The Greater London Authority Elections Rules 2007

Attendance at verification and the counting of votes

47.—(1) Where the CRO discharges the functions specified in regulation 5 of the Combination of Polls Regulations, he must—

(a) make arrangements for —

(i) carrying out the functions in rule 49(1) (separating ballot papers and verifying ballot paper accounts) at the election in the presence of the counting agents appointed for the purposes of the election and each relevant election and referendum as soon as practicable after the close of the poll, and

(ii) for counting the votes in the presence of the counting agents appointed for the purposes of the election,

(b) give to the counting agents appointed for the purposes of the election and each relevant election and referendum, notice in writing of the time and place at which he will begin carrying out the functions in rule 49(1).

(2) Where the CRO does not discharge the functions specified in regulation 5 of the Combination of Polls Regulations he must make arrangements for counting the votes in the presence of the counting agents appointed for the purposes of the election as soon as practicable after the delivery of the ballot papers to him by the returning officer who does discharge those functions; and the CRO must give to the counting agents for the election notice in writing of the time and place at which he will begin to count the votes.

(3) No person other than a person entitled to be present at the counting of the votes at the election and at each relevant election or referendum may be present at the proceedings under rule 49(1) (separating ballot papers and verifying ballot paper accounts) unless permitted by the CRO to attend.

(4) No person other than—

(a) the CRO and his clerks and technical assistants,

(b) the GLRO,

(c) the candidates and one other person chosen by each of them,

(d) the election agents,

(e) the counting agents,

(f) persons who are entitled to attend by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the 2000 Act,

may be present at the counting of the votes in accordance with rule 49(2) to (14), unless permitted by the CRO to attend

(5) A person not entitled to attend at the separation and verification or the counting of the votes must not be permitted to do so by the CRO unless the CRO—

(a) is satisfied that the efficient separation and verification of the ballot paper accounts or, as the case may be, the efficient counting of the votes will not be impeded, and

(b) has either consulted the candidates or thought it impracticable to do so.

(6) The CRO must give the counting agents all such reasonable facilities for overseeing the proceedings, and all such information with respect to them, as he can give them consistently with the orderly conduct of the proceedings and the discharge of his duties in connection with them.