Electoral Act 1992

This section applies only to paper ballot papers.

As soon as practicable after the close of the poll for an election, the OIC for a scrutiny centre shall arrange for the procedures set out in this section to be carried out.

First, the OIC shall—

exhibit for inspection by any scrutineer each ballot box containing ballot papers recording ordinary votes; and

record the condition of the ballot box before opening it.

Second, the OIC shall arrange for an officer to—

open each ballot box; and

sort the ballot papers from each ballot box into separate parcels for each electorate; and

in relation to the ballot papers for each electorate—

count all informal ballot papers, reject them from further scrutiny under this section, and place them in a separate parcel; and

sort the unrejected ballot papers into separate parcels according to the first preferences marked on them and count the ballot papers in each parcel.

Third, the OIC shall, in relation to the ballot papers for each electorate—

make out and sign a statement (countersigned by an officer and each scrutineer who wishes to do so) setting out—

the number of unrejected ballot papers on which a first preference is recorded for each candidate; and

the number of informal ballot papers; and

transmit particulars of the numbers so recorded to the commissioner, by telephone or other expeditious way; and

seal up the parcels, endorse on each a description of the contents and permit each scrutineer who wishes to do so to countersign the endorsement; and

send the parcels to the commissioner without delay, together with the statement referred to in paragraph (a).

Despite subsection (4) (b), the total number of ballot papers for a particular electorate that are to be dealt with at a particular scrutiny under this section shall not be fewer than 20.

If subsection (6) applies, the OIC shall—

count the number of those ballot papers; and

seal them in a separate parcel; and

endorse the parcel with a description of the contents (including the number of ballot papers); and

send the parcel to another scrutiny centre, as directed by the commissioner, for this part.

The OIC may arrange for preferences marked on paper ballot papers to be entered into the approved computer program.