Clause 18

by deleting section 24 and substituting the following section:“Ballot boxes24.—

Every ballot box shall be so constructed that the ballot papers can be introduced into the box after it has been sealed or locked but cannot be withdrawn from the box unless the seal or lock is broken.(2) The presiding officer at a polling station shall, immediately before the commencement of the poll, and in the sight of such person as may be present in the polling station —

show that each ballot box to be used at the commencement of the poll is empty;

close the ballot box; and

ensure that the ballot box is sealed or locked in such a manner as to prevent it being opened without breaking the seal or lock.(3) The ballot boxes, after being sealed or locked in accordance with subsection (2), shall be kept in the view of the presiding officer of the polling station for the receipt of ballot papers and shall not be opened again until after the close of the poll.(4) Subsections (2) and (3) shall apply to every ballot box used during a poll and it shall be sufficient compliance with those subsections if a ballot box, other than a ballot box used at the commencement of a poll, is shown and sealed or locked in accordance with subsection (2) before it is used.”;

by deleting the words “and that record shall be certified by the Returning Officer and signed by such of the candidates or their counting agents as attend and desire to sign their names” in section 32(8A)(b) and substituting the words “and certify that record”;

by deleting the word “and” at the end of section 32(8A)(d); and

by deleting paragraph (e) of section 32(8A) and substituting the following paragraphs:“(e)despatch or deliver the sealed ballot box referred to in paragraph (d) in safe custody to the Returning Officer; and

despatch or deliver the sealed packet containing the record of counting in safe custody to the principal counting place.”.