Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Scottish Parliament election

Ballot paper colour

The colour of ballot papers is not prescribed but the constituency ballot papers and regional ballot papers must be different colours.1 The Convener of the EMB may direct on the colours to be used.

You should liaise with the RRO at an early stage on the colours of the ballot papers to be used at the elections.

Tendered ballot papers must be a different colour from the ordinary ballot papers.2

In deciding on the ballot paper colours, you should take into account accessibility issues relating to colour and text contrast.

The official mark

The official mark is a security mark that must be added to the 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
• cannot be re-used for seven years at a Scottish Parliament election held in the same constituency4

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.

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.

The Convener of the EMB may direct that the official mark used on ballot papers to be issued in polling stations should be different to the official mark used on ballot papers to be issued in postal vote packs.

The Convener of the EMB may also direct that the RRO should work with CROs in their region to ensure the official mark is consistent across all regional ballot papers.

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.

The Convener of the EMB may direct or recommend that RROs implement a ballot paper numbering protocol so that each regional ballot paper is uniquely numbered. This could include the addition of prefixes to the ballot paper number or the allocation of sets of numbers to particular constituencies.

Unique identifying number

The unique identifying number must be printed on the back of the ballot paper.5

Form of the reverse of the ballot paper

The form of the reverse of the ballot paper is prescribed and you must ensure that the required information is included on the ballot paper reverse in the specified format.6 There is no provision to put any hatching or other marks on the back of the ballot papers.