Counting votes
49. —(1) Subject to subsection (2) —
(a) counting agents for any candidate nominated for an electoral division other than a group representation constituency may be appointed either by the candidate or his election agent only; and
(b) counting agents for any group of candidates nominated for a group representation constituency may be appointed either by the election agent of any candidate in the group or the principal election agent for that group only.
[18/99]
(2) Not more than one counting agent may be appointed for a candidate or group of candidates to attend the counting of votes at each counting place specified in the direction made under section 48A (1).
[18/99]
(2A) The Returning Officer shall make arrangements for the counting of votes in the presence of such of the candidates and their counting agents as attend as soon as practicable —
(a) where only one counting place is specified for an electoral division in a direction made under section 48A (1) — after he has received at that counting place all the ballot boxes used during the poll conducted in Singapore; or
(b) where more than one counting place is specified for an electoral division in a direction made under section 48A (1), after —
(i) the procedure in section 48 has been complied with at the close of the poll if the counting place is also a polling station; and
(ii) the Assistant Returning Officer in charge of each counting place has received at his counting place all the ballot boxes containing the votes cast at the polling station or stations in Singapore which are specified in the direction to be counted at that counting place, subject to any directions from the Returning Officer to delay or postpone the counting.
[42/96; 19/2001]
(3) The Returning Officer, his assistants and clerks, and the candidates and their counting agents, but no other persons except with the sanction of the Returning Officer, may be present at the counting of the votes.
(4) Before the Returning Officer proceeds to count the votes, he or a person authorised by him shall, in the presence of such of the candidates and their counting agents as attend, open each ballot box and, taking out the papers therein, mix together the whole of the ballot papers contained in the ballot boxes.
(4A) The Returning Officer, while counting the votes, shall keep the ballot papers with their faces upwards, and take all proper precautions for preventing any person from seeing the numbers printed on the back of the papers.
(5) The Returning Officer shall so far as practicable proceed continuously with counting the votes and shall endorse “rejected” on any ballot paper which he may reject as invalid.
(6) The Returning Officer shall not count the tendered ballot papers but shall place them in separate packets according to the candidate or group of candidates whom they support and shall mark each packet with the name of the candidate or group of candidates and shall seal the packet and retain it unless it is required for the purposes of an application under section 90.
[10/88; 42/2005]
(7) Where only one counting place is specified for an electoral division under section 48A (1), the Returning Officer shall, when the counting of votes cast at all polling stations in Singapore is completed at that sole counting place or, if a recount thereof is allowed under section 49B, after that recount is completed, immediately act as follows:
49. —(1) Subject to subsection (2) —
(a) counting agents for any candidate nominated for an electoral division other than a group representation constituency may be appointed either by the candidate or his election agent only; and
(b) counting agents for any group of candidates nominated for a group representation constituency may be appointed either by the election agent of any candidate in the group or the principal election agent for that group only.
[18/99]
(2) Not more than one counting agent may be appointed for a candidate or group of candidates to attend the counting of votes at each counting place specified in the direction made under section 48A (1).
[18/99]
(2A) The Returning Officer shall make arrangements for the counting of votes in the presence of such of the candidates and their counting agents as attend as soon as practicable —
(a) where only one counting place is specified for an electoral division in a direction made under section 48A (1) — after he has received at that counting place all the ballot boxes used during the poll conducted in Singapore; or
(b) where more than one counting place is specified for an electoral division in a direction made under section 48A (1), after —
(i) the procedure in section 48 has been complied with at the close of the poll if the counting place is also a polling station; and
(ii) the Assistant Returning Officer in charge of each counting place has received at his counting place all the ballot boxes containing the votes cast at the polling station or stations in Singapore which are specified in the direction to be counted at that counting place, subject to any directions from the Returning Officer to delay or postpone the counting.
[42/96; 19/2001]
(3) The Returning Officer, his assistants and clerks, and the candidates and their counting agents, but no other persons except with the sanction of the Returning Officer, may be present at the counting of the votes.
(4) Before the Returning Officer proceeds to count the votes, he or a person authorised by him shall, in the presence of such of the candidates and their counting agents as attend, open each ballot box and, taking out the papers therein, mix together the whole of the ballot papers contained in the ballot boxes.
(4A) The Returning Officer, while counting the votes, shall keep the ballot papers with their faces upwards, and take all proper precautions for preventing any person from seeing the numbers printed on the back of the papers.
(5) The Returning Officer shall so far as practicable proceed continuously with counting the votes and shall endorse “rejected” on any ballot paper which he may reject as invalid.
(6) The Returning Officer shall not count the tendered ballot papers but shall place them in separate packets according to the candidate or group of candidates whom they support and shall mark each packet with the name of the candidate or group of candidates and shall seal the packet and retain it unless it is required for the purposes of an application under section 90.
[10/88; 42/2005]
(7) Where only one counting place is specified for an electoral division under section 48A (1), the Returning Officer shall, when the counting of votes cast at all polling stations in Singapore is completed at that sole counting place or, if a recount thereof is allowed under section 49B, after that recount is completed, immediately act as follows:
