The Scottish Local Government Elections Order 2011

Voting procedure

33.—(1) A ballot paper shall be delivered to a voter who applies for one, and immediately before delivery—

(a)the number and (unless paragraph (2) applies) name of the elector as stated in the copy of the register of electors shall be called out;

(b)the number of the elector shall be marked on part two of the corresponding number list mentioned beside the number of the ballot paper to be issued to the elector;

(c)a mark shall be placed in the copy of the register of electors against the number of the elector to note that a ballot paper has been received but without showing the particular ballot paper which has been received; and

(d)in the case of a person applying for a ballot paper as proxy, a mark shall also be placed against that person’s name in the list of proxies.

(2) In the case of an elector who has an anonymous entry, the elector’s official poll card must be shown to the presiding officer and only the elector’s number shall be called out in pursuance of paragraph (1)(a).

(3) In the case of an elector who is added to the register in pursuance of a notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act, paragraph (1) is modified as follows—

(a)in sub‑paragraph (a), for “copy of the register of electors” substitute “copy of the notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act”;

(b)in sub‑paragraph (c), for “in the copy of the register of electors” substitute “on the copy of the notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act”.

(4) The voter, on receiving the ballot paper, shall forthwith proceed into one of the compartments in the polling station and there secretly mark the voter’s ballot paper and put the ballot paper into the ballot box in the presiding officer’s presence.

(5) The voter shall vote without undue delay, and shall leave the polling station as soon as the voter has put the ballot paper into the ballot box.

(6) For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that a voter is held in a queue at the polling station at the close of the poll and has not been able to cast their vote, the presiding officer shall permit them to cast their vote as soon as practicable immediately following the time specified as the close of the poll.