14.—(1) If a postal voter has inadvertently dealt with a postal ballot paper in such manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper (referred to as “a spoilt postal ballot paper”) such voter may return the spoilt postal ballot paper and the declaration of identity to the returning officer (either by hand or by post).
(2) Where postal ballot papers for more than one election have been issued together under regulation 3, the postal voter shall, if exercising the entitlement conferred by paragraph (1), return all of the ballot papers so issued, whether spoilt or not.
(3) On receipt of the documents referred to in paragraph (1) and, where applicable paragraph (2), the returning officer shall issue another postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, ballot papers except where those documents are received after 5.00 p.m. on the day before the day of the poll.
(4) Regulations 9 (except paragraph (3)), 11, 12, and, subject to paragraph (7) below, 13 shall apply in relation to a replacement postal ballot paper under paragraph (3) as they apply in relation to a postal ballot paper.
(5) The spoilt postal ballot paper, and any other postal ballot paper issued with it, and the declaration of identity shall be cancelled immediately.
(6) The returning officer, as soon as practicable after cancelling those documents, shall make up those documents in a separate packet and shall seal the packet; and if on any subsequent occasion documents are cancelled as mentioned above, the sealed packet shall be opened and the additional cancelled documents included in it and the packet shall again be made up and sealed.
(7) Where a postal voter applies in person, the returning officer may hand a replacement postal ballot paper to such voter instead of delivering it in accordance with regulation 13.
(8) The returning officer shall enter in a list kept for the purpose (“the list of spoilt postal ballot papers”)–
(a)the name and number of the elector as stated in the register;
(b)the number of the postal ballot paper (or papers) issued under this regulation; and
(c)where the postal voter whose ballot paper is spoilt is a proxy, such voter’s name and address.