PART 6
COUNTING OF VOTES CAST IN SINGAPORE
Crisis management powers in relation to counting
22.—(1)  The Returning Officer may exercise any crisis management power in paragraph (2) if, at any time before or during the counting of votes cast in Singapore in respect of an election in an electoral division, the Returning Officer is of the opinion that the counting of votes at a counting place for the electoral division is or is likely to be disrupted.
(2)  The Returning Officer may —
(a)temporarily suspend the counting at the affected counting place for a specified period (which must not exceed 2 hours), with or without specifying another location for the resumed counting;
(b)adjourn and postpone the counting at the affected counting place to a specified date (which must not be later than the 56th day after the date of publication of the notice of contested election in the Gazette under section 34(6)(d) or 34A(6)(d) of the Act, as the case may be) and specified time, with or without specifying another location for the resumed counting; or
(c)if the Returning Officer is satisfied that counting at the affected counting place cannot be resumed or completed — wholly abandon the counting at the affected counting place.
(3)  If counting at the affected counting place is wholly abandoned under paragraph (2)(c) and the Returning Officer is satisfied that the number of votes to be counted will not affect the result of the election in the affected electoral division —
(a)polling need not be restarted for the polling stations in respect of which the affected counting place is specified; and
(b)in a case where a recount is abandoned, the Returning Officer may declare the result of the election using the first count.
(4)  In any other case where counting at the affected counting place is wholly abandoned under paragraph (2)(c) —
(a)polling must be restarted for the polling stations in respect of which that counting place is specified; and
(b)the Returning Officer must specify the date, hours and location for the restarted poll, and the specified date —
(i)must, if the poll is for an election that is a part of a general election, fall within the time delimited by Article 66 of the Constitution for a general election; and
(ii)must not be later than the 56th day after the date of publication of the notice of contested election in the Gazette under section 34(6)(d) or 34A(6)(d) of the Act, as the case may be.
Supplementary provisions if counting temporarily suspended
23.—(1)  This regulation applies if the counting of votes cast in Singapore at a counting place is temporarily suspended under regulation 22.
(2)  The Returning Officer must announce the temporary suspension of counting to persons present at the affected counting place.
(3)  The counting of votes at the affected counting place must stop immediately.
(4)  The Returning Officer must secure the counting material at the affected counting place in the presence of the candidates and their counting agents who are in attendance by —
(a)making up the counting material into separate packets; and
(b)sealing each packet with —
(i)the seal of the Returning Officer; and
(ii)the seals of the candidates and their counting agents who wish to affix their seals.
(5)  The Returning Officer must hold the secured counting material in safe custody (whether at the affected counting place or any other location) during the temporary suspension.
(6)  Immediately before the counting of votes resumes, the Returning Officer must —
(a)if the secured counting material is not held at the location for the resumed count, deliver the secured counting material to that location; and
(b)in the presence of the candidates and their counting agents who are in attendance, retrieve the counting material from the means by which it is secured.
(7)  The resumed count must be conducted as nearly as possible in accordance with the Act.
Supplementary provisions if counting adjourned and postponed
24.—(1)  This regulation applies if the counting of votes cast in Singapore at a counting place is adjourned and postponed under regulation 22.
(2)  The Returning Officer must announce the adjournment and postponement of counting to persons present at the affected counting place.
(3)  The counting of votes at the affected counting place must stop immediately.
(4)  The Returning Officer must secure the counting material at the affected counting place in the presence of the candidates and their counting agents who are in attendance by —
(a)making up the counting material into separate packets; and
(b)sealing each packet with —
(i)the seal of the Returning Officer; and
(ii)the seals of the candidates and their counting agents who wish to affix their seals.
(5)  The Returning Officer must hold the secured counting material in safe custody (whether at the affected counting place or any other location) while the counting stands adjourned.
(6)  Immediately before the counting of votes resumes, the Returning Officer must —
(a)if the secured counting material is not held at the location for the resumed count, deliver the secured counting material to that location; and
(b)in the presence of the candidates and their counting agents who are in attendance, retrieve the counting material from the means by which it is secured.
(7)  The resumed count must be conducted as nearly as possible in accordance with the Act.
Supplementary provisions if counting wholly abandoned
25.—(1)  This regulation applies if the counting of votes cast in Singapore at a counting place is wholly abandoned under regulation 22.
(2)  The Returning Officer must announce the abandonment of counting to persons present at the affected counting place.
(3)  The counting of votes at the affected counting place must stop immediately.
(4)  The Returning Officer must secure the counting material at the affected counting place in the presence of the candidates and their counting agents who are in attendance by —
(a)making up the counting material into separate packets; and
(b)sealing each packet with —
(i)the seal of the Returning Officer; and
(ii)the seals of the candidates and their counting agents who wish to affix their seals.
(5)  The Returning Officer must —
(a)hold the secured counting material in safe custody for 6 months; and
(b)destroy the secured counting material at the end of those 6 months unless the President or Election Judge otherwise orders.
(6)  Paragraphs (4) and (5) do not apply if it is impossible or impracticable in the circumstances to secure the counting material.
(7)  If polling must be restarted under regulation 22(4) —
(a)votes must not be counted at all other counting places located at the same premises until the restarted poll is completed;
(b)counting in counting places located at other premises must continue, and must be conducted as nearly as possible in accordance with the Act;
(c)the restarted poll must be conducted as nearly as possible in accordance with the Act;
(d)all ballot boxes containing votes cast at an overseas polling station —
(i)must not be unsealed;
(ii)must be held in safe custody by the Returning Officer; and
(iii)must be despatched by the Returning Officer to the counting place or places for overseas votes; and
(e)the counting of —
(i)the overseas votes despatched under sub‑paragraph (d)(iii);
(ii)the votes cast by the postal voting method; and
(iii)the votes cast at the restarted poll,
must be conducted at the same time and as nearly as possible in accordance with the Act.