Statutory Instrument 2002 No. 185

The Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2002

---

© Crown Copyright 2002

Statutory Instruments printed from this website are printed under the superintendence and authority of the Controller of HMSO being the Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament.

The legislation contained on this web site is subject to Crown Copyright protection. It may be reproduced free of charge provided that it is reproduced accurately and that the source and copyright status of the material is made evident to users.

It should be noted that the right to reproduce the text of Statutory Instruments does not extend to the Queen's Printer imprints which should be removed from any copies of the Statutory Instrument which are issued or made available to the public. This includes reproduction of the Statutory Instrument on the Internet and on intranet sites. The Royal Arms may be reproduced only where they are an integral part of the original document.

The text of this Internet version of the Statutory Instrument which is published by the Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament has been prepared to reflect the text as it was Made. A print version is also available and is published by The Stationery Office Limited as the The Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2002, ISBN 0 11 039266 3. The print version may be purchased by clicking here. Braille copies of this Statutory Instrument can also be purchased at the same price as the print edition by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0870 600 5522 or e-mail:customer.services@tso.co.uk.

Further information about the publication of legislation on this website can be found by referring to the Frequently Asked Questions.

To ensure fast access over slow connections, large documents have been segmented into "chunks". Where you see a "continue" button at the bottom of the page of text, this indicates that there is another chunk of text available.

"the PPER Act" means the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000[3];

"the RP Act 2000" means the Representation of the People Act 2000[4];

"the 1983 Act" means the Representation of the People Act 1983[5];

"the 1986 Regulations" means the Representation of the People Regulations 1986[6];

"the Elections Regulations" means the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001[7];

"the European Parliamentary Elections Rules" means the rules set out in the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 1999[8];

"the GLA Elections Rules" means the Greater London Authority Elections (No. 2) Rules 2000[9];

"the Mayoral Elections Rules" means the Rules set out in Schedule 1 to these Regulations;

"the Parliamentary Elections Rules" means the rules set out in Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act;

"the Referendums Regulations" means the Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2001[10];

"further referendum" means a referendum held in pursuance of an order under regulation 21(3) of the Referendums Regulations; and

"proper officer" has the meaning given by section 270(3) of the Local Government Act 1972[11].

Conduct of mayoral elections
     3.  - (1) An election for the return of an elected mayor[12] shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules set out in Schedule 1 to these Regulations ("the Mayoral Elections Rules").

    (2) The PPER Act, the RP Act 2000, the Representation of the People Act 1985, the 1986 Regulations, the Elections Regulations and, subject to regulations 5 and 6, the 1983 Act, shall have effect - 

(a) in relation to a mayoral election in England, as they have effect in relation to an election of councillors for any county electoral division or district or London borough ward;

(b) in relation to a mayoral election in Wales, as they have effect in relation to an election of councillors for any county electoral division or county borough ward,

subject to the modifications set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

Forms
     4.  - (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Appendix (forms) to the Mayoral Elections Rules shall have effect for the purposes of the application of those Rules.

    (2) Form 2 of the forms set out in the Appendix shall have effect for the purposes of the application of those Rules in England only.

Combination of polls
     5.  - (1) Where the poll at a mayoral election is taken together with the poll at one or more of - 

(a) a parliamentary election,

(b) a European Parliamentary election,

(c) an election of councillors of the council of a county, a county borough, a district or a London borough,

(d) a GLA election, and

(e) a referendum under the Referendums Regulations (including a further referendum),

such of the Regulations and Rules listed in paragraph (2) as are applicable to the election or referendum concerned (other than the mayoral election) shall have effect in relation to the mayoral election; but the provisions specified in column (1) of Part I of Schedule 3 to these Regulations shall have effect subject to the modifications set out in column (2) of that Part.

    (2) The Regulations and Rules mentioned in paragraph (1) are - 

(a) the 1986 Regulations,

(b) the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 1999 (including the European Parliamentary Elections Rules),

(c) the Elections Regulations,

(d) the Referendums Regulations,

(e) the Parliamentary Elections Rules,

(f) the Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 1986[13],

(g) the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 1986[14], and

(h) the GLA Elections Rules.

    (3) Where - 

(a) polls are combined as mentioned in paragraph (1); or

(b) the poll at a mayoral election is combined with the poll at another mayoral election,

the Mayoral Elections Rules shall have effect subject to the modifications set out in Part II of Schedule 3, except that the first of those modifications shall apply only where the poll at the mayoral election is taken together with the poll at a parliamentary or European Parliamentary election.

    (4) Where polls are combined as mentioned in paragraph (3), the ballot papers to be used at each election or, as the case may be, the election and the referendum, shall be of a different colour.

Questioning of mayoral elections
     6. For the purposes of section 44(4) of the 2000 Act, Part III (legal proceedings) of the 1983 Act shall have effect in relation to the questioning of an election for the return of an elected mayor as it has effect in relation to the questioning of an election under the local government Act[15].

Free delivery of election addresses
     7.  - (1) Each candidate at a mayoral election shall be entitled (subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 4 to these Regulations) to have an election address prepared on behalf of the candidate included in a booklet of election addresses - 

(a) prepared by the returning officer; and

(b) delivered by that officer to each person entitled to vote at that election[16].

    (2) Candidates' election addresses shall be delivered at the expense of the authority for whose electoral area the election is held.

    (3) Schedule 4 to these Regulations (which makes provision supplementing paragraph (1) above) shall have effect.

    (4) In this regulation - 

     "electoral area" - 


(a) in relation to a mayoral election in England, means the county, district or London borough in which the election is held;

(b) in relation to a mayoral election in Wales, means the county or county borough in which the election is held; and



     "returning officer", in relation to a mayoral election, means - 



(a) the proper officer of the London borough concerned or, as the case may be, the person appointed as the returning officer for the election in accordance with subsection (1) or (1A) of section 35 (returning officers: local elections in England and Wales)[17] of the 1983 Act; and

(b) any person appointed under subsection (4) of that Act by a person of a description mentioned in paragraph (a).

Amendment of the Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 1986
     8. The Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 1986 are amended, in paragraph 14 of Schedule 4, in the inserted paragraph (1A) of rule 37, by the insertion, after "an election under the Greater London Authority Elections Rules 2000,"[18] of "or the Mayoral Elections Rules".



Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions


Nick Raynsford
Minister of State Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions

31st January 2002

"the 1983 Act" means the Representation of the People Act 1983[19];

"the PPER Act" means the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000[20];

"the appropriate form" in relation to a particular rule, means the form set out in the Appendix to these Rules as applicable to that rule or, where more than one form is so set out, the form indicated as relevant to the particular case;

"candidate" means a candidate to be the elected mayor;

"election" means an election for the return of an elected mayor;

"electoral area" - 

(a) in relation to an election in England, means the county, district or London borough in which the election is held;

(b) in relation to an election in Wales, means the county or county borough in which the election is held;

"returning officer", in relation to an election, means - 

(a) the proper officer of the London borough concerned or, as the case may be, the person appointed as the returning officer for the election in accordance with subsection (1) or (1A) of section 35 (returning officers: local elections in England and Wales)[21] of the 1983 Act; and

(b) any person appointed under subsection (4) of that section by a person of a description mentioned in paragraph (a).

    (2) Other expressions used both in these Rules and in the 1983 Act (as it applies to local government elections) have the same meaning in these Rules as they have in that Act.

shall be disregarded, and any such day shall not be treated as a day for the purpose of any proceedings up to the completion of the poll nor shall the returning officer be obliged to proceed with the counting of the votes on such a day.

    (2) In this rule, "bank holiday" means a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971[22] in England and Wales.

must reach the returning officer in order that they may be effective for the election.

Nomination of candidates and nomination papers
     6.  - (1) Each candidate shall be nominated by a separate nomination paper.

    (2) A nomination paper shall be in the appropriate form and shall be delivered at the place fixed for the purpose by the returning officer, which shall be at the offices of the council of the county, county borough, district or London borough in which the electoral area wholly or mainly lies.

    (3) A nomination paper shall state the candidate's - 

(a) full names,

(b) home address, in full, and

(c) if desired, description,

and the surname shall be placed first in the list of names.

    (4) The description, if any, which may not comprise more than six words, must consist of either - 

(a) that authorised as mentioned in paragraph (5); or

(b) the word "Independent".

    (5) A nomination paper may not include a description of a candidate that is likely to lead voters to associate the candidate with a registered political party unless - 

(a) the party is a qualifying party in relation to the electoral area; and

(b) the description is authorised by a certificate - 


(i) issued by or on behalf of the registered nominating officer of the party, and

(ii) received by the returning officer before the last time for the delivery of nomination papers.

    (6) A person shall be guilty of a corrupt practice if he fraudulently purports to be authorised to issue a certificate under paragraph (5) on behalf of a registered political party's nominating officer.

    (7) In this rule, "registered political party" means a party which was registered under Part II (registration of political parties) of the PPER Act at the time by which the notice of election is required to be published by virtue of rule 1 ("the relevant time"); and a registered political party is a qualifying party in relation to an electoral area if, at the relevant time, it was registered in respect of England or Wales in the Great Britain register maintained under that Part.

Subscription of nomination paper
     7.  - (1) The nomination paper shall be subscribed by two electors as proposer and seconder, and by twenty-eight other electors as assenting to the nomination.

    (2) Where a nomination paper has the signatures of more than the required number of persons as proposing, seconding or assenting to the nomination of a candidate, the signature or signatures (up to the required number) appearing first on the paper in each category shall be taken into account to the exclusion of any others in that category.

    (3) The nomination paper shall give the electoral number of each person subscribing it.

    (4) The returning officer - 

(a) shall supply any elector with as many forms of nomination paper and forms of consent to nomination as may be required at the place and during the time for delivery of nomination papers, and

(b) shall, at any elector's request, prepare a nomination paper for signature,

but it is not necessary for a nomination or consent to nomination to be on a form supplied by the returning officer.

    (5) In this rule, "elector" means a person who, on the last day for publication of notice of the election, is registered in the register of local government electors for the electoral area in question; but if he is then below voting age, only if it appears from the register that he will be of voting age on the day fixed for the poll.

Consent to nomination
     8. A person shall not be validly nominated unless his consent to nomination - 

(a) is given in writing in the appropriate form, or a form to the like effect, on or within one month before the last day for the delivery of nomination papers,

(b) is attested by one witness, and

(c) is delivered at the place and within the time for delivery of nomination papers.

Deposits
     9.  - (1) A person shall not be validly nominated as a candidate unless the sum of £500 is deposited by him or on his behalf, with the returning officer at the place and during the time for delivery of nomination papers.

    (2) The deposit may be made either - 

(a) by the deposit of any legal tender, or

(b) by means of a banker's draft, or

(c) with the returning officer's consent, in any other manner,

but the returning officer may refuse to accept a deposit sought to be made by means of a banker's draft if he does not know that the drawer carries on business as a banker in the United Kingdom.

    (3) Where the deposit is made on behalf of the candidate, the person making the deposit shall at the time he makes it give his name and address to the returning officer (unless they have previously been given to him under section 67 (appointment of election agent) of the 1983 Act).

Decisions as to validity of nomination papers
     10.  - (1) Where a nomination paper and the candidate's consent to it are delivered in accordance with these Rules, the candidate shall be deemed to stand nominated unless and until - 

(a) the returning officer decides that the nomination paper is invalid, or

(b) proof is given to the returning officer's satisfaction of the candidate's death, or

(c) the candidate withdraws.

    (2) The returning officer is entitled to hold the nomination paper of a person invalid only on one of the following grounds - 

(a) that the particulars of the candidate or of the persons subscribing the paper are not as required by law; and

(b) that the paper is not subscribed as so required.

    (3) Subject to paragraph (4), as soon as practicable after each nomination paper has been delivered, the returning officer shall examine it and decide whether the candidate has been validly nominated.

    (4) If the returning officer is of the opinion that a nomination paper contravenes rule 6(5), he shall give a decision to that effect as soon as practicable after the last time for the delivery of nomination papers.

    (5) Where the returning officer decides that a nomination paper is invalid, he shall endorse and sign on the paper the fact and the reasons for his decision.

    (6) The returning officer shall, as soon as practicable after making such a decision as is mentioned in paragraph (4) or (5), send notice of it to the candidate at his home address as given in his nomination paper.

