Electoral Act, 1923

Proceedings in case of riot.

33.—(1) If and whenever any nomination of candidates or any poll shall be interrupted or obstructed by any riot or open violence the returning officer or any deputy returning officer shall adjourn the nomination or poll as the case may be until the following, day, and if necessary shall further adjourn such nomination or poll until such interruption or obstruction shall have ceased when the returning officer or his deputy shall again proceed with the nomination or the poll as the case may be.

(2) Whenever any nomination shall be adjourned under this section the day on which such nomination shall be completed after such adjournment shall be deemed to be the day appointed by law for such nomination, and the date for the taking of the poll shall be regulated accordingly.

(3) In the event of such interruption or obstruction of a poll as aforesaid only the polling at such polling places as are actually affected by such interruption or obstruction shall be adjourned under this section and the polling at all other polling places shall be continued without adjournment.

(4) Whenever a poll shall have been adjourned under this section by any deputy returning officer such deputy shall forthwith give notice of such adjournment to the returning officer, and whenever a poll shall have been adjourned under this section the returning officer shall not finally declare the result of the election until such adjourned poll shall have been completed and the votes cast thereat shall have been counted.

(5) In every case in which the day to which an adjournment would be made under this section shall happen to be a Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas Day or Bank Holiday, or a day declared to be a public holiday by statute or proclamation that day or days shall be passed over and the following day shall be the day to which the adjournment shall be made.

(6) This section shall apply to any interruption or obstruction caused by persons being prevented by riot or open violence from proceeding to the place for receiving nominations, or to any polling place, as the case may be, as well as to any interruption or obstruction caused in any other manner by riot or open violence.