Scottish Parliament and Local Government Elections
Guidance Manual for Elections Staff
		Publisher The Scottish Office

Contents

RETURNING OFFICER:

Introduction What's new - At a glance The New Electoral System for the Scottish Parliament Elections How do the Constituency Candidates Get Elected? How do the Regional Candidates Get Elected? Registration of Political Parties Electoral Administration Purpose of this Manual

PRESIDING OFFICERS AND POLLING CLERKS:

Introduction What's new - At a glance The New Electoral System for the Scottish Parliament Elections How do the Constituency Candidates Get Elected? How do the Regional Candidates Get Elected? Registration of Political Parties Electoral Administration Purpose of this Manual

COUNTING STAFF

Introduction What's new - At a glance The New Electoral System for the Scottish Parliament Elections How do the Constituency Candidates Get Elected? How do the Regional Candidates Get Elected? Registration of Political Parties Electoral Administration Purpose of this Manual

GUIDELINES FOR RETURNING OFFICERS

The Returning Officer's Responsibilities Timetable for the Elections Requirement for Secrecy Nominations Ballot Papers Equipment and Supplies Issue, Receipt, Opening and Verification of Postal Ballot Papers Issue of Poll Cards Appointment of Presiding Officers and Polling Clerks Appointment of Enumerators at the Count Appointment of Polling and Counting Agents Polling Day The Count Declaration of Results Return or Forfeiture of Deposit

IN THE POLLING STATION:

A - BASIC POLLING DAY PROCEDURES

Overview and Introduction to Voting Before Polling Day Polling Day - Before the Polls Open Polling Day Stage One of the Voting Procedure - Checking and Marking the Register Stage Two of the Voting Procedure - Issuing and Stamping the Ballot Papers Security and Maintenance of the Polling Station Close of Poll

B - DEALING WITH PROBLEMS AND SPECIAL VOTING PROCEDURES

Registration Problems Postal and Proxy Voters Personation of Voter Procedure for Tendered Ballot Papers A Challenge Against a Voter by a Polling Agent or a Candidate The Prescribed Questions Providing Assistance to Voters Certificates of Employment Order in the Polling Station Guidance on Tellers The Media and Exit Polls

Annex 1 Annex 2

IN THE COUNTING CENTRE

Introduction and Overview of the Counting Process Arrangements Prior to Poll Stage One: The Verification of the Ballot Paper Accounts Stage Two: Sorting and Counting of the Ballot Papers Stage Three: Declaration of Provisional Results The d'Hondt Method for Allocation of Regional Seats Packing, Sealing and Despatch of Local Government election materials Storage of Scottish Parliament election materials

Annex

The information contained on this WWW site is Crown Copyright but may be reproduced without formal permission or charge for personal or in-house use. © 1999