Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Electoral Act 1993

Elections - Custody of ballot papers

196: Obligation of persons in possession of ballot papers

You could also call this:

"Looking after ballot papers: keeping them safe and following the rules"

Illustration for Electoral Act 1993

If you have one or more ballot papers, but you are not using them to vote, you must keep them safe. You have to deal with the ballot papers according to the rules in the Electoral Act or any directions given under section 20A or section 158A. You also have to follow any instructions given by the electoral official or polling place official.

If you are helping with a contract to carry ballot papers, you must know you are carrying ballot papers to have to follow these rules. When ballot papers are delivered to a Returning Officer, the Officer must give a receipt to the printer and the printer must destroy any extra ballot papers.

If you do not follow these rules, you can get a fine of $2,000. The Returning Officer and the printer have to work together to make sure the ballot papers are handled correctly.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM310059.

Topics:
Government and voting > Elections
Previous

195E: Interfering with or influencing voters at resumed poll, or

"Rules for when voting starts again after being stopped"

Next

196A: Unlawful possession of ballot paper, or

"Having a ballot paper without permission is against the law"

Part 6Elections
Custody of ballot papers

196Obligation of persons in possession of ballot papers

  1. Every person who is, other than for the purpose of recording his or her vote, in possession of 1 or more ballot papers must—

  2. take all reasonable steps to ensure the safe custody of the ballot papers; and
    1. deal with the ballot papers in accordance with—
      1. any applicable provisions of this Act or regulations made under this Act; and
        1. in the case of an electoral official or a polling place official, any applicable directions given under section 20A or section 158A; and
          1. in the case of a person involved in performing or assisting with the performance of a contract with an electoral official or a polling place official, the terms of the relevant contract and any instructions given by or on behalf of the official.

          2. Subsection (1) applies to a person involved in performing or assisting with the performance of a contract for the carriage of ballot papers only if the person is aware of that fact or, because of indications on the box, parcel, or packet in which the ballot papers are contained, ought to be aware of the fact.

          3. Whenever ballot papers are delivered to a Returning Officer by or on behalf of the printer who has printed the ballot papers,—

          4. the Returning Officer must give or send the printer a receipt specifying the total number of ballot papers received by the Returning Officer; and
            1. the printer must see that all copies of ballot papers other than those delivered to the Returning Officer are immediately destroyed.

              1. Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $2,000 who fails to comply with a requirement imposed on the person by this section.

              Notes
              • Section 196: substituted, on , by section 79 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 1).
              • Section 196(4): amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).