Counting of votes by means other than electronic counting
54.—(1) Where in accordance with rule 41(3) the returning officer makes arrangements for the count to conducted other than by means of an electronic counting system these rules shall apply with the following modifications–
(a)in rule 42 after paragraph (1) insert–
“(1A) The returning officer shall not count the votes given on any ballot papers until the ballot papers from a ballot box have been mixed with at least one other ballot box.”;
(b)in rule 43 for paragraph (1)(a) substitute, “(a) which does not bear or contain an official mark;”;
(c)in rule 52 after paragraph (1) insert–
“(1A) Where only one vacancy remains unfilled and the number of votes then credited to any one continuing candidate (“the highest continuing candidate”) is equal to or greater than the total number of votes then credited to all the other continuing candidates, the highest continuing candidate is deemed to be elected.”;
(d)in rule 56–
(i)for paragraph (1) substitute–
“(1) On the completion of the counting at a contested election, the returning officer shall seal up in separate packets the counted and registered ballot papers;”; and
(ii)omit paragraph (3); and
(e)in the directions as to the printing of the ballot paper in the Appendix, omit paragraph 8.