Subject to paragraph (3), the returning officer shall provide an electronic counting system and the count shall be conducted by means of such electronic counting system.

For the purposes of enabling the count to be conducted using the electronic counting system the returning officer may carry out any functions or perform any procedure to be undertaken in connection with the count by electronic means and the references to ballot papers and parcels of ballot papers shall include references to such ballot papers or parcels in electronic form.

If it proves impossible or impracticable to conduct the count, or some or all of the operations comprising the count, using the electronic counting system, the returning officer may make arrangements for the count, or such operations, as the case may be, to be conducted by other means.