The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985

Persons entitled to be present at issue and receipt of postal ballot papers

3.—(1) No person other than—

(a) the returning officer and his clerks,

(b) a candidate,

(c) an election agent or any person appointed by a candidate to attend in his election agent's place,

(d) any agents appointed under sub-paragraph (2),

may be present at the proceedings on the issue or receipt of postal ballot papers.

(2) Where postal ballot papers are to be issued, or the envelopes contained in the postal voters' ballot boxes are to be opened, simultaneously or in two or more batches, each candidate may appoint one or more agents up to the number he may be authorised by the returning officer to appoint not exceeding the number of such batches so, however, that the number authorised shall be the same in the case of each candidate.

(3) Notice of the appointment stating the names and addresses of the persons appointed shall be given by the candidate to the returning officer before the time fixed for the issue of the postal ballot papers or the opening of the postal voters' ballot boxes, as the case may be.

(4) If an agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, the candidate may appoint another agent in his place and shall forthwith give to the returning officer notice in writing of the name and address of the agent appointed.

(5) Agents may be appointed and notice of appointment given to the returning officer by the candidate's election agent instead of by the candidate.

(6) In this Part of this Schedule references to agents shall be taken as references to agents whose appointments have been duly made and notified and, in the case of agents appointed under sub-paragraph (2), who are within the number authorised by the returning officer.

(7) A candidate may himself do any act or thing which any agent of his, if appointed, would have been authorised to do, or may assist his agent in doing any such act or thing.

(8) Where in this Part any act or thing is required or authorised to be done in the presence of the candidates or their agents, the non-attendance of any such persons or person at the time and place appointed for the purpose shall not, if the act or thing is otherwise duly done, invalidate the act or thing done.