Admission to the polling station24.Keeping of order in station25.Sealing of ballot boxes26.Questions to be put to voters and proxies27.Challenge of voter or proxy28.Voting procedure29.Votes marked by presiding officer30.Voting by persons with disabilities31.Tendered ballot papers: circumstances where available32.Tendered ballot papers: general provisions33.Spoilt ballot papers34.Correction of errors on day of poll35.Adjournment of poll in case of riot36.Procedure on close of pollPART 6 Counting of votes37.Attendance at counting of votes38.The count39.Rejected ballot papers40.Decisions on ballot papersPART 7 Final Proceedings and Miscellaneous41.Declaration of result42.Chief Counting Officer’s re-count43.Counting officer’s statement and declaration of result44.Sealing up of ballot papers45.Delivery of documents to relevant registration officer46.Orders for production of documents47.Retention of documents48.Countermand or abandonment of poll at election on death of candidatePART 8 Appendix of FormsPART 1Citation and interpretationCitation1. These Rules may be cited as the Local Government Finance Act Referendums (Combination of Polls) Rules.
(a)subject to paragraph (2) below, “relevant returning or counting officer” means the returning or the counting officer (as the case may be) discharging the functions under regulation 5 of the Combination of Polls Regulations(1); and
(b)“voter” means a person entitled to vote on his or her own behalf.
(2) Where regulation 17(1) applies and referendums and elections are not taken together in accordance with section 15(2)(A) of the 1985 Act, references to the “relevant returning or counting officer” are to be construed as references to the counting officer for the relevant billing authority.
(3) Subject to paragraph (1), expressions used both in these Rules and the 1983 Act (as it applies to local government elections) have the same meaning in these Rules as they have in that Act.
PART 2Provisions as to timeTimetable3. The proceedings at the referendum shall be conducted in accordance with the following Timetable.
TimetableProceedingsPublication of notice of referendumNot later than the twenty-fifth day before the day of referendum.Notice of pollNot later than the sixth day before the day of the referendum.PollingBetween the hours of 7 in the morning and 10 at night on the day of referendum.Computation of time4. In computing any period of time for the purposes of the Timetable the days mentioned in regulation 23(2)(a) to (c) shall be disregarded, and any such day shall not be treated as a day for the purpose of any proceedings up to the completion of the poll nor shall the relevant returning or counting officer, nor the counting officer, be obliged to take any step in relation to the counting of the votes on such a day.
PART 3General provisionsNotice of referendum5.—(1) The counting officer must publish notice of the referendum stating the date of the poll.
The ballot papers7.—(1) The ballot of every person entitled to a vote at the referendum must consist of a ballot paper.
(2) Every ballot paper to be used in the referendum must be in the appropriate form in the Appendix.
(a)be capable of being folded up;
(b)have a number and other unique identifying mark printed on the back; and
(c)be a different colour from the ballot papers used at any other relevant election or referendum.
The corresponding number list8.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the relevant returning or counting officer must prepare a list containing the numbers and other unique identifying marks of all of the ballot papers to be issued by that person in pursuance of rule 13(1) or provided by him or her in pursuance of rule 17(1).
(2) Where proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers in the referendum are not taken together with such proceedings at one or more relevant elections and referendums, the counting officer must prepare the list mentioned in paragraph (1) in respect of all of the ballot papers to be issued by him or her in pursuance of rule 13(1).
(3) The list must be in the form M1 in the Appendix or a form to like effect.
Prohibition of disclosure of vote10. No person who has voted at the referendum shall, in any legal proceeding to question the referendum, be required to state for which answer he or she has voted.
Use of schools and public rooms11.—(1) The counting officer and the relevant returning or counting officer may use, free of charge, for relevant purposes—
(a)a room in a school maintained or assisted by a local authority (as defined in the Education Act 1996(2) or a school in respect of which grants are made out of moneys provided by Parliament to the person or body of persons responsible for the management of the school;
(2) That officer must make good any damage done to, and defray any expense incurred by the persons having control over, any such room as mentioned above by reason of its being used for the purpose of taking the poll or counting the votes.
(3) In paragraph (1) “relevant purposes” means—
(a)in the case of the counting officer, the counting of the votes; and
(b)in the case of the relevant returning or counting officer, the taking of the poll and the discharging of the functions under rule 38(1) or (5) (where applicable).
