Section 14: Conduct of ballots

14. Conduct of ballots (1) Any election to membership of the bodies referred to in this Act or the Statutes shall be carried out at such appropriate time as may be fixed by the Registrar. (2) For each election, a returning officer shall be designated by the Registrar. (3) Any person entitled to be nominated and to vote in any election referred to in subparagraph (1) shall be an eligible person. (4) (a) Not less than 4 weeks before the date of an election, the Registrar shall invite persons entitled to vote in that election to submit nominations of persons eligible to stand for election in writing. (b) Nominations shall be in the hands of the Registrar not less than 3 weeks before the date of the election. (5) If the number of valid nominations exceeds the number of vacancies, there shall be an election. Voting shall be by secret ballot and shall be organised by the Registrar. (6) Electors shall vote by placing the same number of crosses on the ballot paper as there are vacancies. Ballot papers with more or fewer crosses shall be invalid. Counting shall be done by the returning officer who shall also announce the result. (7) In the event of a tie, the returning officer shall decide by lot between the candidates tieing, without disclosing that there has been a tie. The returning officer shall not disclose the number of votes cast, either in whole or for any candidate. (8) If the number of valid nominations is less than the number of vacancies, the candidates shall be declared elected and the remaining vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Board.