Commentary on Sections Death of Candidate New rule 63: Party candidate
147.Rule 63(1) applies where proof is given to the officer that the candidate of a registered political party, who is named or to be named on the ballot paper, has died before the declaration of result.
148.Rule 63(2) provides that the returning officer must either countermand notice of the poll, or if polling has begun, direct that the poll be abandoned.
149.Rule 63(3) provides that the proceedings with reference to the election must be commenced afresh, subject to paragraphs (4) to (9) of this rule:
	the writ will be taken to have arrived on the first working day after the end of a period of seven days following the day that a returning officer receives proof of a party candidate’s death;
	a candidate already shown on the statement of persons nominated does not need to submit a fresh nomination;
	only a new candidate for the registered political party in whose name the deceased candidate was standing will be permitted to submit a new nomination. No other nominations may be made;
	the last day for a nomination by a new candidate for the registered political party to be made, is the seventh working day after the writ is taken to be received;
	a candidate already shown as nominated may withdraw from the rescheduled poll. The notice of withdrawal must be made by the seventh working day after the day on which the writ is taken to be received; and
	the minimum number of days that may pass between the day on which the writ is taken to have been received and the poll is 15 working days. The maximum number of days is 19 working days.
150.For the purposes of rule 63: