You must open all boxes in full view of any candidates and agents that are present.1
When a box has had a seal attached by an agent, particular care should be taken to show to any agents present that this seal is still intact prior to it being broken.
All count processes should be transparent. You should provide appropriate opportunities for those who are entitled to observe and to object to doubtful ballot paper adjudication decisions. This should include ensuring that bundles of counted ballot papers are stored in full sight of counting agents in a way which allows them to monitor progress throughout the count.
Mixing
You must mix the ballot papers so that ballot papers from each ballot box are mixed with ballot papers from at least one other ballot box, and mix the postal ballot papers with ballot papers from at least one ballot box before sorting and counting the votes.2
You should keep the ballot papers for each contest separate from each other.
Sorting and counting
Ballot papers must be kept face upwards throughout the counting process in order to prevent the ballot paper number and unique identifying number (UIN) on the back of the ballot paper being seen.3
The ballot papers should be visible at all times to any candidates, agents and observers present.
Counting assistants should sort the ballot papers into votes for each candidate or registered political party (as appropriate). Any doubtful ballot papers should be placed aside for adjudication.
The number of votes given for each candidate or registered political party should then be counted and placed into bundles of a predetermined number, e.g. bundles of 10, 20, 25, 50 or 100.
A slip or card bearing the name of the political party or the individual candidate’s name, together with the number in the bundle, should be attached to the front. It may be helpful to colour-code the slips. The bundles should then be recounted by another counting assistant in order to ensure the accuracy of the bundle.
Supervisors should flick through the bundles in order to ensure that all of the votes in the bundle are marked in the same way.
It is unlikely that the number of votes in the final bundle will equal the predetermined bundle number, and so a note should be made of the number of votes in those incomplete bundles and attached to the front of the bundle.