Section 23

The Minister may, in addition to appointing the Returning Officer under section 3, appoint by name or by office one or more persons to assist the Returning Officer in the performance of the Returning Officer’s duties.

A person appointed to assist the Returning Officer has all the powers and may perform all the duties of the Returning Officer and any reference in this Act to the Returning Officer is deemed, unless the context otherwise requires, to include a reference to an Assistant Returning Officer.

An appointment made by the Minister under subsection (1) may be revoked by the Minister at any time.

If the Returning Officer is, by sickness or other cause, prevented or disabled from performing any of his or her duties under this Act and there is insufficient time for any other person to be appointed by the Minister, the Returning Officer may appoint, by name or office, a deputy to act for him or her.

Every appointment made under subsection (2) must as soon as possible be reported to the Minister and may be revoked by the Minister, but without affecting the validity of anything already done by the deputy.