Delivering the annual canvass - Scotland

Format of the revised register

Format of the revised register

When creating the layout of the register you must:

  • divide the register into polling districts
  • give each polling district a unique set of letters, or numbers, or combination of letters and numbers1  
  • give a number to each elector2  

The elector numbers should be allocated sequentially in each part of the register. The polling district letters and the number together are known as the elector number.

We have produced separate guidance on undertaking reviews of polling districts, polling places and polling stations.

Entries in the register for each ordinary elector must be arranged in street order and may only be arranged in alphabetical order by name or a mix of the two where it is not reasonably practicable to list them in street order.3

Franchise markers

Some electors may only vote in certain types of elections and their names must be prefixed in the register with certain letters:4  

Letter Elector
is an overseas elector who is only entitled to vote at UK Parliamentary elections.
M is a qualifying foreign national (except a citizen of a Commonwealth country or the Republic of Ireland) or a prisoner serving a sentence of 12 months or less, who is entitled to vote at local government and Scottish Parliamentary elections.
L is a peer who can sit in the House of Lords, who is entitled to vote at local government and Scottish Parliamentary elections

Attainers

Some electors added to the register will be known as attainers. These electors are individuals who have not yet reached voting age but will do so before the next expected publication of the full register for some polls. 14 and 15 year olds are entitled to be included on the local government register as attainers. A date will be given after these electors’ names to indicate when they will have attained the age where they can vote.

Other electors

There must be a section after the ordinary electors in any polling district marked 'other electors', containing any special category electors who are not listed in the main body of the register listed by surname in alphabetical order without an address, followed by any anonymously registered electors.5  

Our guidance on special category electors sets out in detail how special category electors should be included on the register.

We have produced a resource showing an example of how the register should be formatted.

Last updated: 13 July 2023