The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2007

Procedure on close of poll

36.—(1) As soon as practicable after the close of the poll, the presiding officer must, in the presence of the polling observers appointed for the purposes of the referendum and the polling agents or observers appointed for the purposes of each relevant election or referendum, make up into separate packets, sealed with his own seal and the seals of such polling observers and agents as desire to affix their seals—

(a) each ballot box in use at the station, sealed so as to prevent the introduction of additional ballot papers and unopened, but with the key, if any, attached,

(b) the unused and spoilt ballot papers placed together,

(c) the tendered ballot papers,

(d) the marked copies of the register of electors (including any marked copy notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act) and of the list of proxies,

(e) the lists prepared under rule 8 including the parts which were completed in accordance with rule 28(1)(b) (together referred to in these Rules as “the completed corresponding number lists”),

(f) the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll,

(g) the tendered votes list, the list of voters and proxies with disabilities assisted by companions, the list of votes marked by the presiding officer, a statement of the number of voters and proxies whose votes are so marked by the presiding officer under the heads “disability” and “unable to read”, the list maintained under rule 34 (correction of errors on day of poll) and the declarations made by the companions of voters and proxies with disabilities,

and must deliver the packets or cause them to be delivered to the relevant returning or counting officer to be taken charge of by him; but if the packets are not delivered by the presiding officer personally to the relevant returning or counting officer, the arrangements for their delivery shall require that officer’s approval.

(2) The contents of the packets referred to in sub-paragraphs (b), (c) and (f) of paragraph (1) must not be combined with the contents of the packets made under the corresponding rule that applies at any relevant election or referendum; nor shall the statement prepared under paragraph (4) be so combined.

(3) The marked copies of the register of electors and of the list of proxies must be in one packet but must not be in the same packet as the completed corresponding number lists or the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll.

(4) The packets must be accompanied by a statement (in these Rules referred to as “the ballot paper account”) made by the presiding officer showing the number of ballot papers entrusted to him, and accounting for them under the heads of ballot papers issued and not otherwise accounted for, unused, spoilt and tendered ballot papers.