The stages of the postal vote opening process can be summarised as follows:
Stage
Process
1
Postal votes are brought to the opening session in ballot boxes
2
The covering envelopes (envelope B) are taken out and counted
3
The total number of covering envelopes is recorded
4
Covering envelopes (envelope B) are divided between teams of opening staff
5
Staff open each covering envelope (envelope B) and remove the postal voting statement and the sealed ballot paper envelope (envelope A)
6
Staff check that the number on the postal voting statement matches the number on envelope A
7
If the numbers match, staff check that the elector has provided a signature and a date of birth (without checking that they are the elector’s at this stage)
Postal voting statements without a signature and date of birth cause the postal vote to be rejected
8
If the statement or ballot paper envelope is missing, or the numbers on the statement and ballot paper envelope do not match, the document(s) are set aside, recorded and stored in secure packets
9
The Returning Officer (RO) or a deputy must verify the dates of birth and signatures provided on the statements
10
The RO or a deputy must be satisfied that the dates of birth and signatures on the statements match those previously held on record
11
Following verification of the signatures and dates of birth, postal voting statements are removed from the tables
12
Staff open the ballot paper envelopes (envelope A) and remove the ballot paper
13
Staff check that the number on the back of the ballot paper matches the number on the ballot paper envelope (envelope A)
14
Valid ballot papers (not votes) are counted and the total number is recorded
15
All valid ballot papers are placed into ballot boxes and stored before being delivered to the count venue for counting after the close of poll
Matching up postal voting statements with postal ballot papers
Lists will be maintained of any provisionally rejected postal ballot papers including:1
any postal ballot paper that has been returned without a postal voting statement
any postal voting statement that is not returned with the postal ballot paper
These lists will be checked regularly to ensure that if any mismatched documents can be matched up, those postal ballots are re-introduced into the process.