(3) The relevant returning or counting officer must, not later than the time of the publication of the notice of the poll, also give public notice of—
(a)state that the poll at the referendum is to be taken together with the poll at a relevant election or referendum;
(b)specify the parliamentary constituency(3), local counting area, Assembly constituency, voting area or, as the case may be, the relevant local authority and, in the case of an election to fill a casual vacancy, the electoral area for which the relevant election or referendum is held; and
(c)where any of the polls are to be taken together in part of the electoral area or voting area only, specify that part.
Postal ballot papers13.—(1) The relevant returning or counting officer must, in accordance with regulations made under the 1983 Act(4), issue to those entitled to vote by post a ballot paper and a postal voting statement in the appropriate form in the Appendix, or a form to like effect, together with such envelopes for their return as may be prescribed by such regulations.
(2) The relevant returning or counting officer must also issue to those entitled to vote by post such information as he or she thinks appropriate about how to obtain—
(5) In paragraphs (1), (2) and (4) for “relevant returning or counting officer” substitute “counting officer” where proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers at the referendum are not taken together with such proceedings at one or more relevant elections or referendums.
Provision of polling stations14.—(1) The relevant returning or counting officer must provide a sufficient number of polling stations and, subject to the following provisions of this rule, must allot the voters to the polling stations in such manner as he or she thinks most convenient.
(2) The polling stations are the polling places or polling stations (as the case may be) designated for the purposes of the election or referendum for which the relevant returning or counting officer discharges functions which are not combined functions.
(3) In paragraph (2) “combined functions” means functions under regulation 5 of the Combination of Polls Regulations.
(4) One or more polling stations may be provided in the same room.
(5) The polling station allotted to voters from any parliamentary polling district wholly or partly within the voting area must, in the absence of special circumstances, be in the parliamentary polling place for that district.
(6) The relevant returning or counting officer must provide each polling station with such number of compartments as may be necessary in which the voters and proxies can mark their votes screened from observation.
Appointment of presiding officers and clerks15.—(1) The relevant returning or counting officer must appoint and pay a presiding officer to attend at each polling station and such clerks as may be necessary for the purposes of the referendum.
(2) The relevant returning or counting officer may, if he or she thinks fit, preside at a polling station and the provisions of these Rules relating to a presiding officer shall apply to a relevant returning or counting officer so presiding with the necessary modifications as to things to be done by the relevant returning or counting officer to the presiding officer or by the presiding officer to the relevant returning or counting officer.
Issue of official poll cards16.—(1) The counting officer must as soon as practicable after the publication of the notice of referendum send to each voter and proxy an official poll card.
(b)the name of the voter and his or her qualifying address and number on the register;
(4) In the case of a voter with an anonymous entry, instead of containing the matter mentioned in paragraph (3)(b), the poll card must contain such matter as is specified in the appropriate form in the Appendix.
(a)mean a person who is registered in the register of local government electors for the voting area in question on the last day for the publication of notice of the referendum; and
(6) If the counting officer and the returning or counting officer (as the case may be) for each relevant election or referendum think fit, an official poll card issued under this rule may be combined with the official poll card issued at every relevant election or referendum.
Equipment of polling stations17.—(1) The relevant returning or counting officer must provide each presiding officer with such number of ballot boxes and ballot papers as in the former officer’s opinion may be necessary.
(2) The same ballot box may be used for the poll at the referendum and the poll at every relevant election or referendum, if the relevant returning or counting officer thinks fit.
(4) The relevant returning or counting officer must provide each polling station with—
(d)a list, in the form M2 in the Appendix or a form to like effect, consisting of that part of the list prepared under rule 8 which contains the numbers (but not the other unique identifying marks) corresponding to those on the ballot papers provided to the presiding officer of the polling station.
(5) The reference in paragraph (4)(b) to the copies of the register of electors includes a reference to copies of any notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act(5) in respect of alterations to the register.
(6) The relevant returning or counting officer must also provide each polling station with—
(a)at least one large version of each ballot paper which must be printed on the same colour paper as the corresponding ballot paper and displayed inside the polling station for the assistance of voters and proxies who are partially sighted; and
(b)a device of such description as is set out in paragraph (11) for enabling voters and proxies who are blind or partially sighted to vote without any need for assistance from the presiding officer or any companion (within the meaning of rule 30(1)).
(8) A notice in the form in the Appendix, giving directions for the guidance of voters and proxies in voting, must be printed in conspicuous characters and exhibited inside and outside every polling station.
