63Polling

63 Polling

(1) The polling must be conducted as follows:

(a) before any vote is taken the presiding officer must exhibit the ballot‑box empty, and must then securely fasten its cover;

(b) the poll must open at 8.00 o’clock in the morning and must not close until all electors present in the polling booth at 6.00 o’clock in the afternoon and desiring to vote, have voted;

(c) the doors of the polling booth must be closed at 6.00 o’clock in the afternoon and no person is to be admitted after that hour to the polling booth for the purpose of voting.

(2) Paragraphs (l) (b) and (c) do not apply in relation to a polling booth in relation to which the Electoral Commissioner has, by notice in writing, determined that the booth is to be open during the hours specified in the notice.

(3) Where the Electoral Commissioner has determined the hours during which a polling booth is to be open under subrule (2):

(a) the polling booth must not close until all electors present in the polling booth at the hour specified in the notice for the close of that polling booth have voted; and

(b) a person must not be admitted to that polling booth for the purpose of voting after the hour specified in the notice for the close of the booth.

(4) In relation to the notice under subrule (2), the Electoral Commissioner must:

(a) cause the notice to be published in the Gazette; and

(b) take such steps as he or she thinks fit to give public notice of the contents of the notice.