Use of the electronic counting system
48.—(1) The GLRO may provide the CRO with an electronic counting system consisting of computer hardware, software and other equipment or services, for the purpose of counting the number of ballot papers, to verify the ballot paper accounts and to count the votes cast on them.
(2) Any verification of ballot paper accounts, count or re-count at the election conducted using the electronic counting system must be conducted in accordance with rule 49.
(3) If the GLRO has provided the CRO with an electronic counting system for use at the election, the CRO must obtain the prior written consent of the GLRO before he may conduct the verification of ballot paper accounts or count the votes manually.
(4) If the verification of ballot paper accounts, count or re-count has commenced using the electronic counting system but has not been completed, the CRO may, if he considers it appropriate, discontinue the count and instead count the votes manually.
(5) Where the count or a re-count has been conducted using the electronic counting system, the CRO may, if he considers it appropriate, conduct any re-count without using that system.
(6) Where verification or any count or re-count is conducted using the electronic counting system, any of the steps referred to rule 49, in so far as practicable, may be undertaken—
(a)concurrently with any other of those steps, or
(b)in a different order.