ELECTORAL ACT (as amended at 24th January 2008) the voter, is enclosed in the covering envelope together with the ballot paper envelope and the declaration of identity. 76 Postal ballot boxes (1) The constituency elections officer shall provide a postal ballot box for the reception of the covering envelopes when returned by the voters. (2) The constituency elections officer shall, not later than seven days before polling day , give to each candidate or his or her chief election agent notice of the time and place at which he or she will seal the postal ballot box. (3) At the time and place notified the constituency elections officer shall show the postal ballot box open and empty to such candidates and election agents as are present and it shall then be sealed with the seal of the constituency elections officer and the seals of such candidates and agents as wish to affix their seals and shall be marked “Postal Ballot Box” with the name of the constituency, and the constituency elections officer shall make provision for the safe custody of such ballot box. (4) The constituency elections officer shall, immediately on receipt, place unopened in the postal ballot box all covering envelopes received by him or her before the close of the poll. 77 Opening of postal ballot boxes (1) After the close of the poll and before the time fixed for the counting of the votes, the constituency elections officer shall open the postal ballot box in the presence of such candidates and their election agents as are present. (2) The constituency elections officer shall give to each candidate or his or her election agent at least twenty-four hours’ notice in writing of the time and place at which the constituency elections officer will open the postal ballot box and the envelopes contained therein, which time and place shall be the same as the time and place for the collation of the polling-station returns under section sixty-five. (3) At the opening of the postal ballot box the following persons and no others may be present— (a) the Chief Elections Officer, constituency elections officer and such polling officers as the constituency elections officer may consider necessary; and (b) the candidates and one chief election agent for each candidate and such other persons as may be prescribed: Provided that a candidate or his or her chief election agent may not be present at the opening of the postal ballot box of votes at an election for which that candidate was not nominated. (3a) For the avoidance of doubt it is declared that the proviso to subsection (3)(a) does not prevent a candidate or his or her chief election agent from being present at the opening of the postal ballot box of votes at a Presidential election or general election of members of Parliament or councillors which takes place concurrently with the election for which he or she was nominated, so long as the opening of the postal ballot boxes of votes at the elections in question are held concurrently at the time and place notified in terms of subsection (2). - 58 -