Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Scottish Parliament election

Verification can only be completed once postal ballot papers, including those received at polling stations have been opened and processed, and have been through the verification process.1

Verification statement

You must ensure that the verification statement containing the result of the verification of each ballot box is completed.2

The statement must in each case include the total number of postal ballot papers verified and the total number of ballot papers verified for the poll.3 You should sign the statement.

Any agent present may make a copy of the statement as to the result of the verification and to promote confidence in the result you should make copies available for the agents present once verification has been completed.

In line with the agreed protocol, you must send a copy of the statements to the RRO. The RRO will provide you with guidance on how this should be done.

The verification statement is a key communication tool that will help to ensure that candidates and agents are confident that the processes at the verification and count are transparent and that they will produce an accurate result.