Procedure thereafter

Each Returning Officer shall, in the presence of the candidates or their agents (if any), if they or any of them desires to be present, and of such other person or persons as he may deem proper, proceed respectively as follows– (a) he shall, before opening any ballot box, compare the several marked copies of the register of electors used at the polling station or stations, so as to ascertain whether a vote has been taken in the name of the same voter at more stations than one, and, if any vote has been so taken, shall record in writing the stations at which it has been taken and the number of the voter on the (b) he shall then proceed to examine the ballot boxes, papers, and documents in his possession (examining the ballot boxes, papers, and documents received from each polling station one station at a time) in the following manner– (i) he shall count the ballot papers in the ballot box and the unused and spoilt ballot papers, so as to ascertain whether these papers, account for all ballot papers 83 issued for the purpose of the election in the particular polling station with which he is dealing and shall record in writing the result of the examination; (ii) the Returning Officer, after counting the votes as aforesaid, shall make up into one packet the ballot papers, and all other papers and documents, and the record of the result of the examination in this paragraph mentioned, and shall seal up the packet so that the same cannot be opened without breaking the seals; (c) each Returning Officer shall, so far as is practicable, proceed continuously with the counting of the votes, allowing only time for refreshment, and during the excluding time the Returning Officer shall place the ballot papers and other documents relating to the election under seal and otherwise take proper precaution for their security.