Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

House of Commons

Session 2010 - 11
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
244

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
245

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)

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*Voter’s name: .................................
Ballot paper Nos. .......................

(insert colour)

*(Returning Officer to insert name but omit where ballot papers sent to an anonymous

elector)

10

[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

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Date of birth
DDMMYYYY
(voter’s date of birth)

#Signature

(voter’s signature)

IMPORTANT - Keep

signature within border

#(Returning Officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)

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PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE BACK OF THIS FORM

(Back of form)

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
246

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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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).

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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

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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

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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).

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
247

!
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.

5

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)

10

Paragraph 19(1)
Form 5 - Form of corresponding number list (to be used in polling stations for
combined polls)

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

15

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

Polling Station: .....................................

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

Ballot Paper Number (identify the
Elector Number

number issued for the referendum/

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election)

25

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
248

Paragraph 21(1)
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Form 6 - guidance for voters to be exhibited outside and inside every polling
station

1.
When you are given your ballot papers go to one of the compartments.

2.
On the [insert colour] referendum 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.

10

3.
On the Scottish Parliament ballot papers, coloured [insert colour or colours], mark

your choices with a cross (X) in the box on the right hand side of each ballot paper

opposite the name of the candidate or party you are voting for. Put only one X on

each ballot paper.

4.
Vote once only in the referendum and on each ballot paper for the Scottish

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Parliament election. Put no other mark on the ballot paper, or your vote may not

be counted.

5.
If by mistake you spoil a ballot paper, show it to the presiding officer and ask for

another one.

6.
Fold each ballot paper in two. Show the presiding officer the number and other

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unique identifying mark on the back of the ballot paper, but do not let anyone see

your vote. Put each ballot paper in the [appropriate]* ballot box and leave the

polling station.

* Complete or omit as necessary.

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Paragraph 22(1)
Form 7 - guidance for voters to be exhibited in every polling station
compartment

REFERENDUM ON THE VOTING SYSTEM FOR

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UNITED KINGDOM PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Referendum ballot paper ([insert colour] ballot paper)

Votes cast in this poll will decide on the voting system for United Kingdom

parliamentary elections.

You have one vote on this paper.

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Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
249

You should place a cross (X) in one box only.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS

Constituency ballot paper ([insert colour] ballot paper)

Votes cast in this poll will decide the election of a member to represent your

5

constituency in the Scottish Parliament.

You have one vote on this paper.

You should place a cross (X) in one box only.

Regional ballot paper ([insert colour] ballot paper)

Votes cast in this poll will decide the allocation of the 7 additional seats in the

10

Scottish Parliament for this region. You may use this vote [either]* for a political

party putting forward a list of candidates [or for an individual candidate not

standing on a party list]*.

You have one vote on this paper.

You should place a cross (X) in one box only.

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PUT NO OTHER MARKS ON THE BALLOT PAPERS OR YOUR VOTES MAY

NOT BE COUNTED

* Omit as necessary.

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Paragraph 26(2)
Form 8 - Form of certificate of employment

Referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary

elections

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[insert name of voting area]

I certify that (name) ..................... who is numbered ................... in the register of

electors cannot reasonably be expected to go in person to the polling station

allotted to him or her in the referendum on (date of poll) ..................... by reason of

the particular circumstances of his or her employment on that date for a purpose

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connected with the referendum *as a constable / *by me.

*Delete whichever is inappropriate.

Signature .................................................

*Counting officer / police officer (inspector or above)

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Part 1
250

Date ....................................

Note: The person named above is entitled to vote at any polling station in the

voting area specified above on production and surrender of this certificate to the

presiding officer.

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Paragraph 33(1)
Form 9 - Form of declaration to be made by the companion of a voter with
disabilities

I, ................................................................................................... (name of companion)

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of .................................................................................................. (address of companion)

having been requested to assist ..................................................... (name of voter)

[in the case of a person with disabilities voting as proxy, add

voting as proxy for ........................................................................ (name of elector)]

whose name on the register is .................................................. to record their vote at

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the [referendum]* [and]* [election(s)]* being held in this [voting area]* [/

constituency]*

hereby declare that

(a)
[I am entitled to vote as an elector at the said [referendum]* [and]*

[election]*,]*

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(b)
[I am the #.................................. of the said voter and have attained the age

of 18 years,]* and

(c)
I have not previously assisted any voter with disabilities [except

.......................... (name of other elector), of .......................... (address of other

elector)], to vote at the [referendum]* [or]* [election]*]*.

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#State the relationship of the companion to the voter.

*Delete as appropriate.

(Signed) .......................................... (companion)

Date ................................................

I, the undersigned, being the presiding officer for the .............. polling station for

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.............. the [insert name of voting area] hereby certify that the above declaration,

having been first read to the above-named declarant, was signed by the declarant

in my presence.

(Signed)..........................................

Date ...............................................

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Time ........................................ (am/pm)