85.—(1) Each postal voters’ ballot box shall be opened by the returning officer in the presence of the agents.
(2) So long as the returning officer ensures that there is at least one sealed postal voters’ ballot box for the reception of covering envelopes up to the time of the close of the poll, the other postal voters’ ballot boxes may previously be opened by him.
(3) The last postal voters’ ballot box and the postal ballot box shall be opened at the counting of the votes under rule 45(1) of the elections rules.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Reg. 85 applied (with modifications) (26.2.2016) by The European Union Referendum (Conduct) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/219), reg. 1, Sch. 3 para. 97
C2Reg. 85(3) modified (16.2.2011) by Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 (c. 1), s. 19(2), Sch. 8 para. 47
Rule 45 was amended by Schedule 4 to the 1985 Act (c.50), Schedule 6 to the 2000 Act (c.2), section 3(4)(c) of the 2002 Act (c.13) and Schedule 1 to the 2006 Act (c.22).