PETALING JAYA, April 30 — So you’ve cast your vote in the 14th General Election (GE14).
But once you’ve marked X for the representative of your choice, folded the ballot paper and placed it into the ballot box, ever wonder what happens to the all-important box?
Dare we say it is the most significant inanimate object in an election, after the ballot paper of course.
Before we start, let’s go back to the beginning.
Before the election
Prior to an election, the Election Commission (EC) will issue an open tender calling for election materials such as indelible ink, ballot papers and ballot boxes, and services like phone lines, hotlines and fax.
The ballot boxes are designed in a way that allows ballot papers to be put in but not taken out unless the box is unlocked.
Here’s what the tender looks like:
On Polling Day
According to the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981, presiding officers at polling stations must show agents present that each ballot box is empty.
The officer then locks the ballot box, affix a clip and security tape, which will be signed on.
The box cannot be opened until the polls close.
After the polls close
A security tape is affixed to the box to prevent any more ballot papers from going into the box.
The tape is signed by the presiding officer.
The number of ballot papers issued to voters at the polling station is determined, along with the number of unused and spoilt papers.
Counting begins.
If votes are to be counted at a specified counting location or tallying centre, the presiding officer will take the ballot box to the venue.
What happens if a ballot box is unlawfully removed, goes missing or destroyed?
If a ballot box is damaged, destroyed or tampered with to an extent where the results at a polling station cannot be ascertained, it affects the validity of the poll.
The returning officer will report the irregularity to the EC’s secretary.
The EC will then declare the poll at that particular polling station to be void and appoint a day and time for a fresh poll at the same station.
After the counting of votes
The ballot papers that have been counted are placed into a packet which is stored in a ballot box. The box is then secured with a tape, ensuring nothing can be inserted into or removed without breaking the tape.
The presiding officer delivers the ballot box safely to the returning officer.
Six months before storage
Ballot papers are retained in safe custody by the returning officer for six months from polling day — unless a dissatisfied party chooses to file an election petition — after which they will be burnt in public.
According to an EC official, reusable ballot boxes are then stored until the next general election.