    (7) The returning officer's decision that a nomination paper is valid shall be final and shall not be questioned in any proceeding whatsoever.

    (8) Subject to paragraph (7), nothing in this rule prevents the validity of a nomination being questioned on an election petition.

Publication of statement of persons nominated
     11.  - (1) The returning officer shall prepare and publish a statement showing the persons who have been and stand nominated and any other persons who have been nominated, with the reason why they no longer stand nominated.

    (2) The statement shall show the names, addresses and descriptions of the persons nominated as given in their nomination papers.

    (3) The statement shall show the persons standing nominated arranged alphabetically in the order of their surnames, and if there are two or more of them with the same surname, of their other names.

    (4) In the case of a person nominated by more than one nomination paper, the returning officer shall take the particulars required by the foregoing provisions of this rule from such one of the papers as the candidate (or the returning officer in default of the candidate) may select.

Inspection of nomination papers and consent to nomination
     12. During ordinary office hours on any day, other than a day specified in rule 4(1), after the latest time for delivery of nomination papers and before the date of the poll, any person may inspect and take copies of, or extracts from, nomination papers and consents to nomination.

Withdrawal of candidature
     13.  - (1) A candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice of withdrawal - 

(a) signed by him and attested by one witness, whose name and address shall be given; and

(b) delivered to the returning officer at the place for delivery of nomination papers.

    (2) Where a candidate is outside the United Kingdom, a notice of withdrawal signed by his election agent and accompanied by a written declaration also so signed of the candidate's absence from the United Kingdom shall be of the same effect as a notice of withdrawal signed by the candidate; but where the candidate stands nominated by more than one nomination paper a notice of withdrawal under this paragraph shall be effective if, and only if, it is accompanied, in addition to that declaration, by a written statement signed by the candidate that the person giving the notice is authorised to do so on the candidate's behalf during his absence from the United Kingdom.

Method of election
     14. If, after any withdrawals under rule 13 - 

(a) more than two candidates remain validly nominated, a poll shall be taken in accordance with Parts IV and V of these Rules,

(b) only two candidates remain validly nominated, a poll shall be taken in accordance with Part IV;

(c) only one candidate remains validly nominated, that person shall be declared to be elected in accordance with Part VI.

    (6) The names of the candidates shall be arranged alphabetically in the order of their surnames and, if there are two or more of them with the same surname, of their other names.

The official mark
     17.  - (1) Every ballot paper shall be marked with an official mark, which shall perforate the ballot paper.

    (2) The official mark shall be kept secret, and an interval of not less than five years shall intervene between the use of the same official mark at an election (of whatever description) for the same county, county borough, district or London borough, as the case may be.

    (3) The official mark used for ballot papers issued for the purpose of voting by post shall not be used at the same election for ballot papers issued for the purpose of voting in person.

Prohibition or disclosure of vote
     18. No person who has voted at the election shall, in any legal proceedings to question the election, be required to state for whom he has voted.

Use of schools and public rooms
     19.  - (1) The returning officer may use, free of charge, for the purpose of taking the poll or counting the votes - 

(a) a room in a school maintained or assisted by a local education authority or a school in respect of which grants are made out of moneys provided by Parliament to the person or body of persons responsible for the management of the school;

(b) a room the expense of maintaining which is met by any local authority.

    (2) The use of a room in an an unoccupied hereditament for that purpose or those purposes does not render a person liable to any payment by way of council tax or non-domestic rate in respect of that hereditament and any day on which it is so used.

    (3) The returning officer shall make good any damage done to, and defray any expense incurred by the persons having control over, any such room as is mentioned in paragraph (1) by reason of its being used for the purpose of taking the poll or counting the votes.

Notice of poll, etc.
     20.  - (1) The returning officer shall publish notice of the poll stating - 

(a) the day and hours fixed for the poll; and

(b) particulars of each candidate remaining validly nominated,

and paragraph (6) of rule 16 shall apply in relation to the order in which names and particulars appear on the notice of the poll as it applies in relation to ballot papers.

    (2) The returning officer shall, not later than the time of the publication of the notice of the poll, also give public notice of - 

(a) the situation of each polling station; and

(b) the description of voters entitled to vote there,

and he shall as soon as practicable after giving such a notice give a copy of it to each of the election agents.

Postal ballot papers
     21. The returning officer shall, in accordance with regulations made under the 1983 Act, issue to those entitled to vote by post a postal ballot paper and a declaration of identity in the appropriate forms, or forms to the like effect, together with such envelopes for their return (whether free of charge or otherwise) as may be prescribed by such regulations.

Provision of polling stations
     22.  - (1) The returning officer shall provide a sufficient number of polling stations and, subject to the following provisions of this rule, shall allot the electors to the polling stations in such manner as he thinks most convenient.

    (2) One or more polling stations may be provided in the same room.

    (3) The polling station allotted to electors from any parliamentary polling district wholly or partly within the electoral area shall, in the absence of special circumstances, be in the parliamentary polling place for that district, unless that place is outside the electoral area.

    (4) The returning officer shall provide each polling station with such number of compartments as may be necessary in which the voters can mark their votes screened from observation.

Appointment of presiding officers and clerks
     23.  - (1) The returning officer shall appoint and pay a presiding officer to attend at each polling station and such clerks as may be necessary for the purposes of the election, but he shall not appoint any person who has been employed by or on behalf of a candidate in or about the election.

    (2) The returning officer may, if he thinks fit, preside at a polling station and the provisions of this Part relating to a presiding officer shall apply to the returning officer so presiding with the necessary modifications as to things to be done by the returning officer to the presiding officer or by the presiding officer to the returning officer.

    (3) A presiding officer may do, by the clerks, appointed to assist him, any act (including the asking of questions) which he is required or authorised by this Part to do at a polling station except order the arrest, exclusion or removal of any person from the polling station.

Issue of official poll cards
     24.  - (1) The returning officer shall as soon as practicable send to electors and their proxies an official poll card, but a card need not be sent to any person - 

(a) as an elector if he is placed on the absent voters list for the election; or

(b) as a proxy if he is entitled to vote by post as proxy at the election.

    (2) An elector's official poll card shall be sent or delivered to his qualifying address, and a proxy's to his address as shown in the list of proxies.

