In Schedule 1 in rule 45 (the count) for paragraph (1) there shall be substituted—

“(1)

The returning officer shall—

(a)

in the presence of the counting agents open each ballot box and count and record the number of ballot papers in it;

(b)

in the presence of the election agents verify each ballot paper account; and

(c)

count such of the postal ballot papers as have been duly returned and record the number counted.

(1A)

The returning officer shall not count the votes given on any ballot papers until—

(a)

in the case of postal ballot papers, they have been mixed with the ballot papers from at least one ballot box, and

(b)

in the case of ballot papers from a ballot box, they have been mixed with the ballot papers from at least one other ballot box.”.