Referendums Act 1983

As soon as practicable after the close of the poll each assistant returning officer shall —

open all ballot boxes received at his counting place and count all the votes on the ballot papers, rejecting all informal ballot papers, and ascertain the number of votes marked, respectively, in each of the authorised manners; and

enclose —

in one packet, all the used ballot papers in his possession; and

in another packet, all the unused ballot papers in his possession; and

in another packet, all copies of rolls, books, communications from officers, or other papers or documents used or received at or in connection with the referendum, that are in his possession;

seal up those packets, indorse each with a description of its contents and with the name of the counting place and the date of the poll, sign the indorsement, and forward the packets to the returning officer for the district together with a statement certifying —

the number of votes marked, respectively, in each of the authorised manners; and

the number of ballot papers rejected as informal.

The packet mentioned in subsection (1)(b)(i) shall be sealed before the scrutineers (if any) present and any scrutineer who desires to do so shall be permitted by the assistant returning officer to affix his seal on the packet.

The statement prepared under subsection (1)(c) shall be verified by the signature of the assistant returning officer and also by the signatures of such of the scrutineers (if any) as are present and consent to sign it.

Where a referendum is held on the same day as an election subsection (1)(b)(iii) does not apply to papers or documents that apply to both the referendum and the election.