The Representation of the People (Postal Vote Handling etc.) (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Amendment of regulation 86 (opening of covering envelopes)

7.  In regulation 86, after paragraph (4) insert—

“(5) In carrying out the procedures in this regulation and regulations 87 and 88, the returning officer—

(a) must keep the ballot papers face downwards and must take proper precautions for preventing any person from seeing the votes made on the ballot papers, and

(b) is not permitted to view the corresponding number list used at the issue of postal ballot papers.

(6) Where a covering envelope opened in accordance with paragraph (1) contains a declaration of identity, the returning officer must place a mark in the marked copy of the absent voters list(1) or list of postal proxies(2) in a place corresponding to the number of the elector to denote that a postal vote has been returned.

(7) A mark made under paragraph (6) must be distinguishable from and must not obscure the mark made under regulation 76(2) (procedure on issue of postal ballot paper).

(8) As soon as practicable after the last covering envelope has been opened, the returning officer must—

(a) make up into a packet the copy of the marked absent voters list and list of postal proxies that has been marked in accordance with paragraph (6), and

(b) seal such a packet.”.

(1)

For the meaning of “absent voters list”, see regulation 70 of S.I. 2008/1741.

(2)

For the meaning of “list of postal proxies”, see regulation 70 of S.I. 2008/1741.