Once
the vehicles transporting the ballot boxes arrive at the counting centre,
designated officials should unload in the order of arrival.
If a
queue of vehicles is forming, an attendant could distribute tickets indicating
the time of arrival. This will maintain a sequential order of priority in
processing the vehicles/teams, and also allow an accurate recording of the time
of arrival in the receipt log.
The
waybill and/or the transportation form should be collected from the driver(see Completion of
Transport Logs) and
verified: the driver's identification, numbers of the seals, etc.
The
documentation should also be verified against information previously
transmitted to the counting centre from the voting station. The seal on the
vehicle should only be broken once proper verification is completed and an
exact count of the number of ballot boxes to be received is known.
The
ballot boxes are then unloaded, one-by-one, from the vehicle and moved to the
planned intake destination in the counting centre. This operation should be
under constant supervision from officials of the counting centre. The official
responsible for reception of the ballot boxes should verify that the seals are
unbroken, and that sealed envelopes are attached to the ballot boxes.
If all
safeguards are in order, a sticker, coloured tape, or other type of symbolic
identification could be placed on the ballot boxes as they are removed from the
vehicle. This will indicate that these ballot boxes are verified and ready to
be counted. This measure can also help to prevent the counting a ballot box
twice, or missing a ballot box in the count.
The
ballot boxes that are ready to be counted should be in a location where they
will not be mixed with ballot boxes already counted.
Once
all the ballot boxes are unloaded from the truck, a last verification count of
the number received against the number expected via the transport logs should
be done. Once the receiving officer at the counting centre is satisfied all
materials have been received, the handover form is completed and signed. A
receipt form can be issued to the driver to verify delivery completion.
If the
seals on ballot boxes are broken or there is any sign of possible tampering,
these ballot boxes should be set aside in a separate area quarantined, and not
mixed with others. A special procedure should be executed including dedicated
officers trained to investigate such cases. A report for each of them should be
written and signed by officials, drivers, representatives of political parties
and candidates, and observers present during the transportation.
These
ballot boxes should be clearly identified as “not to be opened”, with a label
or other form of sticker, to ensure they will not be confused with “ready-to-be-counted”
ballot boxes. Any matter of possible tampering should immediately be addressed
to the electoral management body so they can start an investigation.
Until
further notice from the electoral management body, these ballot boxes should be
left untouched and secured.
