Representation of the People Act 1983

43 (1) As soon as practicable after the close of the poll, the presiding officer shall, in the presence of the polling agents, make up into separate packets, sealed with his own seal and the seals of such polling agents as desire to affix their seals— U.K.

(a) each ballot box in use at the station, sealed so as to prevent the introduction of additional ballot papers and unopened, but with the key attached,

(b) the unused and spoilt ballot papers placed together,

(c) the tendered ballot papers,

(d) the marked copies of the register of electors [F1 (including any marked copy notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of this Act)] and of the list of proxies,

[F2 (da) the lists prepared under rule 19A, including the parts which were completed in accordance with rule 37(1)(b) and (d) (together referred to in these rules as “the completed corresponding number lists”);]

[F3 (db) in the case of an election held in England and Wales or Scotland, the ballot paper refusal list completed in accordance with rule 40ZB,

(dc) in the case of an election held in Northern Ireland, the lists provided to the polling station under rule 29(3)(f),]

(e) F4 . . . the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll,

(f) the tendered votes list, the list of [F5 voters with disabilities] assisted by companions, the list of votes marked by the presiding officer, a statement of the number of voters whose votes are so marked by the presiding officer under the heads [F6 “disability”] and “unable to read”, [F7 the list maintained under rule 41A,] and the declarations made by the companions of [F5 voters with disabilities],

and shall deliver the packets or cause them to be delivered to the returning officer to be taken charge of by him; but if the packets are not delivered by the presiding officer personally to the returning officer, the arrangements for their delivery shall require the returning officer’s approval.

(2) The marked copies of the register of electors and of the list of proxies shall be in one packet but shall not be in the same packet as the [F8 completed corresponding number lists or] the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll.

(3) The packets shall 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, and accounting for them under the heads of ballot papers issued and not otherwise accounted for, unused, spoilt and tendered ballot papers.

[F9 (4) This rule applies in relation to Northern Ireland as if—

(a) the reference in paragraph (1)(d) to the marked copies of the register of electors included any marked copy notices issued under section 13BA(9), and

(b) paragraph (1)(f) referred to the list maintained under rule 41B.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 1 rule 43(1)(d) inserted (E.W.S.) (1.1.2007) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 11(6), 77, Sch. 1 para. 39(a); S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 paras. 2, 12(b) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2)

F2 Sch. 1 rule 43(1)(da) inserted (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 31(4)(a), 77; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(p) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2)

F3 Sch. 1 rules 43(1)(db)(dc) inserted (16.1.2023 for specified purposes, 31.1.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), s. 67(1), Sch. 1 para. 25; S.I. 2022/1401, reg. 2(d)(xii) (with reg. 3(1)); S.I. 2023/1145, reg. 4(a) (with Sch. para. 3)

F4 Words in Sch. 1 rule 43(1)(e) repealed (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 31(4)(b), 74(2), 77, Sch. 2; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(p)(aa)(cc)(v) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2, 4

F5 Words in rule 43(1)(f) substituted (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 2, s. 13(1)(4); S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)

F6 Word in Sch. 1 rule 43(1)(f) substituted (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 47, 77, Sch. 1 para. 79; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(w)(bb)(iii) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2, 4

F7 Words in Sch. 1 rule 43(1)(f) inserted (E.W.S.) (1.1.2007) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 11(6), 77, Sch. 1 para. 39(b); S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 paras. 2, 12(b) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2)

F8 Words in Sch. 1 rule 43(2) substituted (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. for certain purposes and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 31(4)(c), 77; S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14(p) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2, 4

F9 Sch. 1 rule 43(4) inserted (14.5.2008) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), ss. 30(1), 31, Sch. 4 para. 6(9); S.I. 2008/1318, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 1 rules 43, 44 applied with modifications (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/2250, regs. 2, 3, 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I

C2 Sch. 1 rules 43, 44 applied with modifications (E.W.S.) by S.I. 1986/2209, regs. 2, 3, 5(1)(6)–(8), Sch. 1 Pt. I

C3 Sch. 1 rule 43 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art. 3(1)(b)(5)-(8), Sch. 1

Sch. 1 rule 43 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (25.4.1998) by S.I. 1998/1126, art. 6, Sch. 2

C4 Sch. 1 rule 43 applied (with modifications) (31.7.1997) by 1997 c. 61, s. 3, Sch. 3 para. 13 Table 2

Sch. 1 rule 43 applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/2599, art. 3, Sch. 1 (as substituted (10.2.2009) by S.I. 2009/256, arts. 1(2), 3, Sch. 1)

C5 Sch. 1 rule 43 applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by The Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/2599), art. 3, Sch. 1 (as substituted (10.2.2009) by S.I. 2009/256, arts. 1(2), 3, Sch. 1; and modified (16.2.2011) by Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 (c. 1), s. 19(1), Sch. 8 para. 29(2))