Electoral Act 1907

This section applies if, before a voter’s ballot paper is placed in a ballot box at a polling place —

the voter satisfies an officer working at the polling place that the ballot paper has been spoilt by mistake or accident; and

the voter gives up the spoilt ballot paper to the officer.

The officer must —

give the voter a new ballot paper; and

immediately cancel the spoilt ballot paper by writing “spoilt” on the back of it; and

place the spoilt ballot paper in an envelope and —

seal the envelope; and

write on the envelope an indication of the type of ballot paper enclosed and that it is spoilt; and

sign the envelope.

The envelopes containing spoilt ballot papers cancelled at a polling place must be sealed up in a packet that must be given to the returning officer after the close of the poll.