Checking of lists kept under paragraph 25
26.—(1) Where the CRO receives a valid postal voting statement without the postal ballot paper (or papers or, as the case may be, all of the papers) to which it relates, the CRO shall from time to time prior to the close of the poll, check the list kept under paragraph 25(2) to see whether the number (or numbers) of a postal ballot paper to which the statement relates is (or are) entered in that list.
(2) Where the CRO receives a postal ballot paper without the postal voting statement relating to it, the CRO may, at any time prior to the close of the poll, check the list kept under paragraph 25(3) to see whether the number of that ballot paper is entered in that list.
(3) The CRO shall conduct the checks described in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) as soon as practicable after the receipt of packets from every polling station in the constituency or, as the case may be, electoral area under rule 53 of the Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules.
(4) Where the ballot paper number in the list matches the number of a valid postal voting statement or, as the case may be, a postal ballot paper, the CRO shall retrieve the relevant statement or paper.
(5) The CRO shall then take the appropriate steps under this Schedule as though any document earlier marked “provisionally rejected” had not been so marked and shall amend the document accordingly.