Voters waiting at polling station at close of poll
9.—(1) In Schedule 1—
(a)in rule 38 (voting procedure), after paragraph (7) insert—
“(8) A voter who at the close of the poll is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of voting must (despite the close of the poll) be entitled to apply for a ballot paper under paragraph (1); and these rules apply in relation to such a voter accordingly.”;
(b)in rule 49 (verification and the count), after paragraph (3) insert—
“(3A) A postal ballot paper or postal voting statement that reaches the CRO or a polling station mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2) at or after the close of the poll is treated for the purposes of paragraph (2) as reaching that officer or polling station before the close of the poll if it is delivered by a person who, at the close of the poll, is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of returning it.”.
(2) In Schedule 2—
(a)in rule 39 (voting procedure), after paragraph (7) insert—
“(8) A voter who at the close of the poll is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of voting must (despite the close of the poll) be entitled to apply for a ballot paper under paragraph (1); and these rules apply in relation to such a voter accordingly.”;
(b)in rule 50 (verification and the local count), after paragraph (3) insert—
“(3A) A postal ballot paper or postal voting statement that reaches the CRO or a polling station mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2) at or after the close of the poll is treated for the purposes of paragraph (2) as reaching that officer or polling station before the close of the poll if it is delivered by a person who, at the close of the poll, is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of returning it.”.
(3) In Schedule 3—
(a)in rule 38 (voting procedure), after paragraph (7) insert—
“(8) A voter who at the close of the poll is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of voting must (despite the close of the poll) be entitled to apply for a ballot paper under paragraph (1); and these rules apply in relation to such a voter accordingly.”;
(b)in rule 49 (verification and the local count), after paragraph (3) insert—
“(3A) A postal ballot paper or postal voting statement that reaches the CRO or a polling station mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2) at or after the close of the poll is treated for the purposes of paragraph (2) as reaching that officer or polling station before the close of the poll if it is delivered by a person who, at the close of the poll, is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of returning it.”.
(4) In Schedule 5—
(a)in rule 38 (voting procedure), after paragraph (8) insert—
“(9) A voter who at the close of the poll is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of voting must (despite the close of the poll) be entitled to apply for a ballot paper under paragraph (1); and these rules apply in relation to such a voter accordingly.”;
(b)in rule 49 (verification and the count)—
(i)after paragraph (6) insert—
“(6A) A postal ballot paper or postal voting statement that reaches the CRO or a polling station in the appropriate area at or after the close of the poll is treated for the purposes of paragraph (5) as reaching that officer or polling station before the close of the poll if it is delivered by a person who, at the close of the poll, is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of returning it.”;
(ii)in paragraph (7), for “(5) and (6)” substitute “(5), (6) and (6A)”.
(5) In Schedule 6—
(a)in rule 39 (voting procedure), after paragraph (8) insert—
“(9) A voter who at the close of the poll is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of voting must (despite the close of the poll) be entitled to apply for a ballot paper under paragraph (1); and these rules apply in relation to such a voter accordingly.”;
(b)in rule 50 (verification and the local count)—
(i)in paragraph (5)(a) omit “before the close of the,” (the first time it occurs);
(ii)after paragraph (6) insert—
“(6A) A postal ballot paper or postal voting statement that reaches the CRO or a polling station in the appropriate area at or after the close of the poll is treated for the purposes of paragraph (5) as reaching that officer or polling station before the close of the poll if it is delivered by a person who, at the close of the poll, is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of returning it.”;
(iii)in paragraph (7), for “(5) and (6)” substitute “(5), (6) and (6A)”.
(6) In Schedule 7—
(a)in rule 38 (voting procedure), after paragraph (8) insert—
“(9) A voter who at the close of the poll is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of voting must (despite the close of the poll) be entitled to apply for a ballot paper under paragraph (1); and these rules apply in relation to such a voter accordingly.”;
(b)in rule 49 (verification and the local count)—
(i)in paragraph (5)(a), omit “before the close of the,” (the first time it occurs);
(ii)after paragraph (6) insert—
“(6A) A postal ballot paper or postal voting statement that reaches the CRO or a polling station in the appropriate area at or after the close of the poll is treated for the purposes of paragraph (5) as reaching that officer or polling station before the close of the poll if it is delivered by a person who, at the close of the poll, is in the polling station, or in a queue outside the polling station, for the purpose of returning it.”;
(iii)in paragraph (7), for “(5) and (6)” substitute “(5), (6) and (6A)”.