Voting procedure
26.—(1) A ballot paper must be delivered to a voter or proxy who applies for one, and immediately before delivery—
(a)the number and (unless paragraph (2) applies) name of the voter as stated in the copy of the register of electors must be called out;
(b)the number of the voter as stated in the register must be marked on the list mentioned in rule 17(3)(d) beside the number of the ballot paper to be issued to the voter;
(c)a mark must be placed in the copy of the register of electors against the number of the voter to note that a ballot paper has been received but without showing the particular ballot paper which has been received; and
(d)in the case of a person applying for a ballot paper as proxy, a mark must also be placed against that person’s name in the list of proxies.
(2) In the case of a voter who has an anonymous entry, the voter must show the presiding officer the voter’s official poll card and only the voter’s number must be called out in pursuance of paragraph (1)(a).
(3) In the case of a voter who is added to the register in pursuance of a notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, paragraph (1) is modified as follows—
(a)in sub-paragraph (a), for “copy of the register of electors” substitute “copy of the notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act”;
(b)in sub-paragraph (b), for “in the register” substitute “on the copy of the notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act”;
(c)in sub-paragraph (c), for “in the copy of the register of electors” substitute “on the copy of the notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act”.
(4) The voter or proxy, on receiving the ballot paper, must forthwith proceed into one of the compartments in the polling station and there secretly mark the voter’s or proxy’s paper and fold it up so as to conceal the voter’s or proxy’s vote, and must then show to the presiding officer the back of the paper, so as to disclose the number and other unique identifying mark, and put the ballot paper so folded up into the ballot box in the presiding officer’s presence.
(5) The voter or proxy must vote without undue delay, and must leave the polling station as soon as the ballot paper has been put into the ballot box.