51Arrangements for polling

51 Arrangements for polling

(1) If the proceedings on the day of nomination stand adjourned to polling day, the Returning Officer must immediately make all necessary arrangements for taking the poll and in particular must:

(a) provide and furnish proper polling booths and ballot‑boxes; and

(b) provide ballot‑papers and all necessary forms, envelopes and materials.

(2) If the proceedings on the day of nomination stand adjourned to polling day, the Returning Officer must immediately appoint a presiding officer to preside at each polling place and all necessary assistant presiding officers.

(3) In any emergency on polling day due to the absence of any assistant presiding officer or liaison officer, or to any unforeseen and continued pressure at the polling which cannot be met by the duly appointed officers, the presiding officer may appoint any person to act as assistant presiding officer or liaison officer and the person so appointed or acting is to be deemed to have been duly appointed if the Returning Officer afterwards ratifies the appointment by appointing that person to be assistant presiding officer or liaison officer, as the case may be.

(4) No person under the age of 18 years may be appointed to be a presiding officer or assistant presiding officer.

(5) Any assistant presiding officer may, subject to the direction of the presiding officer, exercise all or any of the powers of the presiding officer, and is, in respect of the exercise of those powers, to be taken to be the presiding officer.