88.—(1) Where the returning officer receives a valid [F1postal voting statement] without the postal ballot paper (or papers or, as the case may be, all of the papers) to which it relates, he may, at any time prior to the close of the poll, check the list kept under regulation 87(2) above to see whether the number (or numbers) of a postal ballot paper to which the [F2statement] relates is entered in that list.
(2) Where the returning officer receives a postal ballot paper without the [F1postal voting statement] to which it relates, he may, at any time prior to the close of the poll, check the list kept under regulation 87(3) above to see whether the number of that ballot paper is entered in that list.
(3) The returning officer shall conduct the checks required by paragraphs (1) and (2) above as soon as practicable after the receipt of packets from every polling station in the constituency under rule 43(1) of the elections rules.
(4) Where the ballot paper number in the list matches that number on a valid [F1postal voting statement] or, as the case may be, the postal ballot paper, the returning officer shall retrieve that [F2statement] or paper.
(5) The returning officer shall then take the appropriate steps under this Part of these Regulations as though any document earlier marked “provisionally rejected” had not been so marked and shall amend the document accordingly.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in Regulations substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)(3)(c) of the amending S.I.) by The Representation of the People (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/925), regs. 1(1), 54(a)
F2Word in reg. 88(1)(4) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)(3)(c) of the amending S.I.) by The Representation of the People (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/925), regs. 1(1), 54(b)(iii)
Commencement Information
I1Reg. 88 in force at 16.2.2001, see reg. 1(1)