28.—(1) The returning officer must provide each presiding officer with such number of ballot boxes and ballot papers as in the returning officer’s opinion may be necessary.
(2) The same ballot box may be used for the poll at the combined authority mayoral election and the poll at every relevant election or referendum, if the returning officer thinks fit.
(3) Every ballot box must be so constructed that the ballot papers can be put in it, but cannot be withdrawn from it, without the box being unlocked or, where the box has no lock, the seal being broken.
(4) The returning officer must provide each polling station with—
(a)materials to enable voters to mark the ballot papers,
(b)copies of the register of electors for the electoral area or such part of it as contains the names of the electors allotted to the station,
(c)the parts of any special lists prepared for the election corresponding to the register of electors for the electoral area or the part of it provided under sub-paragraph (b),
(d)a list consisting of that part of the list prepared under rule 19 which contains the numbers (but not the other unique identifying marks) corresponding to those on the ballot papers provided to the presiding officer of the polling station.
(5) The reference in paragraph (3)(b) to the copies of the register of electors includes a reference to copies of any notices issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D)(1) of the 1983 Act in respect of alterations to the register.
(6) The returning officer must also provide each polling station with—
(a)at least one large version of each ballot paper which must be printed on the same colour paper as the corresponding ballot paper and must be displayed inside the polling station for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted,
(b)an enlarged hand-held sample copy of the ballot paper for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted which must be clearly marked as a specimen provided only for the guidance of voters, and
(c)a device of such description as is set out in paragraph (11) for enabling voters who are blind or partially sighted to vote without any need for assistance from the presiding officer or any companion (within the meaning of rule 39(1)).
(7) Where notwithstanding paragraph (2) above separate ballot boxes are to be used, each ballot box must be clearly marked with—
(a)the election or referendum to which it relates, as shown on the ballot papers for that election or referendum,
(b)the words “Place the [specify colour of ballot papers in question] ballot papers in here”.
(8) The combined authority returning officer must prepare and provide each returning officer with—
(a)a notice in the appropriate form in the Appendix giving directions for the guidance of voters in voting, must be printed in conspicuous characters and exhibited inside and outside every polling station, and
(b)the following notice which must be exhibited in every compartment of every polling station—
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION
([Specify colour] ballot paper)
Vote for ONLY ONE CANDIDATE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.
*EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION
([Specify colour] ballot paper)
Vote ONLY ONCE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.
*[Specify name of council] COUNCIL ELECTION
([Specify colour] ballot paper)
*[Vote for NO MORE THAN … CANDIDATES by putting a cross [X] in the box next to EACH of your choices.]
*[Vote ONLY ONCE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.]
*[Specify name of combined authority] COMBINED AUTHORITY MAYORAL ELECTION
([Specify colour] ballot paper)
*[Vote for ONLY ONE CANDIDATE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.]
*[Vote by putting a cross [X] in the box
In column A next to your FIRST CHOICE candidate
In column B next to your SECOND CHOICE candidate
Your first and second choices should be different.]
*LOCAL MAYORAL ELECTION FOR [specify name of authority]
([Specify colour] ballot paper)
*[Vote for ONLY ONE CANDIDATE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.]
*[Vote by putting a cross [X] in the box
In column 1 next to your FIRST CHOICE candidate
In column 2 next to your SECOND CHOICE candidate
Your first and second choices should be different.]
*POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER ELECTION FOR [specify police area]
([Specify colour] ballot paper)
*[Vote for ONLY ONE CANDIDATE by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice.]
*[Vote by putting a cross [X] in the box
In column 1 next to your FIRST CHOICE candidate
In column 2 next to your SECOND CHOICE candidate
Your first and second choices should be different.]
*[Specify other] ELECTION/REFERENDUM
([Specify colour] ballot paper)
[Specify voting instructions in accordance with the legislation governing the election or referendum]
PUT NO OTHER MARK ON THE BALLOT PAPER OR YOUR VOTE MAY NOT COUNT.
*[PLEASE DO NOT FOLD THE BALLOT PAPERS FOR [specify the elections and/or referendum(s) at which the votes are to be counted electronically]. Post them, face downwards, in the [*appropriate] ballot box.]
*Complete or omit as necessary.
# Alternatively, insert such information as the combined authority returning officer may decide.
(9) The combined authority returning officer may also provide copies of the notice mentioned in paragraph (8) in such other form described in section 199B of the Representation of the People Act 1983(2) as the combined authority returning officer thinks appropriate and, if the returning officer agrees, these may also be exhibited inside and outside the polling station.
(10) Where the Electoral Commission publishes information about the supplementary vote system to be used at combined authority mayoral elections, the combined authority returning officer may provide each returning officer with a copy of that information for exhibition at a polling station.
(11) The device referred to in paragraph (6)(c) must—
(a)allow a ballot paper to be inserted into and removed from, or attached to and detached from, the device easily and without damage to the paper,
(b)hold the ballot paper firmly in place during use, and
(c)provide suitable means for the voter to—
(i)identify the spaces on the ballot paper on which to mark a vote, and
(ii)identify the candidate to which each such space refers, and
(iii)mark the vote on the space the voter has chosen.
1983 c. 2. Section 13B was inserted by the Representation of the People Act 2000 (c. 2), section 8 and Schedule 1; subsections (3B) and (3D) were inserted by the Electoral Administration Act 2000 (c. 22), section 11.
1983 c. 2. Section 199B was inserted by the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), section 36.