Local Government (General) Regulation 2021

This section applies if, on or before 6 pm on the Friday 8 days before the last day of voting, an elector—

makes a claim to an election official that the elector has not received a postal ballot-paper at the address to which the postal ballot-paper and postal vote certificate were sent, or

makes a claim to an election official that the elector is not at the address to which the postal ballot-paper was sent and has not received a postal ballot-paper and postal vote certificate, or

makes a claim to an election official that the elector has lost or destroyed the postal ballot-paper or postal vote certificate or both, or

satisfies an election official that he or she has spoilt the postal ballot-paper or the postal vote certificate or both and returns the spoilt ballot-paper or spoilt postal vote certificate or both.

If this section applies, the election official must issue the voter with whichever of the following is appropriate—

a replacement ballot-paper,

a replacement postal vote certificate.

A postal vote certificate issued under this Regulation must be identified as a replacement postal vote certificate.

The returning officer must ensure that a record is kept of all ballot-papers and certificates issued under this section.

If a spoilt ballot-paper or spoilt postal vote certificate has been returned under this section, the election official must—

cancel the spoilt ballot-paper or spoilt certificate by marking it with the words “spoilt by elector”, and

initial the spoilt ballot-paper, and

preserve the spoilt ballot-paper or certificate until the close of voting.