A vote is deemed to be blank both when a ballot paper is blank and when an envelope contains no ballot paper.
Ballot papers which differ from the official model, those which raise doubts as to the voter’s decision and those bearing elements crossed out, scratches, corrections, insertions, signs or words unconnected with the poll will be deemed null and void. Envelopes containing ballot papers of different options will also be deemed null and void votes. Should an envelope contain more than one ballot paper of the same option it will be considered as a single valid vote.
Votes containing one or more ballot papers of the same option and "blank votes" that have not been cancelled due to some defect are considered "valid votes". Votes which are null and void are not considered "valid votes".