The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985

Spoilt postal ballot paper

12.—(1) If a postal voter has inadvertently dealt with his postal ballot paper in such manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper (in this Part referred to as “ a spoilt postal ballot paper”) he may return (either by hand or by post) to the returning officer the spoilt postal ballot paper, the declaration of identity, the ballot paper envelope and the covering envelope.

(2) The returning officer, on receipt of the said documents, shall, unless the documents are received too late for another postal ballot paper to be returned before the close of the poll, issue another postal ballot paper and the foregoing paragraphs of this Part, but not paragraphs (b), (c) or (d) of sub-paragraph (1) or sub-paragraphs (2) to (8) of paragraph 3 or paragraph 5, shall apply accordingly.

(3) The spoilt postal ballot paper, the declaration of identity and the ballot paper envelope shall be immediately cancelled.

(4) The returning officer, as soon as practicable after cancelling the said documents, shall make up the said documents in a separate packet and shall seal the packet; and if on any subsequent occasion documents are cancelled as aforesaid, the sealed packet shall be opened and the additional cancelled documents included therein and the packet shall thereupon be again made up and sealed.