As part of your planning, you will have decided whether the production of postal voting stationery and the issuing of postal votes will be carried out in-house or outsourced. The Convener of the EMB may direct or recommend on the production of postal vote stationery and the issuing of postal votes.
You must send a postal ballot pack to all eligible postal voters.1
Postal ballot packs must include the following:2
an outgoing envelope
return envelopes: envelope A (the ballot paper envelope) and envelope B (the covering envelope for the return of envelope A and the postal voting statement)
the ballot papers – one for the constituency contest and one for the regional contest
the postal voting statement
a list showing the names of the candidates who appear on the regional list of each party followed by the names of the individual regional candidates3
as given in the statement of persons and parties nominated
In addition, you must issue instructional information ensuring those entitled to vote by post are able to obtain:4
translations into other languages of any directions to or guidance for voters sent with the ballot papers
a translation into Braille of such directions or guidance
a graphical representation of such directions or guidance
the directions or guidance in any other form (including any audio)
Cross-boundary constituencies
If, as CRO, you are responsible for any constituency that crosses local council boundaries you will need to establish whether your software system is able to correctly read the data format provided by the other council(s).
You will also need to ensure you are able to get the data to printers for the production of the postal voting stationery. You will need to liaise with the other council(s) at the earliest opportunity.