Destruction of ballot papers if by-election interrupted

1 This section applies if, in the case of a by-election, the poll is interrupted as a result of the death of a constituency candidate or the cancellation of the nomination of a constituency candidate on the grounds of incapacity. 2 If this section applies,— a all ballot papers that have been placed in ballot boxes must be taken out by the managers of polling places and made up into secured packages; and b those packages must be sent, unopened, to the Electoral Commission ; and c the Electoral Commission must immediately destroy those packages in the presence of a District Court Judge or a Justice of the Peace. Section 153F : inserted , on 28 February 2002 , by section 61 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 1). Section 153F(2)(b) : amended , on 20 December 2025 , by section 102 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82). Section 153F(2)(c) : amended , on 20 December 2025 , by section 102 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).