Supplementary provisions if poll wholly abandoned
17.—(1)  This regulation applies if the poll at a polling station is wholly abandoned under regulation 12.
(2)  The presiding officer must announce the abandonment of the poll to persons present at the affected polling station.
(3)  The delivery of ballot papers to voters must stop immediately.
(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 deliver the secured ballot boxes and secured voting material to the Returning Officer.
(7)  The Returning Officer must —
(a)hold the secured ballot boxes and secured voting material in safe custody for 6 months; and
(b)destroy the secured ballot boxes and secured voting material at the end of those 6 months unless the President or Election Judge otherwise orders.
(8)  Paragraphs (4) to (7) do not apply if it is impossible or impracticable in the circumstances to secure the ballot boxes and voting material.