SCHEDULE 3REFERENDUM RULES

PART 6Final proceedings

Counting officer’s certification and declaration39

1

When the Chief Counting Officer has determined that it is appropriate to do so, the Chief Counting Officer must direct a counting officer to —

a

make the certification for the referendum under section 128(5) of the 2000 Act in the form N set out in Schedule 6; and

b

provide final versions of the counting officer’s statements of —

i

the verification of ballot paper accounts under rule 34(11); and

ii

rejected ballot papers under rule 35(4).

2

The counting officer, having made such certification, must —

a

forthwith give the Chief Counting Officer notice of the matters so certified, and

b

as soon as reasonably practicable give the Chief Counting Officer notice of the number of rejected ballot papers under each head shown on the final statement of rejected ballot papers.

3

When authorised by the Chief Counting Officer to do so, the counting officer must —

a

make a public declaration of the matters so certified, and

b

give public notice in writing of the matters so certified together with the number of rejected ballot papers under each head shown in the final statement of rejected ballot papers.

4

A counting officer may not make the certification under section 128(5) of the 2000 Act until directed to do so under paragraph (1)(a).