3rd Sched. (Part III)
are counted any counting agent whose name and address
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has not been so given, notwithstanding that his appointment
may be otherwise valid, and any notice required to be given
to a counting agent by the returning officer may be
delivered at or sent by post to the address stated in the
notice of appointment.
(3) If a counting agent dies, or becomes incapable
of acting, the candidate may appoint another counting agent
in his place, and shall forthwith give to the returning
officer notice in writing of the name and address of the
counting agent so appointed.
The returning officer shall make arrangements for
counting the votes in the presence of the counting agents
as soon as practicable after the close of the poll, and
shall give to the agents notice in writing of the time and
place at which he will begin to count the votes.
The count.
30. Except with the consent of the returning officer,
no person other than the returning officer, the persons
appointed to assist him, and the candidates and their
counting agents may be present at the counting of the votes.
31. Before the returning officer proceeds to count the
votes, he shall, in the presence of the counting agents,
open each ballot box and, taking out the ballot papers
therein, shall count and record the number thereof, and
then mix together the whole of the papers contained in the
ballot boxes.
32. The returning officer, while counting and recording
the number of ballot papers and counting the votes, shall
keep the ballot papers with their faces upwards, and take
all proper precautions for preventing any person from
seeing the numbers printed on the back of the papers.
33. The returning officer shall, so far as practicable,
proceed continuously with counting the votes, allowing only
(17)