Basic Issues
Following close of voting in voting stations in a foreign country, the measures to be taken will depend on the manner of the controls placed on issuing ballots.
Special Foreign Voters Lists Used
If voting is from lists of voters located in other countries, the counts of foreign votes for each relevant electoral district could be undertaken at the foreign location, with results electronically communicated to the electoral management body. Material can be packaged for secure courier return to the electoral management body in a similar fashion as a normal voting station after the count, except that ballots and any supporting documentation for each electoral district should be separately bundled within packages. Counts at foreign locations would be better regarded as preliminary only, with a thorough recheck of all ballot and other accountable materials, in the presence of party/candidate representatives, being undertaken following return of the material to the home country.
However, as it is unlikely that there will be opportunity for party/candidate representatives to be present at these counts, for integrity reasons it may be more prudent that following close of voting all election material is packaged and sealed at the foreign location and returned to the home country for counting, either at a central location or for distribution to the relevant electoral districts for counting.
Other Ballot Controls Used
For all other methods of issue, if the foreign location acts as a mail ballot issue and return point, or a location for early or absentee voting in person without the use of a special foreign voters lists, at the close of voting, reconciliations of ballots (and special ballot envelopes if used), ballot issue records, voter applications, and completed mail or other ballots received should be carried out in the same way as for a local absentee, mail, or in-person early voting location issuing ballots for multiple electoral districts (see Close of Voting for Early Voting and Close of Voting for Mail Voting).
Advice to Electoral Management Body
Ballot issue and reconciliation records should be transmitted electronically to the electoral management body immediately after close of voting. Arrangements must also have been made for fast and secure courier transport of ballots and supporting material back to the electoral management body for eligibility checking and counting.
Voting Equipment
It would generally be cost-effective for voting equipment--ballot boxes, voting compartments and the like--not to be returned to the home country but maintained at the nearest diplomatic mission office.
For further information on voting in a foreign country, see Voting in a Foreign Country.
