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Article 129
 

(1) On the completion of the counting of the votes, the returning officer shall place in separate sealed packets—


(a) the counted ballot papers,
(b) the ballot papers rejected at the counting of the votes,
(c) the unused and spoilt ballot papers, and
(d) the counterfoils of ballot papers issued at polling stations,


and shall mark on each packet particulars of its contents, the date of the polling day at the election and the constituency to which they relate.


(2) The returning officer shall also place in separate sealed packets—


(a) the marked copies of the register of Dáil electors,
(b) the ballot paper accounts and the statement prepared in accordance with section 114,
(c) the candidates' nomination papers, whether valid or invalid, and the certificates of political affiliation, and
(d) the authorisations to electors to vote at other polling stations,


and shall mark on each packet particulars of its contents, the date of the polling day at the election and the constituency to which they relate and shall as soon as practicable forward the documents referred to in this section, in section 76 and in section 83 (2) to the Clerk* of the Dáil.


(3) The documents referred to in this section including those referred to in sections 76 and 83 shall be retained by the Clerk of the Dáil for 6 months from the date of the poll at the election. At the expiration of the said period the Clerk of the Dáil shall, unless otherwise directed by an order of the High Court or he has reason to believe that the documents may be required for a purpose referred to in section 130 (3), cause the documents to be destroyed.