(1) The vote counting committee comprising the county head of elections and at least three members designated by the State Electoral Office shall organise the counting of the votes and decide on the validity of a ballot paper. The county head of elections shall make a proposal for designating the members of the vote counting committee. The provisions of subsections 13 (3)–(5) of this Act concerning a person managing the voting shall apply to a member of the vote counting committee. (2) The county head of elections designated on the basis of subsection 48 (4) of this Act shall begin counting the votes cast by voters permanently residing in a foreign state at 7 p.m. on the day of the referendum. At least three members of the vote counting committee, including the county head of elections, shall be present at the opening of the envelopes. (3) The inner envelopes which contain the ballot papers of voters permanently residing in a foreign state shall be opened and an impression of the seal shall be put on the outside of the ballot papers. (4) On the basis of the ballot papers, the vote counting committee shall verify the number of voters permanently residing in a foreign state who participated in the voting, the number of invalid ballot papers and the number of affirmative and negative responses to the issue submitted to the referendum. Ballot papers shall be declared invalid pursuant to the provisions of subsections 50 (8) and (9) of this Act. (5) The voting results of voters permanently residing in a foreign state shall not be disclosed before 8 p.m. (6) A standard format record signed by the county head of elections shall be prepared with regard to ascertaining the voting results of voters permanently residing in a foreign state. The date and time of preparation of the record shall be indicated therein. (7) The voting results of voters permanently residing in a foreign state shall be ascertained publicly. Persons who are present at the counting of votes shall follow any oral orders given by members of the vote counting committee. Persons who are present at the counting of votes shall not bring any means of communication into the room where the votes are counted or leave the room before 8 p.m. [RT I, 06.05.2016, 1 - entry into force 01.01.2017]