(9) The relevant returning or counting officer may also provide copies of the notice mentioned in paragraph (8) in Braille or translated into languages other than English as he or she considers appropriate, provided that these notices are accurate reproductions in Braille or that other language of that notice.
*[specify name of council ...] COUNCIL ELECTION
*vote for no more than .... Candidates
#[On the ballot paper for the election of the Mayor, vote ONCE for your first choice and ONCE for your second choice]
* REFERENDUM on [Specify name of authority in respect of which referendum is held]’s council tax increase for the financial year [specify financial year]
Mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of the answer of your choice.
#[vote for one candidate/answer only] [vote ONCE for your first choice and ONCE for your second choice]
#This wording should be used where the Greater London Returning Officer (within the meaning of the Greater London Authority Act 1999)(6) has not supplied wording pursuant to the Greater London Authority Elections (No 2) Rules 2000(7).
(ii)identify the registered party or individual candidate or answer to which each such space refers; and
Appointment of counting observers18.—(1) The counting officer must appoint persons to observe the counting of the votes and the verification of the ballot paper account (“counting observers”).
(2) Where the counting officer is not the relevant returning or counting officer, he or she must give notice in writing of the appointments of counting observers to that officer as soon as is practicable following the appointment.
(3) In the following provisions of these Rules references to counting observers shall be taken as references to counting observers whose appointments have been duly made.
(4) Where by these Rules any act or thing is required or authorised to be done in the presence of the counting observers, the non-attendance of any such person at the time and place appointed for the purpose shall not, if the act or thing is otherwise duly done, invalidate the act or thing done.
Appointment of polling observers19.—(1) The counting officer may appoint persons to attend at polling stations for the purpose of detecting personation (“polling observers”).
(2) Where the counting officer is not the relevant returning or counting officer, he or she must give notice in writing of the appointment to the relevant returning or counting officer.
(3) That notice must state the names and addresses of the persons appointed and must be given not later than the fifth day (disregarding any day specified in rule 4) before the day of the poll.
(4) Not more than four polling observers or polling agents, or such greater number as the relevant returning or counting officer may by notice allow, shall be permitted to attend at any particular polling station and if the number of such polling observers or agents exceeds that number, the relevant returning or counting officer must determine which polling observers or agents are permitted to attend by lot and only the polling observers and agents on whom the lot falls shall be deemed to have been duly appointed.
(5) In the following provisions of these Rules references to polling observers shall be taken as references to polling observers whose appointments have been duly made.
(6) Where by these Rules any act or thing is required or authorised to be done in the presence of the polling observers, the non-attendance of any such person at the time and place appointed for the purpose shall not, if the act or thing is otherwise duly done, invalidate the act or thing done.
Notification of requirement of secrecy in respect of polling stations20. The relevant returning or counting officer must make such arrangements as he or she thinks fit to ensure that every person attending at a polling station (otherwise than for the purpose of voting or assisting a voter or proxy with disabilities to vote or as a constable on duty there) has been given a copy in writing of the provisions of subsections (1), (3) and (6) of section 66 of the 1983 Act, as applied by Schedule 4(8).
Notification of requirement of secrecy in respect of the count21. The counting officer must make such arrangements as he or she thinks fit to ensure that every person attending at the counting of the votes (other than any constable on duty at the counting) has been given a copy in writing of the provisions of subsections (2) and (6) of section 66 of the 1983 Act, as applied by Schedule 4.
Return of postal ballot papers22.—(1) Where—
the relevant returning or counting officer must mark the list in the manner prescribed by regulations made under the 1983 Act.(9)
(3) Rule 38(7) does not apply for the purpose of determining whether, for the purposes of this rule, a postal vote or a proxy postal vote is returned.
PART 5The pollAdmission to the polling station23.—(1) The presiding officer must exclude all persons from the polling station except—
(e)persons who are entitled to attend by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000(10);
(g)the companions of voters and proxies with disabilities; and
(h)persons entitled to be admitted to the polling station at a relevant election or referendum with which the poll at the referendum is combined.
Keeping of order in station24.—(1) It is the presiding officer’s duty to keep order at his or her polling station.
(b)by any other person authorised in writing by the relevant returning or counting officer to remove him or her,
Sealing of ballot boxes25. Immediately before the commencement of the poll, the presiding officer must show the ballot box empty to such persons, if any, as are present in the polling station, so that they may see that it is empty, and must then lock it up, if it has a lock and (in any case) place his or her seal on it in such a manner as to prevent its being opened without breaking the seal and must place it in his or her view for the receipt of ballot papers, and keep it so locked and sealed or sealed (as the case may be).
