Opening of the Poll

(1) The Electoral Officer shall open the poll by commissioning his or her assistants present to carry out their duties impartially and not to disclose any information to which they have become privy in the performance of their official functions. He or she shall ensure that all assistants have been advised of the above before they engage in their activity.

(2) Prior to voting, the Electoral Officer shall amend the voters’ register in accordance with the register, listing any polling cards issued after closure of the register (Section 28 subsection (6), fifth sentence) by recording the word "Wahlschein" (polling card) or the letter "W" in the column provided for remarks on voting. He or she shall accordingly amend the certificate of closure of the voters’ register in the next column provided, adding written confirmation in the relevant space. If the Electoral Officer subsequently receives notice of the issue of polling cards pursuant to Section 27 subsection (4), third sentence, he or she shall proceed in accordance with the first and second sentences.

(3) Before the beginning of the poll, the Electoral Board shall see for itself that the bal-lot box is empty. The Electoral Officer shall lock the ballot box. It must not be opened again until the poll has been closed.