19.—(1) After rule 54(2) of Schedule 5 insert—
“(2A) Where the poll at an Assembly election is taken together with a poll at a local government election and a constituency returning officer at the Assembly election does not discharge the functions specified in paragraph 2 of Schedule 4 (so that sub-paragraph (1) does not apply), the constituency returning officer shall make arrangements for counting the votes in the presence of the counting agents after the delivery of the ballot papers to him by the returning officer who does discharge those functions, and he shall also give to the counting agents notice in writing of the time and place he will begin to count the votes if he has by then received the ballot papers.
(2B) At a regional election notice under paragraph (2A) shall also be given to the regional returning officer.”.
(2) In rule 54(6), before “the efficient” insert “the efficient separating of the ballot papers or, as the case may be,”.