The European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004

Checking of lists kept under paragraph 49

50.—(1) Where the local returning officer receives a valid declaration of identity without the postal ballot paper (or papers or, as the case may be, all of the papers) to which it relates, he may, at any time prior to the close of the poll, check the list kept under paragraph 49(2) to see whether the number (or numbers) of a postal ballot paper to which the declaration relates is entered in that list.

(2) Where the local returning officer receives a postal ballot paper without the declaration of identity to which it relates, he may, at any time prior to the close of the poll, check the list kept under paragraph 49(3) to see whether the number of that ballot paper is entered in that list.

(3) The local returning officer shall conduct the checks required by sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) above as soon as practicable after the receipt of packets from every polling station in the local counting area, parliamentary constituency, electoral area or, as the case may be, voting area under rule 44(1) of the European Parliamentary elections rules.

(4) Where the ballot paper number in the list matches that number on a valid declaration of identity or, as the case may be, the postal ballot paper, the local returning officer shall retrieve that declaration or paper.

(5) The local returning officer shall then take the appropriate steps under this Part of this Schedule as though any document earlier marked “provisionally rejected” had not been so marked and shall amend the document accordingly.