    (3) The official poll card shall be in the appropriate form, or a form to the like effect, and shall set out - 

(a) the name of the local authority to which the election relates;

(b) that the election is a mayoral election;

(c) the elector's name, qualifying address and number on the register; and

(d) the date and hours of the poll and the situation of the elector's polling station.

Equipment of polling stations
     25.  - (1) The returning officer shall provide each presiding officer with such number of ballot boxes and such ballot papers as in the returning officer's opinion may be necessary.

    (2) Every ballot box shall be so constructed that the ballot papers can be put in it, but cannot be withdrawn from it, without the box being unlocked or, where the box has no lock, the seal being broken.

    (3) The returning officer shall provide each polling station with - 

(a) materials to enable voters to mark the ballot papers;

(b) instruments for stamping on them the official mark;

(c) copies of the register of electors, or such part of it as contains the names of the electors allotted to the station;

(d) the parts of any special lists prepared for the election corresponding to the register of electors or the part of it provided under sub-paragraph (c).

    (4) The returning officer shall also provide each polling station with - 

(a) at least one large version of the ballot paper which shall be displayed inside the polling station for the assistance of voters who are partially sighted; and

(b) a device, of such description as is set out in paragraphs (5) to (10), for enabling voters who are blind or partially sighted to vote without any need for assistance from the presiding officer or any companion (within the meaning of rule 35(1).

    (5) The device referred to in paragraph (4)(b) must be capable of being attached firmly to a ballot paper and of being removed from it after use without damage to the paper.

    (6) On the right-hand side of the device there shall be tabs of equal size which satisfy the conditions in paragraphs (7) to (10).

    (7) The tabs shall be capable of being positioned on the ballot paper so that each one is above one of the spaces, to the right of the particulars of the candidates, on which the vote is to be marked ("the relevant space").

    (8) Each tab shall be numbered so that, when the device is positioned over a ballot paper, the number of each tab corresponds to that of the candidate whose particulars are to the left of the relevant space covered by the tab in question.

    (9) Each number on the tab shall be in raised form so that it can be clearly identified by touch.

    (10) Each tab shall be capable of being lifted so as to reveal the relevant space and so that there is sufficient room to allow a voter to mark a cross on that space.

    (11) Notices in the appropriate forms, for the guidance of voters, shall be exhibited - 

(a) inside and outside every polling station, and

(b) in every compartment of every polling station.

Appointment of polling and counting agents, etc
     26.  - (1) Subject to paragraphs (3) to (5), before the commencement of the poll each candidate may appoint polling agents to attend at polling stations for the purpose of detecting personation; and counting agents to attend at the count.

    (2) The same person may be appointed as a polling agent or counting agent by more than one candidate.

    (3) Not more than four polling agents, or such greater number as the returning officer may by notice allow, shall be permitted to attend at any particular polling station.

    (4) If the number of such agents appointed to attend at a particular polling station exceeds that number, the returning officer shall determine by lot which agents are permitted to attend, and only the agents on whom the lot falls shall be deemed to have been duly appointed.

    (5) The returning officer may limit the number of counting agents, but in doing so shall ensure that - 

(a) the number is the same in the case of each candidate; and

(b) the number allowed to a candidate shall not (except in special circumstances) be less than the number obtained by dividing the number of clerks employed on the counting by the number of candidates.

    (6) For the purposes of the calculations required by paragraph (5) a counting agent appointed for more than one candidate is a separate agent for each of the candidates for whom he has been appointed.

    (7) Notice in writing of the appointment, stating the names and addresses of the persons appointed, shall be given by the candidate, or as the case may be, the election agent, to the returning officer and shall be so given not later than the fifth day (computed like any period of time in the Timetable in rule 3) before the day of the poll.

    (8) If an agent dies, or becomes incapable of acting, the candidate, or as the case may be, the election agent, may appoint another person in his place, and shall forthwith give to the returning officer notice in writing of the name and address of that other person.

    (9) The foregoing provisions of this rule shall be without prejudice to the requirements of section 72(1) of the 1983 Act as to the appointment of paid polling agents, and any appointment for a candidate authorised by this rule may be made and the notice of appointment given to the returning officer by the candidate's election agent, instead of by the candidate.

    (10) In the following provisions of this Part references to polling agents and counting agents shall be taken as references to agents - 

(a) whose appointments have been duly made and notified; and

(b) where the number of agents is restricted, who are within the permitted numbers.

    (11) Any notice required to be given to a counting agent by the returning officer may be delivered at, or sent by post to, the address stated in the notice of appointment.

    (12) A candidate may himself do any act or thing which any polling or counting agent of his, if appointed, would have been authorised to do, or may assist his agent in doing any such act or thing.

    (13) A candidate's election agent may do or assist in doing anything which a polling or counting agent of his is authorised to do; and anything required or authorised by these Rules to be done in the presence of the polling or counting agent may be done in the presence of a candidate's election agent instead of his polling agent or counting agent.

    (14) Where by these Rules any act or thing is required or authorised to be done in the presence of the polling or counting agents, the non-attendance of any agent or agents at the time and place appointed for the purpose shall not, if the act or thing is otherwise duly done, invalidate the act or thing done.

Notification of requirement of secrecy
     27. The returning officer shall make such arrangements as he thinks fit to ensure that - 

(a) every person attending at a polling station (otherwise than for the purpose of voting or assisting a voter with disabilities to vote or as a constable on duty there) has been given a copy in writing of the provisions of subsections (1), (3) and (6) of section 66[23] of the 1983 Act; and

(b) every person attending at the counting of the votes (other than any constable on duty at the counting) has been given a copy in writing of the provisions of subsections (2) and (6) of that section.

Admission to polling station
     28.  - (1) The presiding officer shall regulate the number of voters to be admitted to the polling station at the same time, and shall exclude all other persons except - 

(a) the candidates and their election agents;

(b) the polling agents appointed to attend at the polling station;

(c) the clerks appointed to attend at the polling station;

(d) the constables on duty; and

(e) the companions of voters with disabilities.

    (2) Not more than one polling agent shall be admitted at the same time to a polling station on behalf of the same candidate.

