If you are voting in an election and there are fewer than 6 ordinary ballot papers given out at your polling place, the person in charge of the polling place must send those papers to the Returning Officer after the voting is finished. You should know that the Returning Officer is in charge of counting the votes for your district. The person in charge of the polling place must keep the papers safe while they are being sent.

This rule is more important than some other rules, like sections 174 and 174A, which are also about counting votes. These rules tell you what usually happens to your ballot paper after you vote. The rules help keep your vote safe and private.