How and when is the Envelope be opened and the Ballot Paper be counted?

Once received, the Returning Officer will place the Envelope into the Postal Voters’ Ballot Box, which has been locked and affixed with security tape.

The Postal Voters’ Ballot Box will be securely locked in the Returning Officer’s office or a safe location for example the police station, until the Polling Day.

On the Polling Day, the Postal Voters’ Ballot Box will be opened by the Returning Officer in the presence of the candidates or their agents at the specified time and place. The Returning Officer shall issue written notice of not less than 24 hours to all candidates and their agents to inform them of the time and place of opening.

Once opened, the Returning Officer will determine whether a postal vote is rejected (because does not include Form2 or defective Form2), the rejected postal vote will be sealed and secured in a packet.

For those that are regular and accepted, the Returning Officer will then place them into a tray separate from Form 2 to be counted in the presence of the candidates’ agents after the close of polling.

The Ballot Paper will then be counted in the presence of Counting Agents from the candidates.