    (3) A constable or person employed by the returning officer shall not be admitted to vote in person elsewhere than at his own polling station allotted to him under these Rules, except on production and surrender of a certificate as to his employment which shall be in the appropriate form, or a form to the like effect, and signed by an officer of the police of or above the rank of inspector or by the returning officer, as the case may be.

    (4) Any certificate surrendered under this rule shall forthwith be cancelled.

Keeping of order in station
     29.  - (1) It is the presiding officer's duty to keep order at his polling station.

    (2) If a person misconducts himself in a polling station, or fails to obey the presiding officer's lawful orders, he may immediately, by the presiding officer's order, be removed from the polling station - 

(a) by a constable in or near that station, or

(b) by any other person authorised in writing by the returning officer to remove him,

and the person so removed shall not, without the presiding officer's permission, again enter the polling station during the day.

    (3) Any person so removed may, if charged with the commission in the polling station of an offence, be dealt with as a person taken into custody by a constable for an offence without a warrant.

    (4) The powers conferred by this rule shall not be exercised so as to prevent a voter who is otherwise entitled to vote at a polling station from having an opportunity of voting at that station.

Sealing of ballot boxes
     30. Immediately before the commencement of the poll, the presiding officer shall - 

(a) show the ballot box, empty, to such persons, if any, as are present in the polling station, so that they may see that the box is empty;

(b) lock up the box (if it has a lock);

(c) place his seal - 


(i) on the lock; or

(ii) where the ballot box has no lock, on the box,



in such a manner as to prevent its being opened without breaking the seal;

(d) place the box in his view for the receipt of ballot papers; and

(e) keep the box locked and sealed or, as the case may be, sealed.

Questions to be put to voters
     31.  - (1) The presiding officer may, and if required by a candidate or his election or polling agent shall, put to any person applying for a ballot paper at the time of his application, but not afterwards, the following questions or either of them - 

(a) in the case of a person applying as an elector - 


(i) "Are you the person registered in the register of local government electors for this election as follows?" (read the whole entry from the register)

(ii) "Have you already voted at this election otherwise than as proxy for some other person?"



(b) in the case of a person applying as proxy - 



(i) "Are you the person whose name appears as A.B. in the list of proxies for this election as entitled to vote as proxy on behalf of C.D.?"

(ii) "Have you already voted at this selection as proxy on behalf of C.D.?"

    (2) In the case of a person applying as proxy, the presiding officer may, and if required as mentioned above shall, put the following additional question - 

"Are you the husband, wife, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild of C.D.?"

and if that question is not answered in the affirmative the following question - 

"Have you already voted at this election on behalf of two persons of whom you are not the husband, wife, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild?"

    (3) A ballot paper shall not be delivered to any person required to answer the above questions or any of them unless he has answered the questions or question satisfactorily.

    (4) Save as by this rule authorised, no inquiry shall be permitted as to the right of any person to vote.

Challenge of voter
     32.  - (1) If at any time a person applies for a ballot paper for the purpose of voting in person, or after he has applied for a ballot paper for that purpose and before he has left the polling station, a candidate or his election or polling agent - 

(a) declares to the presiding officer that he has reasonable cause to believe that the applicant has committed an offence of personation, and

(b) undertakes to substantiate the charge in a court of law,

the presiding officer may order a constable to arrest the applicant, and the order of the presiding officer shall be sufficient authority for the constable so to do.

    (2) A person against whom a declaration is made under this rule shall not by reason of it be prevented from voting.

    (3) A person arrested under the provisions of this rule shall be dealt with as a person taken into custody by a constable for an offence without a warrant.

Voting procedure
     33.  - (1) A ballot paper shall be delivered to a voter who applies for one, and immediately before delivery - 

(a) the ballot paper shall be stamped with the official mark;

(b) the number and name of the elector as stated in the copy of the register of electors shall be called out;

(c) the number of the elector shall be marked on the counterfoil;

(d) a mark shall be placed in the register of electors against the number of the elector to denote that a ballot paper has been received but without showing the particular ballot paper which has been received; and

(e) in the case of a person applying for a ballot paper as proxy, a mark shall be placed against his name in the list of proxies.

    (2) The voter, on receiving the ballot paper shall forthwith proceed into one of the compartments in the polling station and there secretly mark his paper and fold it up so as to conceal his vote, and shall then show to the presiding officer the back of the paper, so as to disclose the official mark, and put the ballot paper so folded up into the ballot box in the presiding officer's presence.

    (3) The voter shall vote without undue delay, and shall leave the polling station as soon as he has put his ballot paper into the ballot box.

Votes marked by presiding officer
     34.  - (1) The presiding officer, on the application of a voter - 

(a) who is incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause from voting in the manner directed by these Rules, or

(b) who declares orally that he is unable to read,

shall, in the presence of the polling agents, cause the voter's vote to be marked on a ballot paper in the manner directed by the voter, and the ballot paper to be placed in the ballot box.

    (2) The name and number on the register of electors of every voter whose vote is marked in pursuance of this rule, and the reason why it is so marked, shall be entered on a list (in these Rules called "the list of votes marked by the presiding officer").

    (3) In the case of a person voting as proxy for an elector, the number to be entered together with the voter's name shall be the elector's number.

Voting by persons with disabilities
     35.  - (1) If a voter makes an application to the presiding officer to be allowed, on the ground of - 

(a) blindness or other physical incapacity, or

(b) inability to read,

to vote with the assistance of another person by whom he is accompanied (in these Rules referred to as "the companion"), the presiding officer shall require the voter to declare, orally or in writing, whether he is so incapacitated by his blindness or other incapacity, or by his inability to read, as to be unable to vote without assistance.

    (2) If the presiding officer - 

(a) is satisfied that the voter is so incapacitated, and

(b) is also satisfied by a written declaration made by the companion (in these Rules referred to as "the declaration made by the companion of a voter with disabilities") that the companion - 


(i) is a qualified person within the meaning of this rule, and

(ii) has not previously assisted more than one voter with disabilities to vote at the election,



the presiding officer shall grant the application, and then anything which is by these Rules required to be done to or by that voter in connection with the giving of his vote may be done to, or with the assistance of, the companion.

