(1)The method of voting must be by the marking of a voting paper by the person voting.
(2)Each voting paper must—
(a)state the name of the independent scrutineer and clearly specify the address to which, and the date by which, it is to be returned, and
(b)be given one of a series of consecutive whole numbers every one of which is used in giving a different number in that series to each voting paper printed or otherwise produced for the purposes of the ballot, and
(c)be marked with its number.
(3)Every person who is entitled to vote in the ballot must—
(a)be allowed to vote without interference from, or constraint imposed by, the union or any of its members, officials or employees, and
(b)so far as is reasonably practicable, be enabled to do so without incurring any direct cost to himself.
(4)So far as is reasonably practicable, every person who is entitled to vote in the ballot must—
(a)have a voting paper sent to him by post at his home address or another address which he has requested the trade union in writing to treat as his postal address, and
(b)be given a convenient opportunity to vote by post.
(5)The ballot shall be conducted so as to secure that—
(a)so far as is reasonably practicable, those voting do so in secret, and
(b)the votes given in the ballot are fairly and accurately counted.
For the purposes of paragraph (b) an inaccuracy in counting shall be disregarded if it is accidental and on a scale which could not affect the result of the ballot.