Questions to be put to voters and proxies26.—(1) At the time of the application for a ballot paper (but not afterwards), the questions specified in the second column of the following Table—
(b)must be put if the letter “R” appears after the question and a polling observer requires the question to be put:
Q NoPerson applying for ballot paperQuestion1A person applying as a voter(a)—Are you the person registered in the register of local government electors for this voting area as follows?(read the whole entry from the register [R])(b)—Have you already voted here or elsewhere at this referendum, otherwise than as proxy for some other person? [R]2A person applying as proxy(a)—Are you the person whose name appears as AB in the list of proxies for this voting area as entitled to vote as proxy on behalf of CD? [R](b)—Have you already voted here or elsewhere at this referendum as proxy on behalf of CD? [R](c)—Are you the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild of CD? [R]3A person applying as proxy for a voter with an anonymous entry (instead of the questions at entry 2)(a)—Are you the person entitled to vote as proxy on behalf of the voter whose number on the register of electors is (read out the number)? [R](b)—Have you already voted here or elsewhere as proxy on behalf of the voter whose number on the register of electors is (read out the number)? [R](c)—Are you the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild of the person whose number on the register of electors is (read out the number)? [R]4A person applying as proxy if the question at entry 2(c) or 3(c) is not answered in the affirmativeHave you already voted at this referendum on behalf of two persons of whom you are not the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild? [R]5A person applying as a voter in relation to whom there is an entry in the postal voters list(a)—Did you apply to vote by post?(b)—Why have you not voted by post?6A person applying as proxy who is named in the proxy postal voters list(a)—Did you apply to vote by post as proxy?(b)—Why have you not voted by post as proxy?(2) In the case of a person in respect of whom a notice has been issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, the references in the questions at entries 1(a) and 3(a), (b) and (c) to reading from the register shall be taken as references to reading from the notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act.
Challenge of voter or proxy27. A person must not be prevented from voting by reason only that—
(a)any polling observer permitted to be present in accordance with rule 23(1) declares that he or she has reasonable cause to believe that the person has committed an offence of personation; or
Voting procedure28.—(1) A ballot paper must be delivered to a voter or proxy who applies for one, and immediately before delivery—
(b)the number of the voter as stated in the register must be marked on the list mentioned in rule 17(4)(d) beside the number of the ballot paper to be issued to him or her;
(3) In the case of a voter or proxy who is added to the register in pursuance of a notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act,(11) paragraph (1) is modified as follows—
(6) The same copy of the register of electors which is used under paragraph (1) for the referendum or, where paragraph (3) applies, the same copy of the notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, may be used for each relevant election or referendum, and—
Votes marked by presiding officer29.—(1) The presiding officer, on the application of a voter or proxy—
(3) In the case of a person voting as proxy for a voter, the number to be entered together with the proxy’s name shall be the number in the register of the voter.
(4) In the case of a person in respect of whom a notice has been issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, paragraph (2) applies as if for “on the register of electors of every person” there were substituted “relating to every person in respect of whom a notice has been issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act”.
(5) The same list may be used for the referendum and each relevant election or referendum and, where it is so used, an entry in that list shall be taken to mean that the ballot papers were so marked in respect of each election or referendum, unless the list identifies the election or referendum at which the ballot paper was so marked.
Voting by persons with disabilities30.—(1) If a voter or proxy makes an application to the presiding officer to be allowed, on the ground of—
(4) The name and number in the register of electors of every person whose vote is given in accordance with this rule and the name and address of the companion must be entered on a list (in these Rules referred to as “the list of voters and proxies with disabilities assisted by companions”).
(6) The same list may be used for the referendum and each relevant election or referendum and, where it is so used, an entry in that list shall be taken to mean that the votes were so given in respect of each election or referendum, unless the list identifies the election or referendum at which the vote was so given.
(7) The declaration made by the companion of a voter or proxy with disabilities—
Tendered ballot papers: circumstances where available31.—(1) If a person, representing himself or herself to be—
applies for a ballot paper after another person has voted in person either as the voter or his or her proxy, the applicant shall, on satisfactorily answering the questions permitted by law to be asked at the poll, be entitled, subject to the provisions of rule 32, to mark a ballot paper (in these Rules referred to as “a tendered ballot paper”) in the same manner as any other voter.
