Preparation
of ballot paper account.
Form 16.
Appoint- ment of counting ngents.
Form 17.
Notifica- tion of count.
Appoint- ment of counting assistants.
Form 10.
20
40. The packets shall be accompanied by a statement (in These regulations referred to as the ballot paper account) in accordance with Form 16 of the Appendix made by the presiding officer showing the number of ballot papers entrusted to him and accounting for them under the heads of-
(a) ballot papers believed to be in the ballot box;
(b) unused and spoilt ballot papers;
(c) tendered ballot papers.
PART III.
Provisions RELATING TO THE COUNTING of Vores. Appointment of Counting Agents and Counting Assistants,
41. (1) Each candidate may appoint five agents (in these regulations referred to as counting agents) to attend at the counting of the votes.
(a) Nalice in writing of every appointment in accordance with Form 17 of the Appendix stating the name and address of the person appointed, shall be given by the candidate to the returning officer two clear days at least before the opening of the poll; and the returning officer may refuse to admit to the place where the votes are counted any counting agent whose name and address has not been so given, notwithstanding that his appoint- ment may be otherwise valid ±
Provided that if a counting agent dies, or becomes incapable of acting, the candidate may at any time 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.
42. 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 candidates or to their election agents not less than twenty-four hours notice in writing of the time and place at which he will begin to count the votes.
43. The returning officer may appoint as many persons as counting assistants to assist him in counting the votes, as he may require by handing to each person a notice of appointment as counting assistant in accordance with Form 18 of the Appendix.
The Cotunt.
44. Except with the consent of the returning officer, m person Persons other than the returning officer, the persons appointed to assist talitled to be present him, and the candidates and their election agents and counting at the agents may be present at the counting of the votes.
count.
of ballot
45. Before the returning officer proceeds to count the voles, Opening he and his assistants, in the presence of such persons as are boxes. present in accordance with regulation 44, shall open each ballot box and, taking out the ballot papers therein, shall count and record the number taken from each box, and then mix together
all of the ballot papers taken from all of the ballot boxes.
papera.
46. The returning officer, while counting and recording the Counting number of ballot papers shall keep the ballot papers with their of ballot faces upwards, and take all proper precautions for preventing any person from secing the numbers printed on the back of the papers.
count.
47. The returning officer shall, so far as practicable, proceed Hours of continuously with counting the votes, allowing only time for refreshment, and excluding (except so far as, he may otherwise determine) the hours between midnight and nine o'clock in the forenoon following. During the excluded time the returning officer shall place the ballot papers and other documents relating to the election under his own seals and the seals of such of the counting agents as desire to affix their seals, and shall otherwise take proper precautions for the security of the papers and documents.
48. (1) Whenever die returning officer shall have counted Separating and recorded the number of ballot papers and satisfied himself and count. ing of in- of the correctness thereof as compared with the total of ballon dividual papers in accordance with the returns made by presiding officers Vatera. The shall subject to the provisions of regulation 49 cause each voling paper to be torn along the perforations thereof and the portions on which votes have been recorded for each candidate to be placed in separate piles.
(2) The votes recorded for each candidate shall then br counted.