121   Security of election materials

(1)  The returning officer, after the election has been declared, is to parcel the marked and unmarked ballot-papers, copies of the roll and other papers used in the election.

(2)  The returning officer is to seal, endorse and sign each parcel, and to allow any scrutineers entitled to be present to do the same to each parcel. The endorsement is to specify the contents of each parcel and the name of the ward (if any) and area, as well as the date of the polling, to which the contents relate.

(3)  The returning officer is to forward the parcels to the general manager of the relevant council.

(4)  The general manager is to give to the returning officer a receipt for the parcels once they have been forwarded. The receipt is to specify the endorsement on each parcel.

(5)  The general manager must have the parcels kept securely for 6 months, and then destroyed, unless the Electoral Commissioner in writing directs the general manager to deliver or send the parcels to the Commissioner or to keep them longer than 6 months.

(6)  The returning officer is to detach the statistical information sheet from each nomination paper before the papers are parceled under this clause. The returning officer is then to forward the sheets to the general manager of the relevant council. The general manager must treat the information on the sheets confidentially and the information is to be made available only to the Director-General.