Postal ballot boxes and receptacles
45.—(1) The local returning officer must provide a separate ballot box for the reception of—
(a)the covering envelopes when returned by the postal voters (“postal voters’ ballot box”), and
(b)postal ballot papers (“postal ballot box”).
(2) Each such ballot box must be marked “postal voters’ ballot box” or “postal ballot box” (as the case may be) and marked with—
(a)the name of both the police area and the voting area in relation to which it is to be used at the PCC election, and
(b)where the proceedings at that election and another election or a local referendum are taken together, the name of the parliamentary constituency, local counting area, voting area or, as the case may be, the relevant local authority for which the election or local referendum is held.
(3) The postal ballot box must be shown to those agents present on the occasion of opening the first postal voters’ ballot box as being empty.
(4) The local returning officer must then lock the ballot box (if it has a lock) and apply the officer’s seal in such manner as to prevent its being opened without breaking the seal; any of the agents present who wish to add their seals may then do likewise.
(5) The local returning officer must provide the following receptacles—
(a)the receptacle for rejected votes,
(b)the receptacle for postal voting statements,
(c)the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes,
(d)the receptacle for rejected ballot paper envelopes,
(e)the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), and
(f)the receptacle for postal voting statements (verification procedure).
(6) The local returning officer must take proper precautions for the safe custody of every ballot box and receptacle referred to in this paragraph.