Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2025C00152:section:273:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2025C00152
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 273 (pt 1/10)
Character Range: 541239–544019

273  Scrutiny of votes in Senate elections
 (1) Subject to section 273B, in a Senate election for a particular State or Territory, the scrutiny must be conducted, and the vacancies filled under this section or under section 273A.
 (2) An Assistant Returning Officer must take the following steps in the presence of a polling official, and of any authorised scrutineers who attend:
 (a) exhibit each securely fastened ballot‑box for the inspection of the scrutineers;
 (b) record the condition of the ballot‑box;
 (c) open the ballot‑box and remove the ballot papers from the box;
 (ca) count the number of first preference votes marked in each of the squares above the line;
 (d) make, sign and keep a copy of a statement (which may be countersigned by a polling official, and by any scrutineers who are present if they so desire) setting out the number of first preference votes marked in each of the squares above the line and the number of ballot papers;
 (da) transmit the number of first preference votes marked in each of the squares above the line to the Divisional Returning Officer as soon as practicable;
 (e) seal up the ballot papers in a securely fastened container and endorse on each container a description of the contents of the container, and permit any scrutineers present, if they so desire, to countersign the endorsement;
 (f) transmit the container to the Divisional Returning Officer for the relevant Division as soon as practicable, together with the statement under paragraph (d).
 (3) The Divisional Returning Officer for a Division must:
 (a) in relation to each container of ballot papers for the Division received under paragraph (2)(f):
 (i) open the container; and
 (ii) remove the ballot papers from the container; and
 (iii) count the number of ballot papers removed from the container; and
 (b) in relation to ballot‑boxes for the Division received under this Act by the Divisional Returning Officer—repeat the steps in paragraphs (2)(c) to (e) (as if the reference in paragraph (2)(da) to the Divisional Returning Officer were a reference to the Australian Electoral Officer for the State that includes the Division); and
 (c) keep a copy of:
 (i) the statement made under paragraph (2)(d) by the Assistant Returning Officer; and
 (ii) the statements made by the Divisional Returning Officer under that paragraph (as a result of paragraph (b) of this subsection); and
 (d) transmit the containers sealed under paragraph (2)(e) (as a result of paragraph (b) of this subsection) to the Australian Electoral Officer for the State that includes the Division as soon as practicable, together with the statements made by the Divisional Returning Officer.
 (4) An Australian Electoral Officer must:
 (a) scrutinise all ballot papers received by him or