Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Greater London Authority (GLA) election

Once all of the ballot papers for each election have been sorted and any doubtful ballots adjudicated, the key task of reconciliation can begin.

The GLRO will provide detailed guidance to you on the reconciliation process, but in summary:

• All processes should be undertaken within the framework of maximum openness and transparency implemented throughout the various stages of the count so that all candidates and agents can have confidence in the processes and the provisional local total provided
• You must count all of the bundles and part bundles of ballot papers showing a valid vote for a candidate or party1
• You must then add the total for each candidate / party to the total number of rejected ballot papers. This figure should match exactly the figure giving the total number of ballot papers obtained at the end of the verification process
• If the figures agree, you should proceed to communicate the provisional local totals2 for London-wide Assembly and Mayoral elections to the GLRO. The GLRO will approve or discuss any concerns with you

Managing unreconciled local totals

You should be satisfied that the results or totals (as appropriate) reflect the ballot received for each election.

If the figures do not reconcile, you should take steps to identify and rectify the discrepancy such as:

• checking the storage area and check to ensure that all ballot boxes have been opened and are empty
• checking all floors and surfaces for ballot papers that may have been dropped in the count venue
• re-checking the verification figures and reconciliation for calculation mistakes
• ensuring that all rejected ballot papers have been accounted for
• checking that all bundles and part bundles have been counted
• consider recounting the ballot papers in the bundles

You should also carry out any other checks you deem necessary.