The Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017

Returning officer's final statement, central calculation and declaration of resultU.K.

59.—(1) When the [F1CA/CCA] returning officer has determined not to direct that any re-count (or further re-count) must take place, he or she must direct the returning officers to draw up a final statement of the matters referred to in rule 47(8) [F2and 54(1)] and to provide final versions of their statements of rejected ballot papers.

(2) The returning officer, having drawn up the final statement, must—

(a)forthwith inform the [F1CA/CCA] returning officer of its contents, and

(b)as soon as reasonably practicable give the [F1CA/CCA] returning officer notice of the number of rejected ballot papers under each head shown in the final statement of rejected ballot papers.

(3) When authorised by the [F1CA/CCA] returning officer to do so, the returning officer must—

(a)make a declaration of the matters referred to in the final statement, and

(b)give public notice of those matters together with the number of rejected ballot papers under each head shown in the final statement of rejected ballot papers.

(4) The [F1CA/CCA] F3... returning officer—

(a)must make arrangements for the making of the calculation under this rule in the presence of the election agents, and

(b)must give to those agents notice in writing of the time and place at which the calculation will begin.

(5) No person other than—

(a)the [F1CA/CCA] F4... returning officer and the officer's clerks;

(b)the returning officers and a clerk chosen by each of them;

(c)the candidates and one person chosen by each of them;

(d)the election agents;

(e)persons who are entitled to attend by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 M1,

may be present at a calculation, unless permitted by the [F1CA/CCA] returning officer to attend.

(6) A person not entitled to attend a calculation must not be permitted to do so by the [F1CA/CCA] F5... returning officer unless the officer—

(a)is satisfied that the efficiency of the calculation will not be impeded, and

(b)has either consulted the election agents or thought it impracticable to do so.

[F6(7) As soon as the [F1CA/CCA] returning officer has received the information required by paragraph (3) from every returning officer, the [F1CA/CCA] returning officer must ascertain the total number of votes given to each candidate.]

(8) As soon as the [F1CA/CCA] F7... returning officer has ascertained the result of the calculation, the officer must inform such of the election agents as are then present of the relevant figures and must give them a reasonable opportunity to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the calculation.

(9) A person informed of the relevant figures under paragraph (8) may require the [F1CA/CCA] returning officer to make a calculation again but the officer may refuse to do so if in the officer's opinion the request is unreasonable.

[F8(10) In paragraphs (8) and (9), “the relevant figures” means the total number of votes given for each candidate.]

F9(11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(12) Where—

(a)an election is contested F10..., and

(b)the total number of votes for each [F11candidate] is unequal,

the [F12CA/CCA] returning officer must declare the candidate to whom the majority of the votes is given as the person to be returned as the combined authority mayor [F13or, as the case may be, combined county authority mayor].

[F14(13) Where, after the counting of the votes (including any re-count) is completed, an equality of votes is found to exist between any candidates and the addition of a vote would entitle any of those candidates to be returned as mayor, the [F15CA/CCA] returning officer must forthwith decide between those candidates by lot, and proceed as if the candidate on whom the lot falls had received an additional vote.]

F16(14) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17(15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(16) The [F18CA/CCA] returning officer must give public notice of—

(a)the name of the successful candidate,

(b)the total number of F19... votes given for each candidate, [F20and]

(c)the number of rejected ballot papers at the election under each head shown in the statement of rejected ballot papers (rule 51(5)). F21...

F21(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(17) In an uncontested election, the [F18CA/CCA] returning officer must as soon as practicable after the latest time for the delivery of notices of withdrawals of candidature—

(a)declare to be elected the person remaining validly nominated,

(b)give public notice of the name of the person declared to be elected.

(18) [F22Where the election is a combined authority mayoral election,] the combined authority returning officer must inform the proper officer of the combined authority concerned of the result of the election.

[F23(19) Where the election is a combined county authority mayoral election, the combined county authority returning officer must inform the proper officer of the combined county authority concerned of the result of the election.]