Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Scottish Parliament election

Accredited observers

Electoral observation is a legitimate and valuable part of the electoral process, and care should be taken not to hinder or obstruct any observers.

While you are permitted to limit the number of observers who may be present at any one time during the verification and count, you should exercise caution in doing so.

You are not entitled to bar all observers from the verification and count, only to limit the number of observers present at any one time, and this discretion must be exercised reasonably.1

If you suspend access, or remove an accredited observer from the verification or count, you should ensure there is an audit trail to support your decision. A template observer access restriction log is available for this purpose.

You can find the template log in the verification and count section of the resource page.

When managing the attendance of observers you must have regard to the Commission’s Code of practice for observers.2 Should you experience any issues with observers attending the count, contact our Scotland office at the earliest opportunity. 

Commission representatives

Commission representatives are entitled to attend the verification and count and to observe your working practices.3

They can ask questions of your staff and of agents, but will not do so if this would obstruct or disturb the conduct of proceedings.

You are not allowed to limit the number of Commission representatives at the verification and count.

For more information see our guidance on the appointment of accredited observers and Commission representatives.