Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011

Attendance and arrangements for counting

32 (1) The Chief Electoral Officer must make arrangements for carrying out the functions conferred by paragraph 33, and for counting the votes as soon as practicable, in the presence of the counting agents.

(2) The Chief Electoral Officer must give the counting agents—

(a) notice in writing of the time and place at which the proceedings under paragraph 33 will begin;

(b) notice of the time and place at which the counting of the votes will begin.

(3) A person may be present at those proceedings or at the counting of the votes only if the person falls within—

(a) paragraphs (a) to (e) of rule 39(4) of the referendum rules,

(b) paragraphs (a) to (e) of rule 44(2) of the Assembly Elections Rules, or

(c) paragraphs (a) to (e) of rule 44(1) of the Local Elections Rules,

or the person is permitted by the Chief Electoral Officer to attend.

(4) The Chief Electoral Officer may give a person permission under sub-paragraph (3) only if—

(a) the officer is satisfied that the person’s attendance will not impede the efficient conduct of the proceedings, and

(b) the officer has consulted the referendum agents and election agents or thought it impracticable to do so.

(5) The Chief Electoral Officer must give the counting agents—

(a) whatever reasonable facilities for overseeing the proceedings (including, in particular, facilities for satisfying themselves that the ballot papers are correctly sorted), and

(b) whatever information with respect to the proceedings,

the officer can give them consistently with the orderly conduct of the proceedings and the discharge of the officer’s duties.