17. Rule 45 (preliminary proceedings and conduct of the count)(1) applies as if—
(a)in paragraph (1)—
(i)before sub-paragraph (a) there were inserted—
“(za)where separate ballot boxes have been used for the poll at the local election and the poll at the European Parliamentary election, in the presence of the counting agents for each such election—
(i)open each ballot box for the local election and for the European Parliamentary election;
(ii)from each ballot box for the local election, take out any ballot papers for the European Parliamentary election and place them in a ballot box for the European Parliamentary election, and
(iii)from each ballot box for the European Parliamentary election, take out any ballot papers for the local election and place them in a ballot box for the local election;”, and
(ii)in sub-paragraph (a), after “each ballot box” there were inserted “(if not already opened in accordance with sub-paragraph (za))”; and
(b)after paragraph (1) there were inserted—
“(1A) Where separate ballot boxes have been used, no ballot paper marked in respect of the local election is rendered invalid by the ballot paper being placed in the ballot box used at the European Parliamentary election.”.
Rule 45 was amended by S.I. 1972/1264; S.I. 2002/2835; and S.I. 2010/2977.