22.—(1) This paragraph applies in the circumstances described in paragraph 20(3).
(2) The CRO must establish whether the postal voting statement is duly completed and as part of that process must compare the date of birth and the signature on the postal voting statement against the date of birth and the signature contained in the personal identifiers record relating to the person to whom the postal ballot paper was addressed.
(3) Where the CRO establishes that the postal voting statement is not duly completed, the CRO shall mark the statement “rejected”, attach it to the ballot paper envelope, or if there is no such envelope, but there is a ballot paper, that ballot paper, and, subject to sub-paragraph (4), place it in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure).
(4) Before placing a postal voting statement in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), the CRO must—
(a)show it to at least one agent for each candidate or registered party represented at the proceedings, or to a candidate instead of the candidate’s agent;
(b)permit them to view the entries in the personal identifiers record which relate to the person to whom the postal ballot paper was addressed; and
(c)if any of them objects to the CRO’s decision, add the words “rejection objected to”.
(5) The CRO shall then examine the number (or numbers) on the postal voting statement against the number (or numbers) on the ballot paper envelope and, where they are the same, the CRO shall place the statement and the ballot paper envelope respectively in the receptacle for postal voting statements (verification procedure) and the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes.
(6) Where—
(a)the number on a valid postal voting statement is not the same as the number on the ballot paper envelope; or
(b)that envelope has no number on it (or only one number when the postal voting statement has more than one),
the CRO shall open the envelope.
(7) Sub-paragraph (8) applies where—
(a)there is a valid postal voting statement but no ballot paper envelope; or
(b)the ballot paper envelope has been opened under paragraph 20(4) or sub-paragraph (6).
(8) In the circumstances described in sub-paragraph (7), the CRO shall place—
(a)in the postal ballot box, any ballot paper the number on which is the same as the number (or one of the numbers) on the valid postal voting statement;
(b)in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), any other ballot paper, with the valid postal voting statement attached and marked “provisionally rejected”;
(c)in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), any valid postal voting statement marked “provisionally rejected” where—
(i)there is no ballot paper; or
(ii)in the case of a statement on which the number of more than one ballot paper appears, there is not a sufficient number of ballot papers and, in such a case, shall mark the statement to indicate which ballot paper is missing;
(d)in the receptacle for postal voting statements (verification procedure), any valid statement not disposed of under paragraph (b) or (c).