Guidance for Candidates and Agents at UK Parliamentary general elections in Northern Ireland Share on Email Print this page Print full guidance You are in the How the votes will be counted section Guidance for Candidates and Agents at UK Parliamentary general elections in Northern Ireland Verification and count How the votes will be counted Equality of votes If two or more candidates have the same number of votes, and a further vote for either would see the candidate elected, the Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) must decide between them by drawing lots.The DRO will decide the method of drawing lots. Last updated: 4 December 2023 Book traversal links for Equality of votes What if the vote on a ballot paper is not clear? Declaration of result