A candidate or his election agent may, if present when the counting or any re-count of the votes, or as the case may be, the first preference votes, is completed, require the returning officer to have the votes re-counted or again re-counted but the returning officer may refuse to do so if in his opinion the request is unreasonable.

No step shall be taken on the completion of the counting or any re-count of the votes, or as the case may be, the first preference votes until the candidates and election agents present at its completion have been given a reasonable opportunity to exercise the right conferred by this rule.