42.—(1) For rule 55(2) of the principal area election rules substitute—
“(2) Neither the countermand of the notice of the poll at the principal area election nor the direction that that poll be abandoned shall affect the poll at the Assembly election and any other local government election.”.
(2) For rule 55(3) of the principal area election rules substitute—
“(3) Where the poll at the principal area election is abandoned by reason of a candidate’s death, no further ballot papers shall be delivered in any polling station and, at the close of the poll for the Assembly election and any other local government election, the presiding officer shall take the like steps for the delivery to the returning officer of ballot boxes and of ballot papers and other documents as he would be required to do if the poll at the principal area election had not been abandoned, and the returning officer shall dispose of ballot papers used at the principal area election as he is required to do on the completion in due course of the counting of the votes, but—
(a)it shall not be necessary for any ballot paper account at that election to be prepared or verified; and
(b)the returning officer, having separated the ballot papers relating to the Assembly election and any other local government election, shall take no step or further step for the counting of the ballot papers used at the principal area election or of the votes and shall seal up all of those ballot papers, whether the votes on them have been counted or not, and it shall not be necessary to seal up counted and rejected ballot papers in separate packets.”.
(3) Paragraphs (4) to (8) of rule 53 shall not apply.