Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

66.   Provisions applicable where ballot boxes not returned

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    (1)   If the ballot boxes are not returned to the returning officer by the time specified in the notice referred to in section 42(2), the returning officer shall adjourn the proceedings to a subsequent day, which shall not be more than a week later than polling day.

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    (2)   In case the statement of the poll cannot be found and the number of votes polled for the several candidates cannot be ascertained, or if, for any other cause the returning officer cannot, at the day and hour appointed by him or her for that purpose, ascertain the exact number of votes given for each candidate, he or she may thereupon adjourn to a future day and hour for the final count of the votes given for each candidate, not being more than 72 hours after the time specified in the notice referred to in section 42(2).

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    (3)   At the time to which the proceedings are adjourned in accordance with subsection (2), the returning officer shall ascertain by such evidence as he or she is able to obtain the total number of votes cast for each candidate and shall declare elected the candidate appearing to him or her to have the largest number of votes.

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    (4)   For the purposes of this section, the returning officer shall have all the powers of and be deemed to be a commissioner appointed under the Commissions of Inquiry Act and section 10 of the said Act shall apply to all persons required by the returning officer to give evidence or to produce any documents before him or her as they apply to persons summoned to attend and give evidence or to produce documents before a commission of inquiry under the said Act.