When are postal votes opened and how will
you know when an opening session is taking
place?
1.8 It is likely that several opening sessions will take place
before polling day, as well as on polling day itself.
1.9 Each Local Returning Officer must give election agents
and their sub-agents, if any have been appointed, at least 48
hours notice of when and where the sessions will take place.
They will also tell election agents or their sub-agents, where
If the election is combined with another poll, the issue of postal votes may be combined.
If so, the postal ballot pack will also contain the ballot
paper for the other poll(s).appointed, how many postal voting agents will be allowed to
attend each session.
1.10 There will be a final opening session after the polls have
closed to open any remaining postal votes received on polling
day, including any handed in to polling stations. This session
may be held at the verification venue or in another location.
The Local Returning Officer will advise election agents and
their sub-agents, where appointed, of the location for the final
opening.
1. Postal votes are brought to the opening session in
ballot boxes
2. The covering envelopes (envelope B) are taken out
and counted
3. The total number of covering envelopes is entered
onto a form
4. Covering envelopes (envelope B) are divided between
teams of opening staff
5. Staff open each covering envelope (envelope B) and
remove the postal voting statement and the sealed
ballot paper envelope (envelope A)
6. Staff check that the number on the postal voting
statement matches the number on envelope A
7. If the numbers match, staff check that the elector has
provided a signature and a date of birth (without
checking that they are the electors at this stage).
8. Postal voting statements without a signature and date
of birth cause the postal vote to be rejected
9. If the statement or ballot paper envelope is missing, or
the numbers on the statement and ballot paper
envelope do not match, the document(s) are set aside,
recorded and stored in secure packets
10. The Local Returning Officer or their deputy must verify
the dates of birth and signatures on every statement
and be satisfied that they match those given on the
electors original applications
11. Following verification of the signatures and dates of
birth, postal voting statements are removed from the
tables
12. Staff open the ballot paper envelopes (envelope A)
and remove the ballot paper
13. Staff check that the number on the back of the ballot
paper matches the number on the ballot paper
envelope (envelope A)
14. Valid ballot papers (not votes) are counted and the
total number is recorded
15. All valid ballot papers are placed into ballot boxes and
stored securely before being delivered to the count
venue for counting after the close of poll
