Polling agents are entitled by law to access polling stations for the purpose of detecting personation. They can also observe the procedures to be followed inside a polling station.
You must be notified in writing of any polling agents that have been appointed by not later than five working days before the poll for their appointment to be in force for the poll.1
We have produced a template form for the notification of appointment of a polling agent.
You can find the notification of appointment of a polling agent form in the agent section of our resource page.
A polling agent can be appointed to a particular polling station or stations, or to all polling stations within the constituency. The same polling agents may be appointed to attend more than one polling station.
Limiting the number of agents in attendance
There is no limit on the number of polling agents that may be appointed at a Scottish Parliament election.
There is no restriction on the number of polling agents that may attend a polling station. However only one polling agent for each candidate or party list may be admitted to a polling station at any particular time.2
Secrecy and conduct requirements
Anyone attending a polling station has a duty to maintain the secrecy of the ballot. All polling agents must be supplied with the following requirements of secrecy for the poll.3
You can find secrecy requirements in the agents section of our resource page.
In particular, the following information must not be disclosed:
the name or electoral number of who has or has not voted
the ballot paper number or other unique identifying number on the ballot paper
Anyone attending a polling station must also not try to ascertain how a voter has voted or who they are about to vote for.
A polling agent can mark off on their copy of the register of electors those voters who have applied for ballot papers. If the polling agent leaves the polling station during the hours of polling, they will need to leave the marked copy of the register in the polling station to ensure that secrecy requirements are not breached. Any person found guilty of breaching the secrecy requirements can face an unlimited fine, or may be imprisoned for up to six months.
Polling agents’ seals cannot be attached to ballot boxes at the start of, or during the poll.
While a polling agent can observe the poll, they do not have to present in a polling station for polling and related procedures to take place.