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.