The Justices of the Peace (Size and Chairmanship of Bench) Rules 2005

Miscellaneous provisions about ballots

12.—(1) If a justice withdraws his nomination on the date of posting the ballot papers or at any time after that date up to (and including) the closing date for receipt of completed ballot papers, all the votes for that justice shall be disregarded and shall no longer be counted as votes.

(2) Where a ballot paper—

(a) is returned unmarked; or

(b) in a postal ballot is marked—

(i) by writing otherwise than as indicated by rule 7(4) or 7(6), or

(ii) in such a manner that there is doubt as to the intention of the voter; or

(c) in a ballot held at a meeting, is marked in such a manner that there is doubt as to the identity of the justice or justices for whom the vote is cast,

the ballot paper or the vote (as the case may be) shall be rejected when the votes are counted.

(3) There shall be no disclosure as to how any justice voted in any ballot.

(4) The justices'clerk shall —

(a) keep a note of the date that a ballot paper was received by him; and

(b) keep the ballot papers received for a period of 12 months commencing with the date of the election meeting.