Deferral of release of information about result of preliminary count of votes at polling place if close of poll delayed

1 If, as a result of an unforeseen or unavoidable disruption, the close of the poll at any polling place is delayed, the Chief Electoral Officer must not disclose any information about the results of a preliminary count of votes cast at that polling place, or any other polling place, until the close of the poll at all polling places. 2 However, the Chief Electoral Officer may disclose that information if he or she considers that the disclosure of the information will not unduly influence— a the overall result of the poll in an electoral district; or b the number of seats in Parliament that a party is entitled to be allocated under sections 191 and 192 , and the selection of list candidates under section 193 . 3 A person commits an offence and is guilty of a corrupt practice if— a the person knows that,— i as a result of an unforeseen or unavoidable disruption, the close of the poll at any polling place has been delayed; and ii the Chief Electoral Officer has not disclosed the results of a preliminary count of votes cast at that polling place or any other polling place; and b the person discloses information about those results. 4 Subsection (3) does not apply to disclosures of information between— a electoral officials; or b members of the Electoral Commission; or c electoral officials and members of the Electoral Commission. Section 195D : inserted , on 11 March 2020 , by section 17 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 2).