(c)he or she claims that he or she did not make an application to vote by post.
(4) The person shall, on satisfactorily answering the questions permitted by law to be asked at the poll, be entitled, subject to the provisions of rule 32, to mark a ballot paper (in these Rules referred to as a “tendered ballot paper”) in the same manner as any other voter.
(6) The person shall, on satisfactorily answering the questions permitted by law to be asked at the poll, be entitled, subject to the provisions of rule 32, to mark a ballot paper (in these Rules referred to as a “tendered ballot paper”) in the same manner as any other voter.
Tendered ballot papers: general provisions32.—(1) A tendered ballot paper must—
(3) The same list may be used for the referendum and each relevant election or referendum and, where it is so used, an entry in that list shall be taken to mean that tendered ballot papers were marked in respect of each election or referendum, unless the list identifies the election or referendum at which a tendered ballot paper was marked.
(4) In the case of a person voting as proxy for a voter, the number to be endorsed or entered together with the proxy’s name shall be the number in the register of the voter.
(5) In the case of a voter who has an anonymous entry, this rule and rule 31 apply subject to the following modifications—
(6) In the case of a person in respect of whom a notice has been issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, this rule and rule 31 shall apply as if—
(a)in rule 31(1)(a), (2)(a) and (5)(a), for “named on the register” there were substituted “in respect of whom a notice under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act has been issued”;
(b)in paragraph (1)(b) of this rule, for “that person’s number in the register of electors” there were substituted “the number relating to him or her on a notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act”;
Spoilt ballot papers33. A voter or proxy who has inadvertently dealt with his or her ballot paper in such manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper may, on delivering it to the presiding officer and proving to his or her satisfaction the fact of the inadvertence, obtain another ballot paper in the place of the ballot paper so delivered (in these Rules referred to as “a spoilt ballot paper”), and the spoilt ballot paper must be immediately cancelled.
Correction of errors on day of poll34.—(1) The presiding officer must keep a list of persons to whom ballot papers are delivered in consequence of an alteration to the register made by virtue of section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act which takes effect on the day of the poll.
Adjournment of poll in case of riot35.—(1) Where the proceedings at any polling station are interrupted or obstructed by riot or open violence, the presiding officer must adjourn the proceedings till the following day and must forthwith give notice to the relevant returning or counting officer.
Procedure on close of poll36.—(1) As soon as practicable after the close of the poll, the presiding officer must, in the presence of the polling observers appointed for the purposes of the referendum and the polling agents or observers appointed for the purposes of each relevant election or referendum, make up into separate packets, sealed with his or her own seal and the seals of such polling observers and agents as desire to affix their seals—
(e)the lists prepared under rule 8 including the parts which were completed in accordance with rule 28(1)(b) (together referred to in these Rules as “the completed corresponding number lists”);
and must deliver the packets or cause them to be delivered to the relevant returning or counting officer to be taken charge of by that person; but if the packets are not delivered by the presiding officer personally to the relevant returning or counting officer, the arrangements for their delivery shall require that officer’s approval.
(4) The packets must be accompanied by a statement (in these Rules referred to as “the ballot paper account”) made by the presiding officer showing the number of ballot papers entrusted to him or her, and accounting for them under the heads of ballot papers issued and not otherwise accounted for, unused, spoilt and tendered ballot papers.
PART 6Counting of votesAttendance at counting of votes37.—(1) Where the counting officer at the referendum is the relevant returning or counting officer, he or she must—
(i)discharging the functions under rule 38(1) and (5) (where applicable) in the presence of the counting observers appointed for the purposes of the referendum and the election agents and counting agents or observers appointed for the purpose of each relevant election or referendum as soon as practicable after the close of the poll, and
(ii)thereafter counting the votes at the referendum in the presence of the counting observers appointed for the purpose of that referendum; and
(b)give, to the counting observers appointed for the purposes of the referendum and the election agents and counting agents or observers appointed for the purpose of each relevant election or referendum, notice in writing of the time and place at which he or she will begin to discharge the functions under rule 38(1) and (5) (where applicable).
(2) Where the counting officer at the referendum is not the relevant returning or counting officer, he or she must—
(a)make arrangements for counting the votes in the presence of the counting observers as soon as practicable after the delivery of the ballot papers to him or her by the relevant returning or counting officer; and
(b)give to the counting observers notice in writing of the time after which he or she will begin to count the votes if by then he or she has received the ballot papers and of the place at which that count will take place.
