Maximum number of representatives at areas demarcated for pre‑count examination of postal voting papers
34.—(1)  The Returning Officer may demarcate, within a counting place for overseas votes, one or more areas for conducting pre‑count examination of postal voting papers.
(2)  If 3 or fewer areas are demarcated, the maximum number of representatives in those areas at any one time is —
(a)in the case of a general election —
(i)4 representatives for each political party that has one or more candidates in a contested election at the general election;
(ii)4 representatives for each group of independent candidates in a contested election at the general election; and
(iii)4 representatives for each independent candidate (not being part of a group of candidates) in a contested election at the general election; or
(b)in the case of a by‑election —
(i)4 representatives for each political party that has a candidate in the by‑election;
(ii)4 representatives for each group of independent candidates in the by‑election; and
(iii)4 representatives for each independent candidate (not being part of a group of candidates) in the by‑election.
(3)  If 4 or more areas are demarcated, the maximum number of representatives in each of those areas at any one time is —
(a)in the case of a general election —
(i)one representative for each political party that has one or more candidates in a contested election at the general election;
(ii)one representative for each group of independent candidates in a contested election at the general election; and
(iii)one representative for each independent candidate (not being part of a group of candidates) in a contested election at the general election; or
(b)in the case of a by‑election —
(i)one representative for each political party that has a candidate in the by‑election;
(ii)one representative for each group of independent candidates in the by‑election; and
(iii)one representative for each independent candidate (not being part of a group of candidates) in the by‑election.
(4)  In this regulation, “representative” means —
(a)in relation to a political party — a candidate of the political party or a counting agent for the political party;
(b)in relation to a group of independent candidates — an independent candidate in the group or a counting agent for the group; or
(c)in relation to an independent candidate (not being part of a group of candidates) — the independent candidate or a counting agent for the independent candidate.