16Preparation of ballot-papers

16 Preparation of ballot-papers

16 Preparation of ballot-papers

(1) As soon as practicable after the close of nominations, the returning officer must—

(a) determine the order in which the candidates’ names are to be listed on a ballot-paper by means of a ballot held in accordance with the procedure under section 82A of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912, and

(b) notify the Electoral Commissioner of the determined order.

(2) The ballot-papers are to be provided by the Electoral Commissioner and must contain the following—

(a) the names of the candidates listed in the determined order,

(b) the surname of each candidate displayed in more conspicuous type than that used for the given name or names of the candidate,

(c) if the Electoral Commissioner considers that the names of 2 or more candidates are so similar as to cause confusion, such other matter as the Electoral Commissioner considers will distinguish between those candidates,

(d) a square printed opposite the name of each candidate,

(e) if there is more than 1 person to be elected, a direction that the elector must record a vote for at least 1 candidate (but not more than the number of persons to be elected) by placing a tick or cross in the square opposite the name of each candidate for whom the elector desires to record a vote,

(f) if there is 1 person to be elected, a direction that—

(i) the elector must record a vote for at least 1 candidate by placing the number “1” in the square opposite the name of the candidate for whom the elector desires to give a first preference vote, and

(ii) the elector may vote for additional candidates by placing consecutive numbers (beginning with the number “2”) in the squares opposite the names of those additional candidates in the order of the elector’s preferences for them.