PART VISSUE AND RECEIPT OF POSTAL BALLOT PAPERS
Issue of postal ballot papers
Spoilt postal ballot papersI1C177
F21
If a postal voter has inadvertently dealt with his postal ballot paper or F7postal voting statement in such a manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper (referred to as “a spoilt ballot paper”) or, as the case may be, a F7postal voting statement (referred to as “a spoilt F7postal voting statement”) he may return (either by hand or by post) to the returning officer the spoilt ballot paper or, as the case may be, the spoilt F7postal voting statement.
2
Where a postal voter exercises the entitlement conferred by paragraph (1), he shall also return–
a
the postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, the F7postal voting statement, whether spoilt or not;
b
where postal ballot papers for more than one election have been issued together under regulation 65, all other ballot papers so issued, whether spoilt or not; and
c
the envelopes supplied for the return of the documents mentioned in paragraph (1) or sub paragraph (a) or (b).
3
F3Subject to paragraph (3A), on receipt of the documents referred to in paragraph (1) and, where applicable paragraph (2) above, the returning officer shall issue another postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, ballot papers except where those documents are received after F45 p.m. on the day of the poll.
F13A
Where the returning officer receives the documents referred to in paragraph (1) and, where applicable paragraph (2), after 5 p.m. on the day before the day of the poll, he shall only issue another postal ballot paper or, as the case may be, ballot papers if the postal voter returns the documents by hand.
4
Regulations 72 (except paragraph (3)), 74, 75 and, subject to paragraph (7) below, 76 above shall apply to the issue of a replacement postal ballot paper under paragraph (3) above.
F55
Any postal ballot paper or F7postal voting statement, whether spoilt or not, returned in accordance with paragraph (1) or (2) shall be immediately cancelled.
6
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.
F67
Where a postal voter applies in person–
a
by 5 p.m. on the day before the day of the poll, the returning officer may hand a replacement postal ballot paper to him; or
b
after 5 p.m. 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.
8
The returning officer shall enter in a list kept for the purpose (“the list of spoilt postal ballot papers”)–
a
the name and number of the elector as stated in the register F8(or, in the case of an elector who has an anonymous entry, his electoral number alone);
b
the number of the postal ballot paper (or papers) issued under this regulation; and
c
where the postal voter whose ballot paper is spoilt is a proxy, his name and address.