The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2001

Forwarding of documents

86.—(1) The returning officer shall forward to the Clerk of the Crown for Northern Ireland at the same time as he forwards the documents mentioned in rule 55 of the elections rules—

(a) any packets referred to in regulations 74, 76(5) and 84 above, subject to regulation 85 above, endorsing on each packet a description of its contents, the date of the election to which it relates and the name of the constituency for which the election was held, and

(b) a completed statement in Form H of the number of postal ballot papers issued.

(2) Where—

(a) any covering envelopes are received by the returning officer after the close of the poll;

(b) any envelopes addressed to postal voters are returned as undelivered too late to be readdressed, or

(c) any spoilt postal ballot papers are returned too late to enable other postal ballot papers to be issued,

the returning officer shall put them unopened in a separate packet, seal up such packet and endorse and forward it at a subsequent date in the manner described in paragraph (1) above.

(3) Rules 56 and 57 of the elections rules shall apply to any packet or document forwarded under this regulation.

(4) A copy of the statement referred to in paragraph (1)(b) above shall be provided by the returning officer to the Secretary of State.