The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012

Voting procedure

39.—(1) A ballot paper must be delivered to a voter who applies for one subject to any provision of these rules to the contrary.

(2) Immediately before delivery—

(a) the number and (unless paragraph (3) applies) name of the elector as stated in the copy of the register of electors must be called out,

(b) the number of the elector must be marked on the list mentioned in rule 29(3)(d) beside the number of the ballot paper to be issued to the elector,

(c) a mark must be placed in the register of electors against the number of the elector to note that a ballot paper has been received but without showing the particular ballot paper which has been received, and

(d) in the case of a person applying for a ballot paper as proxy, a mark must also be placed against the person’s name in the list of proxies.

(3) An elector who has an anonymous entry must show the presiding officer his or her official poll card and only the number is to be called out in pursuance of paragraph (2)(a).

(4) In the case of an elector who is added to the register in pursuance of a notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, paragraph (2) is modified as follows—

(a) the reference in sub-paragraph (a) to the copy of the register of electors is to be read as a copy of the notice;

(b) the reference in sub-paragraph (c) to a mark being placed in the register of electors is to be read as a mark being made on the copy of the notice.

(5) Immediately after receiving the ballot paper, the voter must—

(a) proceed into one of the compartments in the polling station and there secretly mark the paper and fold it up so as to conceal the vote, and

(b) then show to the presiding officer the back of the paper, so as to disclose the number and other unique identifying mark, and put the ballot paper so folded up into the ballot box in the presiding officer’s presence.

(6) The voter must vote without undue delay, and must leave the polling station as soon as he or she has put the ballot paper into the ballot box.