Titanic Exhibition Centre Count centre Information pack UK Parliamentary Election Thursday 8 June 2017
Contents 1 Introduction 3 2 Admission to the count 3 3 Health and safety 4 4 Evacuation procedure 4 5 Count centre layout 5 6 Cafeteria and refreshments 5 7 Conduct in the count centre 5 8 Information point 5 9 Twitter 5 10 The verification and count process 6 Appendices Appendix 1 Notification of Requirement of Secrecy 10 Appendix 2 Count centre layout plan 11 Appendix 3 Doubtful ballot papers guidance 12 2
1 Introduction The counting of votes for the Belfast East, Belfast North, Belfast South and Belfast West constituencies in the UK Parliamentary election will start immediately after the close of poll on Thursday 8 June 2017 at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, 17 Queens Road, Belfast BT3 9DU. Key personnel: Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) Senior Count Manager Media Liaison / Information Officers Belfast South & Belfast West - Marie Louise Lappin Belfast East & Belfast North - Stephen McCrory Belfast East Jim Hanna Belfast North Alison Allen Belfast South Adele Campbell Belfast West - Peter Mullan Rosemary Neill Elaine Moore 2 Admission to the count The only persons who can be present at the count are: the DRO and their staff candidates and one other person chosen by each of them election agents sub-agents (if they have been appointed for the area in which the count is located) counting agents constables on duty Electoral Commission representatives observers accredited by the Electoral Commission other persons permitted by the RO The number of counting agents each candidate may appoint to observe the counting of the votes is calculated by dividing the number of count assistants by the number of candidates. The DRO can advise how many counting agents will be permitted per candidate for each constituency count on Friday 12 May. Car parking On entrance to the car park a parking attendant will check your name against the Admissions List and ask to see photographic identification. Please have your identification ready to avoid any unnecessary delays. 3
Entry to the count centre is through the main entrance. The count centre will be open from 9.30pm. There will be a security search of bags at the entrance. Please do not bring any unnecessary baggage as this will slow down the search process. No alcohol is allowed on the premises and will be confiscated if found. Admission process There will be an Admissions Desk for candidates and agents inside the centre. Access to the count centre will be strictly controlled and attendees will be asked to produce one of the following forms of photographic identification: a UK, Irish or EEA Driving Licence (photographic part, provisional licence accepted) a UK or Irish Passport an Electoral Identity Card a Translink Senior SmartPass a Translink 60+ SmartPass a Translink War Disabled SmartPass a Translink Blind Person s SmartPass Individual wrist bands will be issued to all those admitted and they must be worn at all times in the count centre. If you leave the building you will be asked to show your wrist band and photographic identification upon re-entry. Attendees must abide by any direction given by the DRO or their staff. Attendees must also read and adhere to the Notification of Requirement of Secrecy at Appendix 1 on page 10. 3 Health and Safety A risk assessment of the count centre has been carried out in advance of the count. There will be first aid provision within the count centre. The centre has disabled access and disabled parking spaces available. Please notify the DRO in advance if any candidates will require assistance within the count centre. 4 Evacuation procedure In the event of an emergency Electoral Office staff are available to assist and ensure that the centre is evacuated safely. Anyone who may need particular assistance with evacuation should contact the DRO in advance so their requirements can be accommodated. There are no fire alarm tests planned for count day. In the event of the fire alarm sounding you must leave the count centre immediately by the nearest fire exit and assemble at the meeting point advised by the centre staff. 4
You must remain at the meeting point unless you are directed to somewhere else by either Electoral Office staff or count centre management. You must not re-enter the building until told to do so. 5 Count centre layout A diagram of the count centre layout can be found at Appendix 2 on page 11. Each constituency count will consist of 14 counting teams (4 staff per team) totalling 56 counters. 6 Cafeteria and refreshments The cafeteria will be open from 9.30pm until the count finishes. 7 Conduct in the count centre Taking photos or video where the contents of any ballot could be identified is not permitted. This also applies to cameras on mobile phones, ipads etc. and is necessary to ensure the secrecy and integrity of the election. Mobile phones must be kept on silent when in the count area. Candidates, agents and observers must not distract the count staff. While they have a role to scrutinise and ensure a transparent process, they must respect the staff and give them space to do their work. They must not lean over the barriers or otherwise physically intrude upon the counting area. The count supervisor can provide advice on the current process being carried out. Accredited media representatives will be present within the count centre. This may include TV cameras and press photographers. Cameras will not be allowed to approach the counting tables unless approved by the DRO. 8 Information point There will be an Information Point for candidates and agents within the Count Area. An Information Officer will be present to assist with any enquiries. A Media Liaison Officer will be available to answer any media enquiries. 9 Twitter Updates from every count centre will be posted on Twitter. Candidates, agents and observers may use mobile phones to view this information in the Count Centre but only outside the Count Area. If you wish to follow this Twitter feed then please follow @eoni_official. 5
10 The verification and count process 10.1 Verification process The verification of the unused ballot papers returned from the polling stations and the opening of the ballot boxes will be carried out overnight immediately after the close of poll. The ballot boxes and polling station returns will be checked in and immediately brought to their designated count area. See count layout plan in Appendix 2 on page 11. Each count team will be allocated a ballot box in turn as each box arrives. When opening each ballot box the count supervisor will state the name and number of the polling station. Each team of 4 counters will reconcile the number of ballot papers found in each ballot box against the number recorded on the ballot paper account by the Presiding Officer. If the number of ballot papers recorded on the ballot paper account and the physical checks correspond, the verification of that box is complete. If they do not, the ballot papers will be recounted until the same total is counted twice. Any discrepancies will be investigated by the Count Calculator who can check the result from other polling stations in the same polling place. On completion of the verification stage the Deputy Returning Officer will announce the following: eligible electorate total votes polled percentage turnout Printed copies of the turnout figures will be available from the Information point immediately after the announcement is made by the DRO. 10.2 Verification statement The results for each box will be recorded on the verification statement, a signed copy of which will be available for election agents after the completion of the verification stage. 10.3 Mixing the ballot papers The legislation specifies that the DRO shall not count the votes on any ballot papers until: in the case of postal ballot papers they have been mixed with the ballot papers from at least one ballot box; and in the case of ballot papers from a ballot box they have been mixed with the ballot papers from at least one other ballot box. Whilst the verification is ongoing, and as soon as the ballot papers have been mixed with at least one other verified ballot box, count assistants will begin to sort the ballot papers according to the vote cast for each candidate into the sorting frames. 6
