collate the contents of the local verification statements
collate the count totals for each constituent council
calculate and declare the overall result for the combined authority or combined county authority area
The law sets out the result collation process that must be followed. It is for you to determine how best to manage this process in your combined authority area.
The key steps are summarised in the next three pages.
Combination
In areas where two or more polls are combined, the Returning Officer or Counting Officer taking on the combined functions will be responsible for the verification. Your power of direction does not extend to such Returning Officers or Counting Officers.