A postal voting agent is allowed to attend and observe postal vote opening sessions, which are run by the Returning Officer (RO).
At each opening session the RO will decide whether or not the date of birth and signature provided by electors on their postal voting statements match the signature and date of birth previously provided and held on their records. If there is a mismatch, the postal vote will be rejected.
A postal voting agent has a right to observe, but not to interfere with this process. A postal voting agent can, however, object to the decision of a RO to reject a postal vote.1
It will not affect the RO's decision, but the RO will record any objections by marking the postal voting statement with the words 'rejection objected to'.
Like your postal voting agents, you, your election agent and the person you may have appointed to attend on your election agent’s behalf are also entitled to object to a rejection.
The RO will explain the postal vote opening process to you and may issue you with information on the procedures to be followed, including instructions on what you can and cannot do at the session. You should comply with any instructions that the RO has given.