7. The following new section is hereby inserted immediately after section 47 of the principal enactment and shall have effect as section 47A of that enactment :-
| 47A.
| | (1) Where due to the occurrence of events of such a nature -
| | | (a) it is not possible to commence the poll at a polling station at the hour fixed for the commencement of the poll; or |
| (b) the poll at such polling station commences at the hour fixed for the opening of the poll but cannot be continued until the hour fixed for the closing of the poll; or |
| (c) any of the ballot boxes assigned to the polling station cannot be delivered to the returning officer, |
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| | (2) On receipt of an information under subsection (1) in relation to a polling station in an electoral district, the Commissioner may, if he is of the opinion that the result of the election for that electoral district would be affected by the failure to count the votes polled, or the votes which would have been polled, at such polling station, by Order published in the Gazette, declare the poll at such polling station void and appoint a date for taking a fresh poll at such polling station. The date so fixed shall be not earlier than two weeks and not later than four weeks from the date he receives the information in relation to that polling station. The Commissioner shall give notice of the new date of poll in at least one newspaper in each of the National Languages and by notices conpicuously displayed within such polling district. | | |
| | (3) The provisions of sections 36,37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 43A, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 shall mutatis mutandis, apply to, and in relation to, voting, and the counting of votes, at a poll taken in pursuance of an Order made under subsection (2). The register of electors to be used at that poll shall be same as that used at the earlier poll. | | |
| | (4) For the purposes of the application of the provisions of sections 52AA, 52B and 56 (2) to a poll taken in pursuance of an Order made under subsection (2), the references in those sections to " the day following the date on which a poll is taken at such election" shall be deemed to be a reference to the day following the date fixed by that Order for the taking of such poll. | | |
| | (5) A person who votes more than once at an election by reason of his voting at a poll taken in pursuance of an Order made under subsection (2) shall be deemed not to be guilty of any offence under this Order.". | | |
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Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts