Ballot boxes and papers at advance poll
103(1)At the opening of an advance poll at ten o’clock in the forenoon of the first day of voting, the deputy returning officer shall, in full view of such of the candidates, their scrutineers or the electors representing the candidates as are present,
(a)
open the ballot box and ascertain that there are no ballot papers or other papers or material contained therein,
(b)
seal the ballot box with a metal or plastic seal prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer, and
(c)
place the ballot box on a table in full view of all present and keep it so placed until the close of the advance poll on such day of voting.
103(2)At the re-opening of the advance poll at ten o’clock in the forenoon of the second day of voting, the deputy returning officer shall, in full view of such of the candidates or their scrutineers or the electors representing candidates as are present,
(a)
unseal and open the ballot box, leaving the special envelope or envelopes containing the ballot papers spoiled or cast on the first day of voting unopened in the ballot box,
(b)
take out and open the special envelope containing the unused ballot papers, and
(c)
seal the ballot box and place it upon the table, as prescribed in subsection (1).
103(3)At the close of the advance poll at eight o’clock in the afternoon of each of the two days of voting, the deputy returning officer shall, in full view of such of the candidates, their scrutineers or the electors representing the candidates as are present,
(a)
unseal and open the ballot box,
(b)
empty the ballot cast during that day, in such manner as not to disclose for whom any elector has voted, into a special envelope supplied for that purpose, seal the envelope with a gummed paper seal prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer and indicate on the envelope the number of such ballot,
(c)
count the spoiled ballot papers, if any, place them in the special envelope supplied for that purpose, seal the envelope and indicate on the envelope the number of such spoiled ballot papers, and
(d)
count the unused ballot papers and place them in the special envelope supplied for that purpose, seal the envelope with a gummed paper seal prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer and indicate on the envelope the number of unused ballot papers.
103(4)The deputy returning officer and the poll clerk shall, and such of the candidates, their scrutineers or the electors representing the candidates as are present, may, affix their signatures on the gummed paper seals affixed to the special envelopes previously referred to in this section before such envelopes are placed in the ballot box, whereupon the deputy returning officer shall seal the ballot box, as prescribed in subsection (1).
103(5)In the intervals between voting hours at the advance poll and until eight o’clock in the afternoon of the ordinary polling day, the deputy returning officer shall keep the ballot box in his custody, sealed in the manner prescribed in subsection (1), and such of the candidates, their scrutineers or the electors representing the candidates as are present at the close of the advance poll on each of the two days of voting may if they so desire, take note of the serial number embossed on the metal or plastic seal used for sealing the ballot box, and may again take note of such serial number at the reopening of the advance poll on the second day of voting and at the counting of the votes in the evening of the ordinary polling day.
103(6)As soon as possible after the close of advance polls at eight o’clock in the afternoon of Monday, the seventh day before the ordinary polling day, the returning officer shall cause to be collected the poll books for the advance polls, in the most expeditious manner available, from the deputy returning officer of every advance polling district established in his electoral district.
103(7)The deputy returning officer shall, at eight o’clock in the afternoon of the ordinary polling day, attend with his or her poll clerk at the place mentioned in the notice of grant of poll and there in the presence of such candidates and their scrutineers as may attend open the ballot box and the sealed envelopes containing ballot papers, count the votes and take all other proceedings provided by this Act for deputy returning officers and poll clerks in connection with the conduct of an election after the close of the ordinary poll.
103(8)Repealed: 2006, c.6, s.45 1967, c.9, s.103; 1980, c.17, s.40; 1997, c.53, s.19; 1998, c.32, s.72; 2006, c.6, s.45