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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

Part 3

Forms referred to in Part 1

Note - The forms contained in this Part may be adapted so far as circumstances require.

Paragraphs 6(3) and 7(4)

Form 1 - Form of corresponding number list (to be used for combined polls)

Voting area/constituency: ........................................

Date of Poll: .........................................

Sheet No.: .............................................

	Ballot Paper Number	Unique Identifying Mark	Elector Number (to be
	(identify the number		completed only in respect of
	issued for the		ballot papers issued to
	referendum/election)		postal voters)

Paragraph 10(3)

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

Form 2 - Form of postal voting statement (to be used where proceedings on issue

and receipt of postal ballot papers combined)

	Postal Voting Statement
	*Voter’s name: .................................	Ballot paper nos. ............................
	*Counting officer to insert name but omit where ballot papers sent to an anonymous elector
		[other identifying mark]

	You must provide your [# signature and] date of birth. If you do not, the postal voting
	statement will be invalid and your vote will not be counted.
	I AM THE PERSON THE BALLOT PAPERS NUMBERED ABOVE WERE SENT TO
	Date of birth	DDMMYYYY	(voter’s date of birth)

	#Signature		(voter’s signature)
			IMPORTANT - Keep
			signature within border
	#(Counting officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)
	It is an offence to vote using a ballot paper that is not addressed to you.

	PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS TO THE VOTER
	Issued by the counting officer
	INSTRUCTIONS TO THE VOTER
	Complete the ballot papers yourself and in private. If you need help, contact the
	counting officer’s staff as shown below.
	[contact details for assistance; include address as appropriate]
	1.	You must provide your [#signature and] date of birth. If you do not, the postal
		voting statement will be invalid and your vote(s) will not be counted.
	2.	When you are voting in the referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom
		parliamentary elections ([insert colour of ballot paper] ballot paper), mark a cross
		(X) in the box on the right hand side of the ballot paper opposite the answer you are
		voting for. Vote once only. Do not mark the ballot paper in any other way or your
		vote may not be counted.
	3.	When you are voting in the Scottish Parliament election, you have two ballot papers
		(a constituency ballot paper coloured [insert colour] and a regional ballot paper
		coloured [insert colour]). Vote only once on each ballot paper. Vote by marking a
		cross (X) in the box opposite the name of the party or candidate you are voting for.
		Do not put any other marks on the ballot papers or your votes may not count.
	4.	If you need help voting, the person helping you must not tell anyone how you voted.
	5.	Put all the ballot papers in the small envelope marked A and seal it.
	6.	Complete the postal voting statement by [#signing it, and] providing your date of
		birth.
	7.	Then put the envelope marked A together with the postal voting statement in the
		larger envelope marked B. Return it straightaway.
	8.	After receiving this postal vote, you cannot vote in person at a polling station in
		the referendum or election.
	9.	If you accidentally spoil any of your ballot papers, you can apply to the counting
		officer for replacements before 5 pm on [day/date of poll]. You must return all the
		ballot papers, the postal voting statement and the envelopes marked A and B. Make
		sure you contact the counting officer as soon as possible.
	!	Your ballot papers and the postal voting statement must be received by the counting
		officer by 10 pm on [day/date of poll]. You can deliver your completed postal votes
		to any polling station in your voting area on polling day.
	It is an offence to vote using a ballot paper that is not addressed to you.
	It is illegal to vote more than once in the referendum (unless you are appointed as a
	proxy for another person).
	It is illegal to vote more than once in the constituency poll at the election (unless you
	are appointed as a proxy for another person).
	It is illegal to vote more than once in the regional poll at the election (unless you are
	appointed as a proxy for another person).
	#(Counting officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)
	*Delete as appropriate

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Paragraph 11(2)

Form 3 - Form of postal voting statement (to be used for referendum where

proceedings on issue and receipt of postal ballot papers not combined)

	Postal Voting Statement
	*Voter’s name: .................................	Ballot paper no. .......................
		(insert colour)
	*(Counting officer to insert name but omit where ballot papers sent to an anonymous
	elector)
		[other identifying mark]

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	You must provide your [# signature and] date of birth. If you do not, the postal voting
	statement will be invalid and your vote will not be counted.
	I AM THE PERSON THE BALLOT PAPER NUMBERED ABOVE WAS SENT TO
	Date of birth	DDMMYYYY	(voter’s date of birth)

	#Signature		(voter’s signature)
			IMPORTANT - Keep
			signature within border
	#(Counting officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)
	It is an offence to vote using a ballot paper that is not addressed to you.

	PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS TO THE VOTER
	Issued by the counting officer
	INSTRUCTIONS TO THE VOTER
	Complete the ballot paper yourself and in private. If you need help, contact the
	counting officer’s staff as shown below.
	[contact details for assistance; include address as appropriate]
	1.	You must provide your [#signature and] date of birth. You must do this even if you
		have already signed a postal voting statement in respect of the Scottish Parliament
		election which is to be held on the same day. If you do not, the postal voting
		statement will be invalid and your vote will not be counted.
	2.	Vote once only. Do not mark the ballot paper in any other way or your vote may not
		be counted.
	3.	Mark a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of the ballot paper opposite the
		answer you are voting for.
	4.	If you need help in voting, the person helping you must not tell anyone how you
		voted.
	5.	Put the ballot paper in the small envelope marked A and seal it.
	6.	Complete the postal voting statement by [#signing it, and] providing your date of
		birth.
	7.	Then put the envelope marked A together with the postal voting statement in the
		larger envelope marked B. Return it straightaway.
	8.	After receiving this postal vote, you cannot vote in person at a polling station in
		this referendum.
	9.	If you accidentally spoil your ballot paper, you can apply to the counting officer for
		a replacement before 5 pm on [day/date of poll]. You must return the spoilt ballot
		paper, the postal voting statement and the envelopes marked A and B. Make sure
		you contact the counting officer as soon as possible.
	!	Your ballot paper and the postal voting statement must be received by the counting
		officer by 10 pm on [day/date of poll]. You can deliver your completed postal vote
		to any polling station in your voting area on polling day.
	It is an offence to vote using a ballot paper that is not addressed to you.
	It is illegal to vote more than once (unless you are appointed as a proxy for another
	person) in this referendum.
	#(Counting officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)
	*Delete as appropriate

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

Paragraph 11(4)

Form 4 - Form of postal voting statement (to be used for Scottish parliamentary

election where proceedings on issue and receipt of postal ballot papers not

combined)

	(Front of Form)
	*Voter’s name: .................................	Ballot paper Nos. .......................
		(insert colour)
	*(Returning Officer to insert name but omit where ballot papers sent to an anonymous
	elector)
		[other identifying mark]

	You must provide your [# signature and] date of birth. If you do not, the postal voting
	statement will be invalid and your vote will not count.
	I AM THE PERSON TO WHOM THE BALLOT PAPERS NUMBERED ABOVE
	WERE SENT
	Date of birth	DDMMYYYY	(voter’s date of birth)

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	#Signature		(voter’s signature)
			IMPORTANT - Keep
			signature within border
	#(Returning Officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)
	PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE BACK OF THIS FORM

(Back of form)

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS

	Your vote is personal - complete the ballot papers yourself and in private. If you need
	help you can contact me (insert contact details of the constituency returning officer or
	a member of his staff).
	Electoral fraud is a crime. You must not vote using a ballot paper that is not
	addressed to you. You must not interfere with another voter’s ballot paper.
	1.	This statement relates to the ballot papers for the Scottish Parliament election only.
		You will receive your ballot paper and instructions for the referendum on the voting
		system for United Kingdom parliamentary elections separately. If you do not
		receive them soon, please contact me.
	2.	You must provide your [#signature and] date of birth even if you have already
		signed a postal voting statement in respect of the referendum on the voting system
		for United Kingdom parliamentary elections which is to be held on the same day.
	3.	You have two ballot papers (a constituency ballot paper coloured [insert colour] and
		a regional ballot paper coloured [insert colour]). Vote only once on each ballot
		paper. Vote by marking a cross (X) in the box opposite the name of the party or
		candidate you are voting for. Do not put any other marks on the ballot papers or your
		votes may not count.
	4.	Your vote is personal—complete it yourself and in private. If you need help voting,
		the person helping you must not tell anyone how you have voted.
	5.	Put the ballot papers for the Scottish Parliament elections in the small envelope
		marked “A” and seal it. Then put the envelope marked “A”, together with the postal
		voting statement, in the larger envelope marked “B”. Return the envelopes without
		delay. The ballot papers must be received at my office not later than the close of
		poll. Alternatively, the ballot papers can be delivered to any polling station in this
		constituency on polling day, up to 10 pm.
	6.	If you get more than one of each ballot paper, by accident, then use just one of each.
		Please remember that it is illegal to vote more than once in the same election (unless
		you are voting for someone else—by proxy).
	7.	At this election you cannot vote in person at a polling station.
	8.	If you make a mistake on a ballot paper, or lose a ballot paper or the return
		envelopes, you can ask for replacements. You should ask as soon as possible. There
		is not much time for a new ballot paper to be sent to you, returned and counted. You
		will need to return everything you have received from me (except anything you
		have lost). Items you should return if you have them include all ballot papers, the
		postal voting statement and the envelopes marked “A” and “B”.
	9.	I can issue another ballot paper if you ask me for it up to 5 pm on polling day, but
		unless I receive your request by 5 pm on the day before polling day I can only issue
		another ballot paper if you visit my office, with evidence of your identity.
	10.	For replacement papers, or if you need further help, please ring (insert telephone
		number) or contact my office at (insert address).
	!	Your ballot papers and the postal voting statement must be received by the counting
		officer by 10 pm on [day/date of poll]. You can deliver your completed postal votes
		to any polling station in your voting area on polling day.
	It is an offence to vote using a ballot paper that is not addressed to you.
	It is illegal to vote more than once in the constituency poll at the election (unless you
	are appointed as a proxy for another person).
	It is illegal to vote more than once in the regional poll at the election (unless you are
	appointed as a proxy for another person).
	#(Returning officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)

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Revised 20 October 2010