(c)persons who are entitled to attend by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;
(d)the Chief Counting Officer,
(4) No person other than a person entitled to be present at the counting of the votes at the referendum under paragraphs (5) to (16) of rule 38 or at a relevant election or referendum may be present at the proceedings under rule 38(1) unless permitted by the relevant returning or counting officer to attend.
(5) A person not entitled to attend at—
(a)the proceedings under rule 38(1); or
(b)the counting of the votes,
must not be permitted to do so by, respectively, the relevant returning or counting officer or the counting officer unless he or she is satisfied that the efficient separation of the ballot papers or, as the case may be, the efficient counting of the votes will not be impeded.
(6) The—
(a)relevant returning or counting officer, in respect of proceedings under rule 38(1) and (5); and
(b)counting officer, in respect of the counting of votes,
must give the counting observers all such reasonable facilities for overseeing the proceedings, and all such information with respect to them, as he or she can give them consistently with the orderly conduct of the proceedings and the discharge of his or her duties in connection with them.
(7) In particular, where the votes are counted by sorting the ballot papers according to the answer for which the vote is given and then counting the number of ballot papers for each answer, the counting observers shall be entitled to satisfy themselves that the ballot papers are correctly sorted.
The count38.—(1) Subject to paragraph (4), where the counting officer at the referendum is the relevant returning or counting officer, he or she must—
(a)in the presence of the counting observers appointed for the purposes of the poll at the referendum and the election agents and counting agents or observers appointed for the purposes of the poll at each relevant election or referendum, open each ballot box and record separately the number of ballot papers used in each election;
(b)in the presence of the counting observers appointed for the purposes of the poll at the referendum, and the election agents and counting agents or observers appointed for the purposes of each relevant election or referendum verify each ballot paper account;
(c)count such of the postal ballot papers as have been duly returned and record separately the number counted at the referendum and each relevant election or referendum;
(d)separate the ballot papers relating to the referendum from the ballot papers relating to each relevant election or referendum;
(f)deliver or cause to be delivered to the returning or counting officer for the relevant election or referendum to which the ballot papers relate—
(2) Where separate ballot boxes are used, no vote for any candidate or answer shall be rendered invalid by the ballot paper being placed in the ballot box intended for use at any relevant election or referendum.
(3) After completion of the proceedings under paragraph (1), the counting officer must mix together all of the ballot papers used at the referendum and count the votes given on them.
(4) Where the relevant counting officer at a referendum is also the counting officer for another referendum, sub-paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) above shall not apply and paragraph (5) shall apply instead.
(5) The relevant counting officer must, in relation to the referendum and each of the other referendums—
(a)take proper precautions to ensure the ballot papers for the referendum and each of the other referendums are kept separately;
(b)mix together all of the ballot papers used at the referendum and count the votes given on them; and
(c)mix together all of the ballot papers used at the other referendum and count the votes given on them.
(6) Where the counting officer at the referendum is not the relevant returning or counting officer, he or she must—
(a)on receipt of containers from the relevant returning or counting officer, and after the time specified in the notice given under rule 37(2)(b), in the presence of the counting observers open each container;
(b)where the proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers are not taken together with such proceedings at a relevant election or referendum under regulation 65 of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001(12), or under that regulation as applied by these Regulations or by regulations made under sections 44 and 105 of the Local Government Act 2000, count such of the postal ballot papers as have been duly returned and record the number counted; and
and paragraph (13) shall not apply to these proceedings.
(a)it is returned in the manner set out in paragraph (8) and reaches the relevant returning or counting officer or any polling station in the appropriate electoral area (as defined in paragraph (9)) before the close of the poll;
(b)the postal voting statement, duly signed, is also returned in the manner set out in paragraph (8) and reaches the counting officer or such a polling station before that time;
(c)the postal voting statement also states the date of birth of the voter or proxy; and
(d)in a case where steps for verifying the date of birth and signature of a voter or proxy have been prescribed by regulations made under the 1983 Act(13), the relevant returning or counting officer (having taken such steps) verifies that date of birth and that signature.
(a)to the relevant returning or counting officer, is by hand or by post;
(9) The appropriate electoral area in respect of any voter or proxy shall be—
(a)the area which is common to the parliamentary constituency(14), electoral area, local counting area, local authority area or voting area (as the case may be) in which the polls at the referendum and any relevant election or referendum are being taken together; and
(b)in respect of which polls the voter or proxy has been issued with a postal ballot paper.