10.4 Counting the votes Each candidate s ballot papers will be removed from the sorting frames and moved to the count tables. The candidate s name will be displayed at each table to identify which papers are being counted by each count team. At all times the ballot papers will be kept face upwards. This is to ensure no one can see the ballot paper number or other unique identifying mark and so determine how any individual has voted. Candidates, agents and observers must not attempt to see the back of any ballot paper anyone who does so may be excluded from the count. Count assistants will: re-examine the sorted ballot papers in the presence of counting agents; set aside any papers that have been mis-sorted for re-distribution to the correct candidate; count the papers into bundles of 100s; check each bundle for the accuracy of the number of papers contained; remedy any shortage or excess; and complete the count slip. Counting agents are entitled to satisfy themselves that the ballot papers are correctly sorted. The bundles of papers will be moved to the relevant candidate s table in the Vote Records area where the candidate table assistants will: flick through the bundles to check the papers are for their assigned candidate; and make up the bundles of 100 into bundles of 1000. The total number of votes for each candidate will be entered in the candidate s vote record sheet after all the papers have been received. Candidate table assistants will maintain a record of the number of papers received and collated by them for each candidate. These figures will be passed to the Count Calculator and reconciled with the total the number of ballot papers counted at the verification. The senior count team will discuss the figures and the DRO will agree the result. 10.5 Doubtful ballot papers All doubtful ballot papers will be removed from the sorting frames and taken to the Doubtful Votes area on a continuous basis (see the Doubtful Votes area on the count centre layout plan at Appendix 2 on page 11). Where the ballot paper: 1. does not contain the official mark 2. contains votes for more than one candidate 3. contains any mark or writing that can identify the voter 4. is unmarked or does not indicate the voter s intention with certainty 7
A ballot paper should not be ruled DOUBTFUL if: 1. The vote is marked elsewhere than in the proper place so long as the intention of the voter is clear 2. It is marked by any other means instead of an X e.g. the figure 1 or word one which clearly indicates a preference or preferences 3. The ballot paper is written on but the writing or mark does not identify the voter and it is not shown that the voter can be identified. Examples of allowed and rejected ballot papers are set out on the Doubtful Ballot Paper placemat, a copy of which is at Appendix 3 on pages 12 & 13. 10.6 Adjudication process An announcement will be made on the PA system, 10 minutes in advance, stating when the adjudication of doubtful ballot papers will take place to allow candidates/agents to be in attendance. The adjudication will not be delayed if candidates/agents are not in attendance. The DRO will show the candidates and agents each paper and give a provisional decision. They will hear any representations regarding their decision. Any ballot paper deemed to be acceptable for a particular candidate will be taken immediately to that candidate s table in the vote records area. The DRO will endorse the word Rejected on any ballot paper which is invalid and will add the words Rejection objected to where an objection to their decision is made by an election agent or counting agent. There is no appeal against the decision of the DRO and candidates and agents are not permitted to put their own stamps on the ballot papers. Ballot papers will only be adjudicated once and the DRO s decision is final. Any rejected ballot papers will not be counted if there is a request for a recount. 10.7 Statement of Rejected ballot papers The Statement of Rejected ballot papers will be completed showing the number of ballot papers rejected for the reasons stated at section 10.5, a copy of which will be available to candidates and agents at the end of the count. 10.8 Recount The DRO will call all candidates together at the end of the counting of votes but before the result is declared, to give candidates or their agents a reasonable opportunity to request a recount. If a recount takes place it will be a recount of valid papers only. The DRO may 8
refuse the request if they are of the opinion that it is unreasonable. The declaration of the result will not be delayed if candidates/agents do not attend. 10.9 Declaration of result This is a first past the post count so the candidate with the most votes in each constituency will be elected. As soon as practicable after the count has been completed, the DRO will meet with the candidates before declaring the official result. The DRO will then declare the candidate who has received the most votes as duly elected. They will also announce the number of votes allocated to the other candidates. A copy of the results for each constituency will be available from the Information Point. 9
Appendix 1 UK PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION NOTIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT OF SECRECY Your attention is drawn to Section 66 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, and in particular to the maximum penalty set out in paragraph (6) for anyone found guilty of this offence. Level 5 is currently set at 5000. It is the policy of the Chief Electoral Officer to report to the police any person suspected of breaking any of these provisions. Section 66 (2) Every person attending at the counting of the votes shall maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of voting and shall not- (a) ascertain or attempt to ascertain at the counting of the votes the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of any ballot paper; (b) communicate any information obtained at the counting of the votes as to the candidate for whom any vote is given on any particular ballot paper. (6) If a person acts in contravention of this section he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months. 10
Appendix 2 Count centre layout 11
Appendix 3 Doubtful ballot papers guidance 12
13