Issue of Postal Ballot Papers
Lost postal ballot papersI1C1C278
F51
Where a postal voter claims either to have lost or not to have received—
a
his postal ballot paper, or
b
the F9postal voting statement, or
c
one or more of the envelopes supplied for their return,
by the fourth day before the day of the poll, he may apply (whether or not in person) to the returning officer for a replacement ballot paper.
2
Such an application shall include evidence of the voter’s identity.
F22A
Where a postal voter exercises the entitlement conferred by paragraph (1), he shall return—
a
the documents referred to in paragraph (1)(a) to (c); and
b
where postal ballot papers for more than one election have been issued together under regulation 65, all other ballot papers so issued,
which he has received and which have not been lost.
2B
Any postal ballot paper or F9postal voting statement returned in accordance with paragraph (2A) shall be immediately cancelled.
2C
The returning officer, as soon as practicable after cancelling those documents, shall make up those documents in a separate packet and shall seal the packet; and if on any subsequent occasion documents are cancelled as mentioned above, the sealed packet shall be opened and the additional cancelled documents included in it and the packet shall be again made up and sealed.
3
F8Subject to paragraph (3A) where the application is received by the returning officer before F75pm on the day of the poll and the returning officer—
a
is satisfied as to the voter’s identity, and
F10b
has no reason to doubt that the postal voter has either lost or has not received the original postal ballot paper or the F9postal voting statement or one or more of the envelopes provided for their return.
he shall issue another postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, postal ballot papers.
F13A
Where the application is received by the returning officer after 5pm on the day before the day of the poll, he shall only issue another postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, other ballot papers if the postal voter applied in person.
4
The returning officer shall enter in a list kept for the purpose (“the list of lost postal ballot papers”)—
a
the name and number of the elector as stated in the register F4(or, in the case of an elector who has an anonymous entry, his electoral number alone);
b
the number of the postal ballot paper issued under this regulation; and
F6c
where the postal voter is a proxy, his name and address.
5
Regulations 72 (except paragraph (3)), 74, 75 and, subject to paragraph (6) below, 76 above shall apply to the issue of a replacement postal ballot paper under paragraph (3) above.
F36
Where a postal voter applies in person—
a
by 5pm on the day before the day of the poll, the returning officer may hand a replacement postal ballot paper to him; or
b
after 5pm on the day before the day of the poll, the returning officer may only hand a replacement postal ballot paper to him,
instead of delivering it in accordance with regulation 76.