98Initial dealing with ballot papers

98 Initial dealing with ballot papers (1) As soon as practicable after the close of voting for an election, the officer in charge of a scrutiny centre must: (a) open the ballot boxes under the officer's control; and (e) make and sign a statement stating the number of: and (f) place all formal ballot papers mentioned in paragraph (c) in (g) seal the parcels mentioned in paragraphs (b) and (f) and Electoral Act 2004 55 (h) send all the parcels and the statement to the Commission or the authorised officer directed by the Commission. (2) A candidate's scrutineer may sign any of the following: (a) the statement mentioned in subsection (1)(e); (b) a sealed parcel mentioned in subsection (1)(g).