Singapore legislation
Section 50
Section 50
Votes to be rejected
(1)
The Returning Officer must reject as invalid the following ballot papers only:
any ballot paper which does not bear the complete official mark for the authentication of ballot papers or is not initialled by the presiding officer;
any ballot paper on which votes are given for more than one candidate or group of candidates;
any ballot paper on which anything is written or marked by which the voter can be identified except the printed number on the back;
any ballot paper which is unmarked;
any ballot paper which is void for uncertainty.
(2)
Subject to subsection (2A), where the Returning Officer is satisfied that any mark made on a ballot paper clearly indicates the intention of the voter and the candidate or group of candidates for whom the voter gives his or her vote, the Returning Officer must not reject the ballot paper on the ground solely that it has not been marked in all respects in accordance with the directions given for the guidance of voters under this Act.
(2A)
When determining whether a mark made on a ballot paper clearly indicates the voter’s intention and the candidate or group of candidates for whom the voter gives his or her vote, the Returning Officer must disregard any mark on the ballot paper that is not made within the area demarcated on the ballot paper for the voter to mark his or her vote for a candidate or group of candidates.
(3)
Before rejecting a ballot paper, the Returning Officer must show it to each candidate or the candidate’s counting agent if present and hear his or her views thereon, taking all proper precautions to prevent any person from seeing the number printed on the back of the paper.
(4)
The decision of the Returning Officer as to whether or not any ballot paper is to be rejected is final and is not to be questioned on an application under section 90.