• 1. The return envelope referred to in Article M 7, paragraph 6, must be in the possession of the Mayor of The Hague no later than 3:00 PM on the day of the vote.

• 2. The Mayor shall ensure that the return envelopes received on time, which, if returned by mail, are stamped, are handed unopened to the chairperson of the postal voting office referred to in Article E 5, paragraph 1, no later than 9:00 PM on the day of the vote.

• 3. The mayor shall record the day and, if this is the day of the vote, the time of receipt on return envelopes that are received too late. These return envelopes, and any return envelopes that are not stamped, if returned by mail, shall be placed unopened by the mayor in one or more sealed packages, which shall be provided with a description of the contents.

• 4. The mayor shall retain the packages referred to in the third paragraph for three months after the admission of the elected representatives has been decided. He shall then immediately destroy these packages. A report shall be drawn up of the destruction.