PART 7
ADDING OF VOTES
Crisis management powers in relation to adding of counted votes
26.—(1)  The Returning Officer may exercise any crisis management powers in paragraph (2) if, at any time before or during the adding of all the counted votes in respect of an election in an electoral division, the Returning Officer is of the opinion that the adding of those votes at the principal counting place for that electoral division is or is likely to be disrupted.
(2)  The Returning Officer may —
(a)temporarily suspend the adding of votes at the principal counting place for a specified period (which must not exceed 2 hours), with or without specifying another location as the principal counting place;
(b)adjourn and postpone the adding of votes at the principal counting place to a specified date and time, with or without specifying another location as the principal counting place; or
(c)abandon the adding of votes at the principal counting place and restart the adding of votes on a specified date and time, with or without specifying another location for the restarted adding of votes.
Supplementary provisions if adding temporarily suspended
27.—(1)  This regulation applies if the adding of votes at the principal counting place is temporarily suspended under regulation 26.
(2)  The Returning Officer must announce the temporary suspension of the adding of votes to persons present at the principal counting place.
(3)  The adding of votes at the principal counting place must stop immediately.
(4)  The Returning Officer must secure the adding material at the principal counting place in the presence of the candidates and their principal election agents who are in attendance by —
(a)making up the adding material into separate packets; and
(b)sealing each packet with —
(i)the seal of the Returning Officer; and
(ii)the seal of the candidates and their principal election agents who wish to affix their seals.
(5)  The Returning Officer must hold the secured adding material in safe custody (whether at the principal counting place or any other location) during the temporary suspension.
(6)  Immediately before the adding of votes resumes, the Returning Officer must —
(a)if the secured adding material is not held at the location for the resumed adding of votes, deliver the secured adding material to that location; and
(b)in the presence of the candidates and their principal election agents who are in attendance, retrieve the adding material from the means by which it is secured.
(7)  The resumed adding of votes must be conducted as nearly as possible in accordance with the Act.
Supplementary provisions if adding adjourned and postponed
28.—(1)  This regulation applies if the adding of votes at the principal counting place is adjourned and postponed under regulation 26.
(2)  The Returning Officer must announce the adjournment and postponement of the adding of votes to persons present at the principal counting place.
(3)  The adding of votes at the principal counting place must stop immediately.
(4)  The Returning Officer must secure the adding material at the principal counting place in the presence of the candidates and their principal election agents who are in attendance by —
(a)making up the adding 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 principal election agents who wish to affix their seals.
(5)  The Returning Officer must hold the secured adding material in safe custody (whether at the principal counting place or any other location) while the adding stands adjourned.
(6)  Immediately before the adding of votes resumes, the Returning Officer must —
(a)if the secured adding material is not held at the location for the resumed adding of votes, deliver the secured adding material to that location; and
(b)in the presence of the candidates and their principal election agents who are in attendance, retrieve the adding material from the means by which it is secured.
(7)  The resumed adding of votes must be conducted as nearly as possible in accordance with the Act.
Supplementary provisions if adding abandoned and restarted
29.—(1)  This regulation applies if the adding of votes at the principal counting place is abandoned and restarted under regulation 26.
(2)  The Returning Officer must announce the abandonment and restarting on a specified date and time of the adding of votes to persons present at the principal counting place.
(3)  The adding of votes at the principal counting place must stop immediately.
(4)  The Returning Officer must secure the adding material at the principal counting place in the presence of the candidates and their principal election agents who are in attendance by —
(a)making up the adding 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 principal election agents who wish to affix their seals.
(5)  The Returning Officer must —
(a)hold the secured adding material in safe custody for 6 months; and
(b)destroy the secured adding 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 adding material.
(7)  The restarted adding of votes must be conducted as nearly as possible in accordance with the Act.
(8)  For the purposes of paragraph (7), the Returning Officer may, if the record of counting for a counting place is damaged, lost or destroyed, require the Assistant Returning Officer in charge of the counting place to prepare and transmit a record of counting, and seal up and despatch or deliver the envelope containing the record of counting, in accordance with section 49(7A)(b), (c) and (d) of the Act.