The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2013

Modification of the Local Elections Rules

22.  Rule 64 (abandoned poll) applies as if for paragraphs (2) to (6) there were substituted—

“(2) No further ballot papers at the local election must be delivered in any polling station.

(3) At the close of poll for the European Parliamentary election, the presiding officer at a polling station must take the like steps (so far as not already taken) for the delivery of ballot boxes and ballot papers and other documents as he would be required to take if the local election had not been abandoned.

(4) It is not necessary for a ballot paper account for the local election to be prepared or verified.

(5) Having separated the ballot papers relating to the European Parliamentary election, the returning officer must take no step or further step for the counting of the ballot papers used at the local election or of the votes.

(6) The returning officer must seal up all of the ballot papers used at the local election whether the votes have been counted or not and it is not necessary to seal up counted and rejected ballot papers in separate packets.

(6A) The returning officer must dispose of the ballot papers used at the local election and other documents in his possession as he is required to do on the completion in due course of the counting of the vote at the European Parliamentary election.”.