164Counting of votes

#### 164 Counting of votes 164 Counting of votes > > (1) As soon as practicable after the close of voting— > > > > > (a) the voting centre manager for each voting centre and the other election officials at the voting centre, and > > > > > (b) election officials at any ballot counting place at which ballot boxes containing ballot papers are located, > > > > are to open the ballot boxes and proceed to count the ballot papers in the manner determined by the Electoral Commissioner. > > > (2) The following persons may be present at the scrutiny— > > > > > (a) scrutineers, > > > > > (b) the following persons approved by the Electoral Commissioner— > > > > > > > (i) persons providing security or auditing services at the scrutiny, > > > > > > > (ii) an officer or member of staff of an electoral commission or electoral office of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory or a foreign jurisdiction, > > > > > > > (iii) persons engaged by the Electoral Commission or the Electoral Commissioner for the purpose of research. > > **s 164:** Am 2026 No 6, Sch 1\[75\] \[76\].