    (3) For the purposes of these Rules - 

(a) a person is a voter with disabilities if he has made such a declaration as is mentioned in paragraph (1); and

(b) a person shall be qualified to assist a voter with disabilities to vote if that person is either - 


(i) a person who is entitled to vote as an elector at the election; or

(ii) the father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, son or daughter of the voter and has attained the age of 18 years.

    (4) Subject to paragraph 95), the name and number in the register of electors of every voter whose vote is given in accordance with this rule, and the name and address of the companion, shall be entered on a list (in these Rules referred to as "the list of voters with disabilities assisted by companions").

    (5) In the case of a person voting as proxy for an elector, the number to be entered together with the voter's name shall be the elector's number.

    (6) The declaration made by the companion - 

(a) shall be in the appropriate form;

(b) shall be made before the presiding officer at the time when the voter applies to vote with the assistance of a companion; and

(c) shall forthwith be given to the presiding officer who shall attest and retain it.

    (7) No fee or other payment shall be charged in respect of the declaration.

Tendered ballot papers
     36.  - (1) If a person, representing himself to be - 

(a) a particular elector named on the register and not named in the absent voters list, or

(b) a particular person named in the list of proxies as proxy for an elector and not entitled to vote by post as proxy,

applies for a ballot paper after another person has voted in person either as the elector or his proxy, the applicant shall, on satisfactorily answering the questions permitted by law to be asked at the poll, be entitled, subject to the following provisions of this rule, to mark a ballot paper (in these Rules referred to as "a tendered ballot paper") in the same manner as any other voter.

    (2) A tendered ballot paper shall - 

(a) be of a colour different from the other ballot papers;

(b) instead of being put into the ballot box, be given to the presiding officer and endorsed by him with the name of the voter and his number in the register of electors, and set aside in a separate packet.

    (3) The name of the voter and his number on the register of electors shall be entered on a list (in these Rules referred to as the "tendered votes list").

    (4) In the case of a person voting as proxy for an elector, the number to be endorsed or entered together with the voter's name shall be the number of that elector.

Spoilt ballot papers
     37. A voter who has inadvertently dealt with his ballot paper in such manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper may, on delivering it to the presiding officer and proving to his satisfaction on the fact of the inadvertence, obtain another ballot paper in the place of the ballot paper so delivered (in these Rules referred to as "a spoilt ballot paper"), and the spoilt ballot paper shall be immediately cancelled.

Adjournment of polling case of riot
     38.  - (1) Where the proceedings at any polling station are interrupted or obstructed by riot or open violence, the presiding officer shall adjourn the proceedings till the following day and shall forthwith give notice to the returning officer.

    (2) Where the poll is adjourned at any polling station - 

(a) the hours of polling on the day to which it is adjourned shall be the same as for the original day; and

(b) references in these Rules to the close of the poll shall be construed accordingly.

Procedure on close of poll
     39.  - (1) As soon as practicable after the close of the poll, the presiding officer shall, in the presence of the polling agents, make up into separate packets, sealed with his own seal and the seals of such polling agents as desire to affix their seals - 

(a) each ballot box in use at the station, sealed so as to prevent the introduction of additional ballot papers and unopened, but with any key attached,

(b) the unused and spoilt ballot papers placed together,

(c) the tendered ballot papers,

(d) the marked copies of the register of electors and of the list of proxies,

(e) the counterfoils of the used ballot papers and the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll,

(f) the tendered votes list, the list of voters with disabilities assisted by companions, the list of votes marked by the presiding officer, a statement of the number of voters whose votes are so marked by the presiding officer under the heads "physical incapacity" and "unable to read", and the declarations made by the companions of voters with disabilities,

and shall deliver the packets or cause them to be delivered to the returning officer to be taken charge of by him; but if the packets are not delivered by the presiding officer personally to the returning officer, the arrangements for their delivery shall require the returning officer's approval.

    (2) The marked copies of the register of electors and of the list of proxies shall be in one packet but shall not be in the same packet as the counterfoils of the used ballot papers and the certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll.

    (3) The packets shall be accompanied by a ballot paper account showing the number of ballot papers entrusted to the presiding officer, and accounting for them under the heads - 

(a) ballot papers issued and not otherwise accounted for,

(b) unused ballot papers,

(c) spoilt ballot papers, and

(d) tendered ballot papers.

Attendance at the count
     40.  - (1) The returning officer shall make arrangements for carrying out, as soon as practicable after the close of the poll, the counting of the votes cast at the election in the presence of the counting agents appointed for the purposes of the election; and he shall give to those agents notice in writing of the time and place - 

(a) at which he will begin to count the votes; and

(b) at which he will begin any count of the second preference votes.

    (2) No person other than - 

(a) the returning officer and his clerks,

(b) the candidates and their husbands or wives,

(c) the election agents, and

(d) the counting agents,

may be present at the count, unless permitted by the returning officer to attend.

    (3) A person not entitled to attend the count shall not be permitted to do so by the returning officer unless - 

(a) he is satisfied that the efficient counting of the votes will not be impeded; and

(b) he has either consulted the election agents or thought it impracticable to do so.

    (4) The returning officer shall give the counting agents all such reasonable facilities for overseeing the proceedings, and all such information with respect to them, as he can give them consistently with the orderly conduct of the proceedings and the discharge of his duties in connection with them.

    (5) In particular, where the votes are counted by sorting the ballot papers according to the candidate for whom the vote is given and then counting the number of ballot papers for each candidate, the counting agents shall be entitled to satisfy themselves that the ballot papers are correctly sorted.

The first count
     41.  - (1) The returning officer shall - 

(a) in the presence of the counting agents, open each ballot box and count and record the number of ballot papers in it;

(b) in the presence of the election agents, verify each ballot paper account; and

(c) count such of the postal ballot papers as have been duly returned and record the number counted.

    (2) The returning officer shall not count the votes given on any ballot papers until - 

(a) in the case of postal ballot papers, they have been mixed with the ballot papers from at least one ballot box, and

(b) in the case of ballot papers from a ballot box, they have been mixed with the ballot papers from at least one other ballot box.

    (3) The returning officer shall then - 

(a) where the election is contested by more than two candidates, count the first preference votes given on them;

(b) where the election is contested by only two candidates, count the votes given on them.

