Northern Territory Consolidated Regulations Northern Territory Consolidated Regulations51. Scrutiny of postal voting papers
(1) The following provisions apply to the scrutiny of postal voting papers.
(2) The returning officer must reject postal voting papers if the returning officer is satisfied that:
(a) the postal voting papers were witnessed after 6 pm on polling day; or
(b) the postal voting papers were received after 6 pm on the 6th day after polling day.
(3) If postal voting papers are not rejected under subregulation (2), the returning officer must compare the signature of the elector on the elector's postal vote certificate with the signature of the elector on the elector's application for postal voting papers or for registration under the Electoral Act as a postal voter.
(4) If the returning officer is satisfied that:
(a) the elector's signature on the postal vote certificate is that of the elector who signed the application; and
(b) the signature purports to be witnessed by an authorised witness;
the returning officer must admit the postal ballot paper for scrutiny.
(5) When the returning officer admits a postal ballot paper for scrutiny, the returning officer must:
(a) place a mark against the voter's name on the electoral roll; and
(b) take the ballot paper out of the envelope and, without unfolding it, place it in a ballot box; and
(c) place the envelope in a parcel with all other envelopes from which ballot papers have been taken under paragraph (b).
(6) If the returning officer is not satisfied of the matters mentioned in subregulation (2), the officer must mark the unopened envelope with the word "rejected" before placing it in a parcel of rejected postal voting papers.