In paragraph 17 (opening of covering envelopes) after sub-paragraph (4) insert—

“(5)

Where an envelope opened in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) contains a declaration of identity, the returning officer must, having first unsealed the relevant packet, place a mark in the marked copy of the absent voters list or the proxy postal voters list in a place corresponding to the number of the elector to denote that a postal vote has been returned.

(6)

A mark made under sub-paragraph (5) must be distinguishable from and must not obscure the mark made under paragraph 6(1).

(7)

As soon as practicable after the last covering envelope has been opened, the returning officer must make up into a packet the copy of the absent voters list and the copy of the proxy postal voters list that have been marked in accordance with sub-paragraph (5) and must seal that packet.”.