absolute fairness, secrecy, impartiality and regularity but which also encompasses public trust and confidence in the manner in which the process is carried o u t For these reasons, various legal guidelines have been enacted to regulate the formalities of an impartial election. Any serious departures from these procedures will strike at the very foundation of our free and democratic system of political representation and affect public confidence in the impartiality of our election." (emphasis mine) I shall now examine the grounds on which the applicant seeks to have the taking of the poll declared void. GROUND 1 That ballot boxes were stolen and/or destroyed and/or tampered with and the number of electors for the polling stations in polling divisions 49, 64, 71 and 72 is more than the difference in the number of votes cast for the candidate fi declared the winner and the candidate who is not declared the winner. (Section ,L- 37(b) Election Petitions Act (EPA)). Polling Division 49 Beverly Valentine, the duly appointed presiding officer, in a duly sworn affidavit averred that the polling station was opened on time, that voting proceeded without incident The polls closed at 5.00 p.m. The votes were duly counted and accounted for in accordance with the law. C.' The ballot box was locked and the key handed over to one Royel Mantle to convey the box with the counted ballots, therein, to the counting station.