Agents of candidates who may attend proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers
33.—(1) Each candidate may appoint one or more agents to attend the proceedings on the receipt of the postal ballot papers up to the number authorised by the local returning officer in respect of each candidate and so long as the number authorised is the same in the case of each candidate.
(2) Notice in writing of the appointment stating the names and addresses of the persons appointed must be given by the candidate to the local returning officer before the time fixed for the opening of the postal voters’ ballot box.
(3) Agents may be appointed and notice of appointment given to the local returning officer by the candidate’s election agent instead of by the candidate.
(4) Where postal ballot papers for more than one election or local referendum are issued together under paragraph 29, the officer to whom notice must be given under sub-paragraph (2), (3) or (5) is the returning or counting officer who issues the ballot papers.
(5) If an agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, the candidate may appoint another agent and must forthwith give to the local returning officer notice in writing of the name and address of the agent appointed.
(6) In this Part of this Schedule references to agents are to be taken as references to agents whose appointments have been duly made and notified and, in the case of agents appointed under sub-paragraph (1), who are within the number authorised by the local returning officer.
(7) A candidate may do any act or thing which any agent of the candidate, if appointed, would have been authorised to do, or may assist such an agent in doing any such act or thing.
(8) Where in this Part of this Schedule any act or thing is required or authorised to be done in the presence of the candidates or their agents, the non-attendance of any such persons or person at the time and place appointed for the purpose does not, if the act or thing is otherwise duly done, invalidate the act or thing done.