    (4) A postal ballot paper shall not be taken to be duly returned unless - 

(a) it is returned in the manner set out in paragraph (5), and reaches the returning officer or any polling station in the electoral area in question before the close of the poll; and

(b) the declaration of identity, duly signed and authenticated, is also returned in the manner set out in paragraph (5), and reaches him or such a polling station before that time.

    (5) The manner in which any postal ballot paper or declaration of identity may be returned - 

(a) to the returning officer, is by hand or post;

(b) to a polling station, is by hand.

    (6) The returning officer shall not count any tendered ballot paper.

    (7) While counting and recording the number of ballot papers and counting the votes, the returning officer shall keep the ballot papers with their faces upwards and take all proper precautions for preventing any person from seeing the numbers printed on the back of the papers.

    (8) The returning officer shall verify each ballot paper account by comparing it with the number of ballot papers recorded by him, and the unused and spoilt ballot papers in his possession and the tendered votes list (opening and resealing the packets containing the unused and spoilt ballot papers and the tendered votes list) and shall draw up a statement as to the result of the verification, which any election agent may copy.

    (9) The returning officer shall so far as practicable proceed continuously with counting the votes, allowing only time for refreshment, except that he may exclude the hours between 5 in the afternoon and 10 on the following morning.

    (10) During the time so excluded the returning officer shall - 

(a) place the ballot papers and other documents relating to the election under his own seal and the seals of such of the counting agents as desire to affix their seals; and

(b) otherwise take proper precautions for the security of the papers and documents.

Rejected ballot papers
     42.  - (1) Any ballot paper - 

(a) which does not bear the official mark;

(b) on which anything is written or marked by which the voter can be identified except the printed number on the back, or

(c) which is unmarked or void for uncertainty as to the first preference vote,

shall be void and not counted.

    (2) A ballot paper on which a vote is marked - 

(a) elsewhere than in the proper place, or

(b) otherwise than by means of a cross, or

(c) by more than one mark,

shall not for such reason be void if - 

(i) at an election at which more than two candidates remain validly nominated, an intention that votes shall be given, by way of a first preference vote, for not more than one of the candidates clearly appears;

(ii) at any other election, an intention that a vote shall be for one only of the candidates clearly appears,



and (in each case) the way the paper is marked does not itself identify the voter and it is not shown that he can be identified by it.

    (3) A ballot paper which is not otherwise void and on which not more than one first preference vote is marked (whether or not a second preference vote is marked) shall be valid as respects that vote, and counted accordingly.

    (4) The returning officer shall endorse the word "rejected" on any ballot paper which under this rule is not to be counted, and shall add to the endorsement the words "rejection objected to" if any objection to his decision is made by a counting agent.

    (5) The returning officer shall draw up a statement showing the number of ballot papers rejected under the several heads of - 

(a) want of official mark;

(b) voting for more than one candidate as to the first preference vote;

(c) writing or mark by which the voter could be identified; and

(d) unmarked or void for uncertainty as to the first preference vote.

Decisions on ballot papers
     43. The decision of the returning officer on any question arising in respect of a ballot paper shall be final, but shall be subject to review on an election petition.

Re-count
     44.  - (1) A candidate or his election agent may, if present when the counting or any re-count of the votes, or as the case may be, the first preference votes, is completed, require the returning officer to have the votes re-counted or again re-counted but the returning officer may refuse to do so if in his opinion the request is unreasonable.

    (2) No step shall be taken on the completion of the counting or any re-count of the votes, or as the case may be, the first preference votes until the candidates and election agents present at its completion have been given a reasonable opportunity to exercise the right conferred by this rule.

Procedure at conclusion of first count
     45.  - (1) As soon as practicable after the conclusion of the first count (including any re-count), the returning officer shall draw up a statement showing - 

(a) the total number of ballot papers used;

(b) the total number of rejected ballot papers;

(c) at an election contested by more than two candidates - 


(i) the number of first preference votes given to each candidate; and

(ii) the total number of first preference votes given; and



(d) at an election contested by only two candidates, the number of votes given for each candidate.

    (2) As soon as practicable after completion of the statement, the returning officer shall - 

(a) inform such of the candidates and their election agents as are then present of the contents of the statements (prepared in accordance with rule 42(5) and paragraph (1) of this rule; and

(b) give public notice of the contents of those statements.

    (3) Where an election is contested by more than two candidates, the returning officer shall - 

(a) if paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the 2000 Act applies (candidate with overall majority of first preference votes), make the declaration required by rule 48(1); or

(b) if paragraph 3 of that Schedule applies, count the second preference votes at the time and place notified in accordance with rule 40(1)(b).

    (4) Where - 

(a) an election is contested by only two candidates; and

(b) the total number of votes given for each of them is unequal,

the person to be returned as the elected mayor is the candidate to whom the majority of the votes is given.

    (5) Where - 

(a) an election is contested by only two candidates; and

(b) the total number of votes given for each of them is equal,

the returning officer shall decide by lot which of them is to be returned as the elected mayor.

    (6) In a case to which paragraph (4) or (5) applies, the declaration of the person to be returned as the elected mayor shall be made in accordance with rule 48.

    (4) The returning officer shall inform the proper officer of the local authority concerned of the result of the election.

Return or forfeiture of candidate's deposit
     49.  - (1) Unless forfeited in accordance with paragraph (5), the deposit made under rule 9 of these Rules shall be returned to the person making it or his personal representative.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (4), the deposit shall be returned not later than the next day after that on which the result of the election is declared.

    (3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) - 

(a) a day shall be disregarded if it would be disregarded under rule 4 in computing any period of time for the purposes of the timetable for an election of the kind in question; and

(b) the deposit shall be treated as being returned on a day if a cheque for the amount of the deposit is posted on that day.

    (4) If the candidate is not shown as standing nominated in the statement of persons nominated, or if proof of his death has been given to the returning officer before the first calculation under rule 45, the deposit shall be returned as soon as practicable after the publication of the statement or after his death, as the case may be.

    (5) Where a poll is taken, if, after the first calculation under rule 45, the candidate is found not to have polled more than one-twentieth of the total number of first preference votes polled by all the candidates, the deposit shall be forfeited to the local authority of the electoral area concerned.

endorsing on each packet a description of its contents, the date of the election to which they relate and the name of the electoral area for which the election was held.

