51.—[F1(1) This paragraph applies in the circumstances described in paragraph 48(4).]
(2) The local returning officer must satisfy himself or herself that the postal voting statement is duly completed and as part of that process must compare the date of birth and the signature on the postal voting statement against the date of birth and signature contained in the personal identifier record relating to the person to whom the postal ballot paper was addressed.
(3) Where the local returning officer is not satisfied that the postal voting statement is duly completed, the officer must mark the statement “rejected”, attach to it the ballot paper envelope, or if there is no such envelope [F2but there is a ballot paper], the ballot paper, and, subject to sub-paragraph (4), place it in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure).
(4) Before placing a postal voting statement in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), the local returning officer must show it to the agents and must permit them to view the entries in the personal identifiers record which relate to the person to whom the postal ballot paper was addressed, and if any of them object to the officer's decision, the officer must add the words “ rejection objected to ”.
(5) The local returning officer must then examine the number (or numbers) on the postal voting statement against the number (or numbers) on the ballot paper envelope and, where they are the same, the officer must place the statement and the ballot paper envelope respectively in the receptacle for postal voting statements (verification procedure) and the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes.
(6) Where—
(a)the number on a valid postal voting statement is not the same as the number on the ballot paper envelope, or
(b)that envelope has no number on it (or only one number when the postal voting statement has more than one),
the local returning officer must open the envelope.
(7) Sub-paragraph (8) applies where—
(a)there is a valid postal voting statement but no ballot paper envelope,
(b)the ballot paper envelope has been opened under sub-paragraph (6), or
(c)the ballot paper envelope has been opened under paragraph 48(5).
(8) In the circumstances described in sub-paragraph (7), the local returning officer must place—
(a)in the postal ballot box, any ballot paper the number on which is the same as the number on the valid postal voting statement;
(b)in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), any other ballot paper, with the valid postal voting statement attached and marked “provisionally rejected”;
(c)in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), any valid postal voting statement marked “provisionally rejected” where—
(i)there is no ballot paper, or
(ii)in the case of a statement on which the number of more than one ballot paper appears, there is not a sufficient number of ballot papers and, in such a case, the local returning officer must mark the statement to indicate which ballot paper is missing;
(d)in the receptacle for postal voting statements (verification procedure), any valid statement not disposed of under paragraph (b) or (c).
Textual Amendments
F1Sch. 2 para. 51(1) substituted (6.4.2014) by The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Amendment) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/921), arts. 1(5), 23(1) (with art. 1(5))
F2Words in Sch. 2 para. 51(3) inserted (6.4.2014) by The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Amendment) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/921), arts. 1(5), 23(2) (with art. 1(5))