Div 5Records in connexion with Absent Votes.

Division 5.—Records in connexion with Absent Votes. Record of absent voters. 55\. The Presiding Officer shall make a record of the name of each elector who has voted at his polling booth as an absent voter at an election or referendum, together with such particulars as are required relating to the enrolment of the elector as indicated on the form of declaration, and, at the close of the poll, shall forward the record, duly certified, under seal, to the Assistant Returning Officer. Absent voters’ ballot-papers—action by Assistant Returning Officer. Sec. 113. 56. The Assistant Returning Officer, on receipt from a Presiding Officer of a ballot-box containing absent voters’ ballot-papers enclosed in the envelopes bearing the electors’ declarations, will take the following action:— (a) check the number of such envelopes with the number appearing in the Presiding Officer’s record, preserve a note thereof, and report any discrepancy to his Divisional Returning Officer; (b) place in a separate parcel the envelopes addressed to each Divisional Returning Officer, indorse on each parcel the total number of envelopes contained therein, and add his signature and the date; (c) place each parcel in an outer cover, fully addressed to the Divisional Returning Officer for the Division for which the electors declare that they are enrolled, fasten and seal the cover, and forthwith transmit the package by registered post to the Divisional Returning Officer; (d) immediately advise, by telegraph or by such other expeditious means as may be directed, each Divisional Returning Officer concerned of the total number of envelopes, bearing absent voters’ declarations, so forwarded to him. Custody of absent voters’ ballot-papers. Sec. 113. 57\. The Divisional Returning Officer shall preserve in his custody— (a) a book, in which he shall record from time to time the number of envelopes bearing absent voters’ declarations received by him from each Assistant Returning Officer; (b) a locked and sealed ballot-box, marked “Absent Voters’ Ballot-box,” in which he shall forthwith place all envelopes hearing absent voters’ declarations received by him from Assistant Returning Officers.