Representation of the People Act 1983

55 (1) The returning officer shall then forward to the Clerk of the Crown the following documents—

(a) the packets of ballot papers in his possession,

(b) the ballot paper accounts and the statements of rejected ballot papers and of the result of the verification of the ballot paper accounts,

(c) the tendered votes lists, the lists of [F1 voters with disabilities] assisted by companions, the lists of votes marked by the presiding officer and the related statements, and the declarations made by the companions of [F1 voters with disabilities],

(d) the packets of counterfoils and certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll,

(e) the packets containing marked copies of registers and of lists of proxies,

endorsing on each packet a description of its contents, the date of the election to which they relate and the name of the constituency for which the election was held.

(2) The returning officer may forward the documents either by delivering them by himself or his agent to the Clerk of the Crown or his deputy or by sending them by post in like manner as he may send the writ by post; but if he sends them by post—

(a) he shall send a letter to the Clerk of the Crown by the same post, specifying the number and description of the documents so sent;

(b) a copy of the receipt given him by [F2 the official designated by the universal postal service provider or the deputy of that official] shall be signed by him and retained by [F2 the official or deputy].

(3) The Clerk of the Crown shall on receiving the documents give a receipt to the person delivering them, and shall register them in books of the Crown Office specifying the date and time of receipt.

(4) Any receipt to be given for the documents shall show the date and time of their receipt.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in rule 55(1)(c) substituted (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 2, s. 13(1)(4); S.I. 2001/116, art. 2(1)

F2 Words in Sch. 1 rule 55(2)(b) substituted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 57(6)(a)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 1 rules 54–57, 60 applied with modifications (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/2250, regs. 2, 3, 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I

C2 Sch. 1 rules 54–57, 60 applied with modifications (E.W.S.) by S.I. 1986/2209, regs. 2, 3, 5(1)(6)–(8), Sch. 1 Pt. I

C3 Sch. 1 rule 55 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art. 3(1)(5)-(8), Sch. 1

Sch. 1 rule 55 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (25.4.1998) by S.I. 1998/1126, art. 6, Sch. 2

Sch. 1 rule 55(1) applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/2599, art. 3(1), Sch. 1