S.I. No. 45/1977 - Presidential Elections (Local Returning Officers' Charges and Accounts) Regulations, 1977.

£

up to 150,000 electors

0·50

exceeding 150,000 electors

0·15

For every complete 100 postal voters or fraction thereof exceeding

one-half on the register

5·10

subject to a minimum of

8·50

Up to 50,000 electors

34·00

For each complete 5,000 electors over 50,000

1·70

(4) In the event of a recount of votes under Rule 28 (3) of the First Schedule to the Presidential Elections Act, 1937 , there shall be paid in respect thereof such sum as may be authorised by the Minister for Finance based on (a) the time spent thereon and (b) the remuneration for the original count. (These fees cover any payments made to a deputy local returning officer for the discharge of any duties of a local returning officer which may be assigned to him.)

(B)—Disbursements of local returning officers

£

(1) Taking the poll

(a) each presiding officer—to cover all expenses, other than travelling expenses and subsistence allowance authorised in this scale

17·00

Provided that where the number of polling stations in a polling place exceeds four, £20·40 may be paid in the case of such one (and one only) of the presiding officers as may be designated by the local returning officer.

(b) A local returning officer may appoint one emergency presiding officer in a constituency who may be paid a retaining fee of £7·65 to be increased to the full appropriate fee if he is necessarily employed as a presiding officer, and in the case of a constituency, if it consists of parts situate in two counties, two emergency presiding officers may be so appointed and paid and if it consists of parts situate in three counties, three emergency presiding officers may be so appointed and paid.

(c) one poll clerk for each presiding officer

8·90

(2) Counting the Votes

Up to 30,000 electors

255·00

For each complete 1,000 electors over 30,000

2·80

(The total sum shall be divided at the discretion of the local returning officer between all competent persons appointed to assist him in counting the votes.)

(3) Miscellaneous

(a) clerical, legal and other assistance employed by the local returning officer for the purpose of the election—excluding any services for which payment is otherwise authorised by this scale—and for all expenses of the local returning officer (including, in particular, expenses incurred in complying with section 44 of the Electoral Act, 1963 ,) not so authorised—

For every complete 100 electors or fraction thereof exceeding one half in the constituency—

Up to 20,000 electors

1·45

Exceeding 20,000 electors but not exceeding 50,000 electors

1·25

Exceeding 50,000 electors

1·20

together with, in respect of assistance as aforesaid employed by the local returning officer, £85 provided that where a local returning officer acts for more than one constituency, the additional sum payable in respect of each constituency after the first shall not exceed £60.

(b) for the assistance of a special legal assessor employed by the local returning officer with the prior consent of the Minister for Local Government

Such sum as may be authorised by the Minister for Finance

(c) remuneration of persons engaged in the despatch and receipt of postal voters' ballot papers—

For every complete 100 postal voters, or fraction thereof exceeding one-half, on the register for the constituency

5·10

Subject to a minimum of

8·50

(d) local returning officer's or deputy local returning officer's travelling expenses where necessary to make arrangements for the poll or otherwise in connection with the conduct of the election.

First-class railway expenses or, where rail service is not available, actual and necessary cost, with subsistence allowance at the rate of £4·15 a night if necessarily absent from home on account of duty (Mileage expenses shall be calculated as though journeys were taken from the county courthouse of the constituency).

(e) travelling expenses of presiding officers and poll clerks, excluding any expenses incurred in conveying the ballot boxes from the polling station to the place where the votes are counted.

(f ) travelling expenses of clerical or other assistants employed by the local returning officer or deputy local returning officer in connection with the conduct of the election.

Standard-class railway expenses or, where rail service is not available, actual and necessary cost, with subsistence allowance at the rate of £1·35 a night if necessarily detained on account of duty after 10.30 p.m., and £1·90 a night if so detained after 12 midnight; together with, in the case of persons employed more than 15 miles from home who are necessarily detained on duty more than seven hours, subsistence allowance at the rate of £0·95 a day.

(g) conveying of polling screens, ballot boxes, ballot papers, etc., in connection with the election.

Actual railway charges, or where rail service is not available, actual and necessary cost.

(h) printing and publishing notices, etc., required in and about the election.

Cost charged by the Stationery Office, or where printing is arranged for by the returning officer, the actual and necessary cost.

(i) use of any building or room for the purpose of the election.

Actual and necessary expenses arising

(j) fitting up polling stations, including the provision of voting compartments and the hire of necessary furniture.

(k) ballot boxes required to be purchased, hired or repaired.

Cost as charged by the Office of Public Works, or, if the work is done locally, actual and necessary cost.

(l) stamping instruments required to be purchased, hired, altered or repaired.

(m) stationery at polling stations.

Cost as charged by the Stationery Office.

(n) general stationery, postage, telegrans and telephone messages.

Actual and necessary cost.