Guidance for the GLRO administering the GLA elections

Ballot paper colour

The colour of the ballot papers is not prescribed, nor is the colour to be used for tendered ballot papers, although tendered ballot papers must be a different colour from the ordinary ballot papers.1

The ballot papers for the Mayor of London election, the election for London-wide Assembly Members and the Constituency Member election must be different colours.2

As GLRO you should decide early on what colour the ballot papers will be and work closely with all CROs to agree the colour to be used. Different coloured ballot papers must be used for each poll. You should also consider consulting print suppliers about the colour to ensure that your choice does not give rise to supply or production difficulties.

We understand that you have determined the following ballot paper colours for each contest:

In deciding on the ballot paper colour you should take into account accessibility issues relating to colour and contrast. Section 6 of the Commission’s Marking your mark good practice design guidance contains advice on choosing colours. 

The ‘official mark’

The official mark is a security mark that must be added to ballot papers.3   

The official mark:

• can be the same for all ballot papers at an election, or different official marks can be used for different purposes at the same election, for example one for postal votes and another for polling station ballot papers
• the official mark cannot be re-used for five years at any GLA election4

The mark should be distinctive. It could be a printed emblem or mark or a special printing device such as a watermark. It could also be a perforation added at the time of issue of the ballot paper, if stamping instruments are used to create a perforating official mark. 

The mark should be capable of being seen on the front of the ballot paper so that it can be seen without having to turn the ballot paper over. 

Ballot paper numbers 

Ballot paper numbers should run consecutively, but do not have to start at ‘1’. Ballot paper numbers should be unique, and should not be reused, for example the polling station, postal vote and tendered ballot papers should all be numbered differently.

Unique identifying mark (UIM)

The unique identifying mark (UIM) can be made up of letters and numbers and could be a repeat of the ballot paper number with the addition of a prefix or a suffix. The UIM can instead be, but does not have to be, a barcode. It is important to remember that the UIM is not the same as the official mark. 

The UIM:5

• should be unique for each ballot paper
• can be re-used at the next poll
• must be printed on the back of the ballot paper

Form of the reverse of the ballot paper

The form of the reverse of the ballot paper is prescribed6  and you must ensure that the required information is included on the ballot paper reverse in the specified format. There is no provision to put any hatching or other marks on the back of the ballot paper.