Supplementary provisions if pre‑count examination of postal voting papers temporarily suspended
31.—(1)  This regulation applies if the pre‑count examination of postal voting papers at a counting place for overseas votes is temporarily suspended under regulation 30.
(2)  The Returning Officer must announce the temporary suspension of the pre‑count examination to persons present at the affected counting place.
(3)  The pre-count examination at the affected counting place must stop immediately.
(4)  The Returning Officer must secure the postal voting papers at the affected counting place in the presence of the candidates and their counting agents who are in attendance by —
(a)making up the postal voting papers 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 hold the secured postal voting papers in safe custody (whether at the affected counting place or any other location) during the temporary suspension.
(6)  Immediately before the pre-count examination of postal voting papers resumes, the Returning Officer must —
(a)if the secured postal voting papers is not held at the location for the resumed count, deliver the secured postal voting papers to that location; and
(b)in the presence of the candidates and their counting agents who are in attendance, retrieve the postal voting papers from the means by which it is secured.
(7)  The resumed pre-count examination must be conducted as nearly as possible in accordance with the Act.