Orders for production of documents
     52.  - (1) An order - 

(a) for the inspection or production of any rejected ballot papers in the custody of the proper officer; or

(b) for the opening of a sealed packet of counterfoils and certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll or the inspection of any counted ballot papers in his custody,

may be made by a county court, if the court is satisfied by evidence on oath that the order is required for the purpose of instituting or maintaining a prosecution for an offence in relation to ballot papers, or for the purposes of an election petition.

    (2) An order for the opening of a sealed packet of counterfoils and certificates or for the inspection of any counted ballot papers in the custody of the proper officer may be made by an election court.

    (3) An order under this rule may be made subject to such conditions as to - 

(a) persons,

(b) time,

(c) place and mode of inspection,

(d) production or opening,

as the court making the order think expedient; but in making and carrying into effect an order for the opening of a packet of counterfoils and certificates or for the inspection of counted ballot papers, care shall be taken that the way in which the vote of any particular elector has been given shall not be disclosed until it has been proved - 

(i) that his vote was given; and

(ii) that the vote has been declared by a competent court to be invalid.

    (4) An appeal lies to the High Court from any order of a county court under this rule.

    (5) Any power given under this rule to a county court may be exercised by any judge of the court otherwise than in open court.

    (6) Where an order is made for the production by the proper officer of any document in his possession relating to any specified election - 

(a) the production by him or his agent of the document ordered in such manner as may be directed by that order shall be conclusive evidence that the document relates to the specified election; and

(b) any endorsement on any packet of ballot papers so produced shall be prima facie evidence that the ballot papers are what they are stated to be by the endorsement.

    (7) The production from proper custody of a ballot paper purporting to have been used at any election, and of a counterfoil marked with the same printed number and having a number marked on it in writing, shall be primae facie evidence that the elector whose vote was given by that ballot paper was the person who at the time of the election had affixed to his name in the register of electors the same number as the number written on the counterfoil.

    (8) Save as by this rule provided, no person shall be allowed to inspect any rejected or counted ballot papers in the possession of the proper officer or open any sealed packets of counterfoils and certificates.

Public inspection and destruction of documents
     53.  - (1) The proper officer shall retain for six months amongst the records of the local authority all documents relating to an election forwarded to him in pursuance of these Rules by a returning officer, and then, unless otherwise directed by an order of a county court or an election court, shall cause them to be destroyed.

    (2) Those documents, except ballot papers, counterfoils and certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll, shall be open to public inspection at such time and in such manner as the local authority may determine.

    (3) The proper officer shall, on request, supply copies of or extracts from the documents in his possession that are open to public inspection on payment of such fees and subject to such conditions as may be determined by the local authority.

(a) it shall not be necessary for any ballot paper account to be prepared or verified and

(b) the returning officer, without taking any step or further step for the counting of the ballot papers or of the votes, shall seal up all the ballot papers, whether the votes on them have been counted or not, and it shall not be necessary to seal up counted and rejected ballot papers in separate packets.

    (3) The provisions of these Rules as to the inspection, production, retention and destruction of ballot papers and other documents relating to a poll at an election apply to any such documents relating to a poll abandoned by reason of a candidate's death, with the following modifications - 

(a) ballot papers on which the votes were neither counted nor rejected shall be treated as counted ballot papers; and

(b) no order shall be made for the production or inspection of any ballot papers or for the opening of a sealed packet of counterfoils or certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll unless the order is made by a court with reference to a prosecution.

(a) no word shall be printed on the face except - 


(i) the direction "VOTE FOR ONE CANDIDATE ONLY [X]";

(ii) the particulars of the candidates; and

(iii) words forming part of the emblems;



(b) no rule shall be printed on the face except the horizontal rule separating the direction mentioned in sub-paragraph (a)(i) from the particulars of the candidates and the horizontal rules separating the particulars of the candidates and the vertical rules separating those particulars from the numbers on the left-hand side and the spaces on the right where the vote is to be marked;

(c) the whole space between the top and the bottom of the paper shall be equally divided between the direction mentioned in sub-paragraph (a)(i) and each candidate by the horizontal rules mentioned in sub-paragraph (b).

     3. The direction mentioned in sub-paragraph (a)(i) shall be printed in large capitals.

     4. The surname of each candidate shall in both cases be printed by itself in large capitals, and his full particulars shall be set out below it and shall be printed in ordinary type except that small capitals shall be used - 

(a) if his surname is the same as the other candidate's, for his other names; and

(b) if his other names are also the same as the other candidate's, either for his home address or for his description unless each of them is the same as that of the other candidate with the same surname and other names.

     5. Where an emblem is to be printed against a candidate's name - 

(a) it shall be printed between the particulars and the vertical rule separating the particulars from the spaces where the vote is to be marked, and

(b) its size as printed shall not exceed two centimetres square.

     6. The number on the back of the ballot paper shall be printed in small characters.

(a) no word shall be printed on the face except the direction "VOTE ONCE [X] IN EACH COLUMN", the column headings "1st Choice" and "2nd Choice", the particulars of the candidates and words forming part of the emblems;

(b) no rule shall be printed on the face except the horizontal rule separating the direction mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) from the particulars of the candidates and the horizontal rules separating the particulars of the candidates from one another and the vertical rule separating those particulars from the numbers on the left-hand side and the spaces on the right where the vote is to be marked;

(c) the whole space between the top and the bottom of the paper shall be divided equally between the direction mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) and each of the candidates by the horizontal rules mentioned in sub-paragraph (b).

     3. The direction mentioned in paragraph 2(a) shall be printed in large capitals.

     4. The surname of each candidate shall in all cases be printed by itself in large capitals, and his full particulars shall be set out below it and shall be printed in ordinary type except that small capitals shall be used - 

(a) if his surname is the same as another candidate's, for his other names; and

(b) if his other names are also the same as the other candidate's, either for his home address or for his description unless each of them is the same as that of another candidate with the same surname and other names.

     5. Where an emblem is to be printed against a candidate's particulars - 

(a) it shall be printed between the particulars and the vertical rule separating the particulars from the spaces where the vote is to be marked, and

(b) its size as printed shall not exceed two centimetres square.

     6. The number on the back of the ballot paper shall be printed in small characters.