Count staff should arrive at the times agreed by you in advance and should check the count stationery and equipment is present, using our checklist to assist. You should ensure that staff are checked in and that you brief them as necessary to ensure smooth delivery of the count.
The counting of votes must begin as soon as practicable after the close of the poll.1
You do not have to wait until you have completed the verification before you can start counting the votes.
If you are starting the counting of votes before the completion of the verification process, you should ensure that you always have one box containing verified ballot papers available at the end of the verification process for that contest, so that you can comply with the requirement for mixing the ballot papers from one ballot box with the contents of another.2
1. Paragraph 54(1), Schedule 2, The Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2015 (SPEO 2015)↩ Back to content at footnote 1