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PART VSISSUE AND RECEIPT OF POSTAL BALLOT PAPERS

Issue of postal ballot papersS

Lost postal ballot papersS

78.—[F1(1) Where a postal voter claims either to have lost or not to have received–

(a)his postal ballot paper, or

(b)the [F2postal voting statement], or

(c)one or more of the envelopes supplied for their return,

by the [F3fourth] day before the day of the poll, he may apply (whether or not in person) to the returning officer for a replacement ballot paper.]

(2) Such an application shall include evidence of the voter’s identity.

[F4(2A) Where a postal voter exercises the entitlement conferred by paragraph (1), he shall return–

(a)the documents referred to in paragraph (1)(a) to (c); and

(b)where postal ballot papers for more than one election have been issued together under regulation 65, all other ballot papers so issued,

which he has received and which have not been lost.

(2B) Any postal ballot paper or [F2postal voting statement] returned in accordance with paragraph (2A) shall be immediately cancelled.

(2C) The returning officer, as soon as practicable after cancelling those documents, shall make up those documents in a separate packet and shall seal the packet; and if on any subsequent occasion documents are cancelled as mentioned above, the sealed packet shall be opened and the additional cancelled documents included in it and the packet shall be again made up and sealed.]

(3) [F5Subject to paragraph (3A),] where the application is received by the returning officer before [F65 p.m. on the day of the poll] and the returning officer–

(a)is satisfied as to the voter’s identity, and

[F7(b)has no reason to doubt that the postal voter has either lost or has not received the original postal ballot paper or the [F2postal voting statement] or one or more of the envelopes provided for their return]

he shall issue another postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, postal ballot papers.

[F8(3A) Where the application is received by the returning officer after 5 p.m. on the day before the day of the poll, he shall only issue another postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, ballot papers if the postal voter applies in person.]

(4) The returning officer shall enter in a list kept for the purpose (“the list of lost postal ballot papers”)–

(a)the name and number of the elector as stated in the register [F9(or, in the case of an elector who has an anonymous entry, his electoral number alone)];

(b)the number of the lost postal ballot paper and of its replacement issued under this regulation; and

[F10(c)where the postal voter is a proxy, his name and address.]

(5) Regulations 72 (except paragraph (3)), 74, 75 and, subject to paragraph (6) below, 76 above shall apply to the issue of a replacement postal ballot paper under paragraph (3) above.

[F11(6) Where a postal voter applies in person–

(a)by 5 p.m. on the day before the day of the poll, the returning officer may hand a replacement postal ballot paper to him; or

(b)after 5 p.m. on the day before the day of the poll, the returning officer may only hand a replacement postal ballot paper to him,

instead of delivering it in accordance with regulation 76.]

(7) Where the registration officer issues another ballot paper, or, as the case may be, postal ballot papers under paragraph (3) above, the lost ballot paper shall be void and of no effect.

Textual Amendments

F2Words in Regulations substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)(3)(c) of the amending S.I.) by The Representation of the People (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/925), regs. 1(1), 54(a)

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 78 in force at 16.2.2001, see reg. 1(1)