House of Lords portcullis
House of Lords
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 Parts 1 and 2

242

 
 

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

 

5

   

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

 

10

 

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

 

15

  

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

 

20

  

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

 

25

  

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.

 

30

 

6.

Complete the postal voting statement by [#signing it, and] providing your

 
  

date of birth.

 
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Parts 1 and 2

243

 
 

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

 

5

  

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

 

10

  

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

 

15

 

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).

 

20

 

#(Counting officer to omit where a person has been granted a waiver)

 
 

*Delete as appropriate

 
   
 

Paragraph 11(2)

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

25

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

 

Postal Voting Statement

 
 


 
   
 

*Voter’s name: .................................

Ballot paper no. .......................

 

30

  

(insert colour)

 
 

*(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

 

35

 

voting statement will be invalid and your vote will not be counted.

 
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Parts 1 and 2

244

 
 

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

 

5

 

#(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

 

10

 

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

 

15

  

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.

 

20

 

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.

 

25

 

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

 

30

  

station in this referendum.

 
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Parts 1 and 2

245

 
 

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.

 

5

 

!

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.

 

10

 

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

 
   

15

 

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)

 

Scottish Parliamentary Election on 5 May 2011

 

20

 

Postal Voting Statement

 
   
 

Voter’s name*: [Voter’s name]

Ballot Paper Nos: [Ballot Paper Nos]

 
 

Constituency/Region: [Constituency/Region]

 
  

[Other identifying mark]

 

25

 

Please read the accompanying ‘Instructions to the Voter’

 
 


 
 

For your votes to be counted you must provide your date of birth [and signature]**.

 
 

Please write clearly in black ink.

 
   

30

 

I am the person the ballot papers numbered above were sent to. (The ballot paper

 
 

number can be found above and on the back of your ballot papers and you should

 
 

check they match. If they do not please contact the Returning Officer.)

 
 

Enter your Date of Birth

                         Day            Month                 Year

 
 

in the boxes on the right

  

35

 

e.g. 8 September 1961

  
 

would be 08 09 1961

  
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Parts 1 and 2

246

 
 

[Please sign your name

  
 

inside the grey box on

  
 

the right]**

  
 

Electoral fraud is a crime. You must not vote using a ballot paper that is not

 
 

addressed to you or interfere with another voter’s ballot paper.

 

5

 

ISSUED BY THE RETURNING OFFICER

 
   
 

Instructions to the Voter

 
 

If you need help or require replacement documents please contact the Returning

 
 

Officer at [insert contact details for assistance including address as appropriate].

 

10

 

After receiving this postal vote, you cannot vote in person at a polling station at

 
 

this election. You must not vote more than once (unless you are appointed as a

 
 

proxy for another elector) at the same election.

 
 

This postal voting statement relates to the ballot papers for the Scottish

 
 

parliamentary election only. You will receive your ballot papers and instructions

 

15

 

for the referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary

 
 

elections separately. If you have not received them by [insert date], please contact

 
 

the Returning Officer.

 
 

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

 

20

 

for United Kingdom parliamentary elections which is to be held on the same day.

 
 

You have two ballot papers (a constituency ballot paper coloured [insert colour] and

 
 

a regional ballot paper coloured [insert colour]). Please check that the ballot paper

 
 

number on the back of each ballot paper matches the number at the top of the

 
 

postal voting statement. If it does not match, contact the Returning Officer at the

 

25

 

address above.

 
 

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 voted.

 
 

For your votes to be counted you must provide your date of birth and signature**

 
 

on the postal voting statement. Please use black ink. Your date of birth and

 

30

 

signature** will be checked against the date of birth and signature** you provided

 
 

to the Electoral Registration Officer when you asked for a postal vote to ensure that

 
 

you are the same person who applied for the postal vote.

 
 

The ballot papers and postal voting statement must be received by the Returning

 
 

Officer by 10 pm on [day and date of poll]. You can also deliver your completed

 

35

 

postal vote to any polling station in this constituency on polling day up to 10 pm.

 
   
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Parts 1 and 2

247

 
 

How do I complete my postal vote?

 
   
 

Step ACompleting your Ballot Papers

 
 

1.

Vote only once on each ballot paper.

 
 

2.

Vote by marking a cross (X) in the box opposite the name of the candidate or

 

5

  

party you are voting for.

 
 

3.

Do not mark the ballot papers in any other way or your votes many not

 
  

count.

 
 

4.

Put the completed ballot papers in the envelope marked ‘A’ and seal it.

 
   

10

 

Step BCompleting your Postal Voting statement

 
 

5.

For your votes to be counted you must provide your date of birth and

 
  

signature**. Please use black ink. Put your date of birth in the boxes

 
  

provided and sign in the grey box**.

 
   

15

 

Step CBefore returning your Postal Vote

 
 

6.

Check you have marked the ballot papers, put them in envelope ‘A’ and

 
  

sealed the envelope.

 
 

7.

Check you have your date of birth and signature** on the Postal Voting

 
  

Statement.

 

20

 

8.

Put the envelope marked ‘A’ together with the Postal Voting Statement in

 
  

the envelope marked ‘B’ and seal the envelope.

 
 

9.

Post it as soon as possible. If you delay posting your vote it may not be

 
  

received by the Returning Officer in time to be counted.

 
   

25

 

If you accidentally spoil or lose your ballot papers, you can apply to the Returning

 
 

Officer for replacements before 5 pm on [insert day and date of poll]. After 5pm on

 
 

[insert day and date of day before the date of poll] replacement papers can only be

 
 

issued if you apply in person to the Returning Officer. You must return the spoilt

 
 

ballot papers, the postal voting statement, and the envelopes marked ‘A’ and ‘B’.

 

30

 

Make sure you contact the Returning Officer as soon as possible at the address

 
 

above.

 
   
 

Direction for postal voting statement being sent to an anonymous elector

 
 

(This direction does not form part of the postal voting statement.)

 

35

 

*Returning Officer to omit name.

 
   
 
 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Schedule 7 — Combination of polls: Scotland
Part 3 — Forms referred to in Parts 1 and 2

248

 
 

Direction for postal voting statement being sent to an elector who has been

 
 

granted a signature waiver

 
 

(This direction does not form part of the posting voting statement.)

 
 

**Returning Officer to omit grey signature box and references to signature.

 
   

5

 

Paragraph 19(1)

Form 5 - Form of corresponding number list (to be used in polling stations for

combined polls)

 

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

 
 

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

 

10

 

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

 
 

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

 
 

Ballot Paper Number (identify the

Elector Number

 
 

number issued for the referendum/

  
 

election)

  

15

    
    
    
    
    

20

    
    
    
    
    

25

    
    
    
    
 
 

 
previous section contents continue
 
House of Lords home page Houses of Parliament home page House of Commons home page search page enquiries

© Parliamentary copyright 2010
Revised 4 November 2010