Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Scottish Parliament election

Guidance to support your staff with proof checking election materials should include instructions to check that:

• all details are spelt correctly
• electors’ names and addresses are accurate and match the electoral register/absent voting lists
• materials being sent to electors are correct for them (e.g. the ballot paper is for their electoral area; postal proxies are being sent postal proxy poll cards)
• correct deadlines are included where relevant (e.g. postal/proxy applications on poll cards)
• where a form is prescribed, that it meets the prescribed requirements

For ballot paper(s), you should also check that:

• the directions for printing have been followed
• the official mark and unique identifying number are correct
• the ballot papers include the details of all validly nominated parties and individual candidates as appropriate for the particular electoral area; including that:
  • candidate names (or commonly used name(s) where relevant) are correct
  • where relevant party names, descriptions and emblems are correct and as registered on the Commission’s register of political parties
  • instructions at the top of each ballot paper are the correct ones for the electoral area

The contents of the postal vote pack are prescribed and you should ensure that all the relevant details have been included on those materials. You should also check that the postal voting statement(s) include:

• the correct ballot numbers are printed
• the voting instructions are the correct ones for the electoral area