The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017

Attendance at verification

46.—(1) The returning officer must make arrangements for the verification of the ballot paper accounts in the presence of the counting agents as soon as practicable after the close of the poll.

(2) The returning officer must give to the counting agents notice in writing of the time and place at which the verification of the ballot paper accounts will begin.

(3) No person other than—

(a) the returning officer and the returning officer’s clerks,

(b) the candidates and one other person chosen by each of them,

(c) the election agents,

(d) the counting agents,

(e) persons who are entitled to attend by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000,

(f) the combined authority returning officer and the combined authority returning officer’s clerks,

may be present at the verification of the ballot papers, unless permitted by the returning officer to attend.

(4) A person not entitled to attend at the verification of the ballot papers shall not be permitted to do so by the returning officer unless the returning officer—

(a) is satisfied that the efficient counting of the votes will not be impeded, and

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

(5) The returning officer must give the counting agents all such reasonable facilities for overseeing the proceedings, and all such information with respect to them, as the returning officer can give them consistently with the orderly conduct of the proceedings and the discharge of the returning officer’s duties in connection with them.