SCHEDULE 1Amendments to the 1962 Act

Part 1Amendments to Part 4 (officers) and Part 6 (the election campaign)

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After section 57 M1 (rules for conduct of elections) insert—

57AReturning officers: correction of procedural errors

1

The returning officer at a local election may take such steps as the returning officer thinks appropriate to remedy any act or omission on the returning officer's part, or on the part of a relevant person, which—

a

arises in connection with any function the returning officer or relevant person has in relation to the election; and

b

is not in accordance with the rules or any other requirements applicable to the election.

2

But a returning officer may not under subsection (1) re-count the votes given at an election after the result has been declared.

3

These are the relevant persons—

a

the registration officer;

b

a presiding officer;

c

a person providing goods or services to the returning officer;

d

a deputy of any person mentioned in paragraph (a) to (c) or a person appointed to assist, or in the course of that person's employment assisting, such a person in connection with any function that person has in relation to the election.