The Rules

It has been made very clear to me that with the accreditation as an observer I have to follow certain rules and regulations. They are set down in a code of practice for observers and returning officers. The other thing that has been highlighted is that my actions are covered by primary legislation, most importantly section 66 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 the provisions of which are designed to maintain the secrecy of the ballot. They apply to all accredited observers at polling stations, the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers and the count. Section 66 is reproduced below in full, for use by observers.

Section 66 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended)

Requirement of secrecy

1. The following persons
   1. every Returning Officer and every Presiding Officer or clerk attending at a polling station,
   2. every candidate or election agent or polling agent so attending,
   3. every person so attending by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, shall maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of voting and shall not, except for some purpose authorised by law, communicate to any person before the poll is closed any information as to –
      1. the name of any elector or proxy for an elector who has or has not applied for a ballot paper or voted at a polling station;
      2. the number on the register of electors of any elector who, or whose proxy, has or has not applied for a ballot paper or voted at a polling station; or
      3. the official mark.
2. Every person attending at the counting of the votes shall maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of voting and shall not –
   1. ascertain or attempt to ascertain at the counting of the votes the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of any ballot paper;
   2. communicate any information obtained at the counting of the votes as to the candidate for whom any vote is given on any particular ballot paper. Application for accreditation as an electoral observer for individuals
3. No person shall –
   1. interfere with or attempt to interfere with a voter when recording his vote;
   2. otherwise obtain or attempt to obtain in a polling station information as to the candidate for whom a voter in that station is about to vote or has voted;
   3. communicate at any time to any person any information obtained in a polling station as to the candidate for whom a voter in that station is about to vote or has voted, or as to the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of the ballot paper given to a voter at that station;
   4. directly or indirectly induce a voter to display his ballot paper after he has marked it so as to make known to any person the name of the candidate for whom he has or has not voted.
4. Every person attending the proceedings in connection with the issue or the receipt of ballot papers for persons voting by post shall maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the voting and shall not –
   1. except for some purpose authorised by law, communicate, before the poll is closed, to any person any information obtained at those proceedings as to the official mark; or
   2. except for some purpose authorised by law, communicate to any person at any time information obtained at those proceedings as to the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of the ballot paper sent to any person; or
   3. except for some purpose authorised by law, attempt to ascertain at the proceedings in connection with the receipt of ballot papers the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of any ballot paper; or
   4. attempt to ascertain at the proceedings in connection with the receipt of the ballot papers the candidate for whom any vote is given in any particular ballot paper or communicate any information with respect thereto obtained at those proceedings.
5. No person having undertaken to assist a blind voter to vote shall communicate at any time to any person any information as to the candidate for whom that voter intends to vote or has voted, or as to the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of the ballot paper given for the use of that voter.
6. If a person acts in contravention of this section he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months.
7. In their application in relation to an election of the London members of the London Assembly at an ordinary election, the preceding provisions of this section shall have effect with the insertion, after the words ‘the candidate for whom’, in each place where they occur, of ‘, or the registered political party towards the return of whose candidates,’.
8. In relation to an election of the London members of the London Assembly at an ordinary election, any reference in this section to the return of a registered political party’s candidates is a reference to the return of candidates included in the list of candidates submitted by the registered political party for the purposes of the election.