(10) In paragraphs (7)(a) and (d) and (8)(a) for “relevant returning or counting officer” substitute “counting officer” where proceedings on the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers at the referendum are not taken together with such proceedings at one or more relevant elections or referendums.
(11) The counting officer must not count any tendered ballot papers.
(12) The—
(a)relevant returning or counting officer, in respect of the proceedings under paragraph (1) or (5) (where applicable); and
(b)the counting officer, while counting the votes,
must keep the ballot papers with their faces upwards and take all proper precautions for preventing any person from seeing the numbers or other unique identifying marks printed on the back of the papers.
(13) The relevant returning or counting officer must verify each ballot paper account by comparing it with the number of ballot papers recorded by him or her, and the unused and spoilt ballot papers in his or her possession and the tendered votes list (opening and resealing the packets containing the unused and spoilt ballot papers and the tendered votes list) and must draw up a statement as to the result of the verification, which any counting observer may copy.
(14) Where rules 42 and 43 apply, as soon as is practicable after the counting officer has drawn up the statement as to the result of the verification, he or she must inform the Chief Counting Officer of its contents.
(15) The—
(a)relevant returning or counting officer, in respect of the proceedings under paragraph (1) and (5) (where applicable), and
(b)counting officer, in respect of the counting of the votes,
must so far as practicable proceed continuously, allowing only time for refreshment, except that they may exclude the hours between 7 in the evening and 9 on the following morning.
(16) During the time so excluded the relevant returning or counting officer or counting officer (as the case may be) must—
(a)place the ballot papers and other documents relating to the referendum under his or her own seal and the seals of such of the counting observers as desire to affix their seals; and
Rejected ballot papers39.—(1) Any ballot paper—
(c)on which anything is written or marked by which the voter or proxy can be identified except the printed number on the back and other unique identifying mark; or
(4) Subject to paragraph (5) below, the counting officer must draw up a statement showing the number of ballot papers rejected under the several heads of—
(5) Where rules 42 and 43 apply, the statement referred to in paragraph (4) above is to be a provisional statement and as soon as practicable after the completion of that statement, the counting officer shall inform the Chief Counting Officer of its contents.
Decisions on ballot papers40.—(1) The decision of the counting officer on any question arising in respect of a ballot paper shall be final, but shall be subject to review on a referendum petition.
PART 7Final Proceedings and MiscellaneousDeclaration of result41. Subject to rules 42 and 43, when the result of the poll has been ascertained, the counting officer must forthwith—
(b)inform the authority in respect of which the referendum was held of the result of the referendum;
Chief Counting Officer’s re-count42.—(1) This rule and rule 43 applies where two or more referendums are held in respect of a precepting authority’s relevant basic amount of council tax for the financial year.
(2) As soon as practicable after the conclusion of the count (which includes any re-count whether or not directed under this rule), the counting officer must draw up a provisional statement showing—
(a)the number of ballot papers counted by him or her; and
(3) As soon as possible after completion of the provisional statement, the counting officer must inform the Chief Counting Officer of its contents.
(4) Once the Chief Counting Officer has received the report of any counting officer on the contents of his or her provisional statement prepared under paragraph (2) and under rule 39(4), the Chief Counting Officer may direct the counting officer to re-count (or further re-count) the votes.
(5) A re-count directed by the Chief Counting Officer under paragraph (4) may be of the votes in all the voting areas, or in such of the voting areas as he or she considers reasonable.
(6) A counting officer must proceed with a re-count as soon as practicable after receipt of the Chief Counting Officer’s direction, and if not proceeding forthwith shall notify those counting observers entitled to be present at the re-count of the time and place at which he or she will begin to re-count the votes.
Counting officer’s statement and declaration of result43.—(1) When the Chief Counting Officer has determined not to direct that any re-count (or further re-count) must take place, he or she must direct the counting officers to draw up a final statement of the matters referred to in rule 42(2) and to provide final versions of their statements of rejected ballot papers.
(2) The counting officer, having drawn up the final statement, must—
(a)forthwith inform the Chief Counting Officer of its contents; and
(b)as soon as reasonably practicable give the Chief Counting Officer notice of the number of rejected ballot papers under each head shown in the final statement of rejected ballot papers.
