Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Scottish Parliament election

We will request that you send information and data to us relating to the election.

As set out in the EA Bulletin forms for collecting information and data and accompanying guidance notes for completion are available below:

Link to data portal 

Statement as to postal ballot papers

You must complete a statement as to postal ballot papers for the elections.1

These statements are vital for the accounting of postal votes and for ensuring that voters have confidence that their vote will be counted in the way they intended.

The statements should form part of the arrangements that you have in place to maintain a clear audit trail of the postal voting and count processes.

You should complete the statements accurately using the figures recorded at the issue, receipt, opening and verification of postal votes.

For more information see our guidance on keeping records of the receipt and opening of postal votes.

Where to send the statement as to postal ballot papers

You must provide a copy of the completed statement to Scottish Ministers and to the Electoral Commission.2

Statements should be sent to the Commission using [email protected]

The statement must be provided between 10 and 15 calendar days after polling day.3

Separately from the statutory statement as to postal ballots, we collect data on postal voting through our online portal in a single data request alongside other relevant election data, e.g. turnout and rejected ballots. Details for how to provide this information to us is set out above.