Supplementary provisions if poll temporarily suspended
13.—(1) This regulation applies if the poll at a polling station is temporarily suspended under regulation 12.
(2) The presiding officer must announce the temporary suspension of the poll to persons present at the affected polling station.
(3) The delivery of ballot papers to voters must stop immediately, but a voter to whom a ballot paper has been delivered must be allowed to record his or her vote.
(4) The presiding officer must secure the ballot boxes for the affected polling station without opening them by sealing each ballot box with —
(a)
the seal of the presiding officer; and
(b)
the seals of the candidates and their polling agents who are in attendance and wish to affix their seals,
in a way that the ballot box cannot be opened and nothing can be inserted therein without breaking the seals.
(5) The presiding officer must secure the voting material for the affected polling station in the presence of the candidates and their polling agents who are in attendance by —
(a)
making up the voting 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 polling agents who wish to affix their seals.
(6) The presiding officer must hold the secured ballot boxes and secured voting material in safe custody (whether at the affected polling station or elsewhere) while the poll is temporarily suspended.
(7) Immediately before the poll resumes, the presiding officer must —
(a)
deliver the secured ballot boxes and secured voting material to the location for the resumed poll; and
(b)
in the presence of the candidates and their polling agents who are in attendance —
(i)
remove or conceal the seals of the candidates or their polling agents that were placed on the ballot boxes; and
(ii)
retrieve the voting material that is necessary for the conduct of the resumed poll.
(8) The resumed poll must be conducted as nearly as possible in accordance with the Act.
(9) A person may vote at the resumed poll only if he or she —
(a)
is a registered elector;
(b)
is entitled to vote at the affected polling station; and