(3) When authorised by the Chief Counting Officer to do so, the counting officer must—
(a)make a declaration of the matters referred to in the final statement; and
(b)give public notice of those matters together with the number of rejected ballot papers under each head shown in the final statement of rejected ballot papers.
(4) The Chief Counting Officer, having received notification of each of the counting officers’ final statement referred to in paragraph (1) must—
(a)draw up a statement of—
(i)the total number of ballot papers counted, and
(ii)the total number of votes cast in favour of each answer to the question asked,
in respect of all the referendums which relate to the precepting authority’s relevant basic amount of council tax for the financial year;
(b)forthwith make a declaration of the matters referred to in subparagraph (a); and
(c)as soon as reasonably practicable give public notice of those matters together with the number of rejected ballot papers under each head shown in the statements of rejected ballot papers.
Sealing up of ballot papers44.—(1) On the completion of the counting at a referendum, the counting officer must seal up in separate packets the counted and rejected ballot papers.
(a)tendered ballot papers; or
(3) The relevant returning or counting officer must not open the sealed packets of—
(a)the completed corresponding number lists; or
Delivery of documents to relevant registration officer45.—(1) Where the counting officer is the relevant returning or counting officer, he or she must then forward to the relevant registration officer the following documents—
(c)the tendered votes lists, the lists of voters and proxies with disabilities assisted by companions, the lists of votes marked by the presiding officer and the related statements, the lists maintained under rule 34, and the declarations made by the companions of voters and proxies with disabilities;
endorsing on each packet a description of its contents, the date of the referendum to which they relate and the name of the relevant billing authority.
(2) Where the counting officer at the referendum is not the relevant returning or counting officer, paragraph (1) has effect as if sub-paragraphs (c), (d) and (f) were omitted.
(3) In this rule and in rules 46 and 47 references to the relevant registration officer are to—
(a)the registration officer of the relevant billing authority;
(b)if the electoral area of the relevant election or referendum comprises any part of the area of more than one local authority, the registration officer of the local authority in whose area the greater or greatest (as the case may be) number of electors is registered,
Orders for production of documents46.—(1) An order—
(a)persons;,
(4) In making and carrying into effect an order for the opening of a packet of the completed corresponding number lists or certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll or for the inspection of counted ballot papers, care must be taken that the way in which the vote of any particular person has been given shall not be disclosed until it has been proved—
Retention of documents47. The relevant registration officer must retain for one year all documents relating to a referendum forwarded to him or her in pursuance of these Rules by the relevant returning or counting officer and the counting officer and then, unless otherwise directed by an order of a county court, the Crown Court, a magistrates’ court or an election court, must cause them to be destroyed.
Countermand or abandonment of poll at election on death of candidate48. Where at a contested election the notice of poll is countermanded, or the polling is abandoned, due to the death of a candidate, the polling at the referendum shall not be affected.
PART 8Appendix of FormsNote:—The forms contained in this Appendix may be adapted so far as circumstances require.
Form of Ballot Paper: Question in referendum as specified in Schedule 1
Form of Postal Voting Statement (for use when a referendum poll is combined with another poll but the postal ballot papers are not combined)
(1)S.I. 2004/294; as amended by SI 2006/3278.
(3)For the meaning of “parliamentary constituency”, see section 1 of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (c. 56).
(4)See the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 S.I. 2001/341 as amended by SI 2002/1871, 2006/752 and SI 2006/2910.
(5)Section 13B of the 1983 Act was inserted by paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (c. 2) and amended by section 11(3) of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22). Subsections (3B) and (3D) of section 13B were inserted by section 11(4) of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22).
(6)1999. c. 29.
(7)S.I. 2000/427.
(8)Subsections (1), (2) and (3) of section 66 of the 1983 Act were amended by paragraphs 69, 82, 86(b) and 96 of Schedule 1 to the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22); subsection (6) was amended by paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50).
(9)See regulation 84A of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 S.I. 2001/341 as amended by S.I. 2006/2910.
(10)Sections 6A to 6F of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c.41) were inserted by section 29 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22).
(11)Section 13B of the 1983 Act was inserted by paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (c. 2) and amended by section 11(3) of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22). Subsections (3B) and (3D) of section 13B were inserted by section 11(4) of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22).
(12)S.I. 2001/341.
(13)See Regulations 85 and 85A of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/341), which were inserted by S.I. 2006/2910.
(14)For the meaning of “parliamentary constituency”, see section 1 of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (c. 56).