First stage
This section has no associated Executive Note
38.—(1) The returning officer must sort the valid ballot papers into parcels according to the candidates for whom first preference votes are given.
(2) The returning officer must then—
(a)count the number of ballot papers in each parcel;
(b)credit the candidate receiving the first preference vote with one vote for each ballot paper in that candidate’s parcel; and
(c)record those numbers.
(3) The returning officer must also ascertain and record the total number of valid ballot papers.