Back to previous page

Whereas a draft of this Order has been laid before, and approved by, a resolution of each House of Parliament;

     Now therefore, the Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 12(1) and 113 of the Scotland Act 1998 [1], and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following Order:

"the 1983 Act" means the Representation of the People Act 1983[2];

"the 1985 Act" means the Representation of the People Act 1985[3];

"the 1986 Regulations" means the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 1986[4];

"the 1998 Act" means the Scotland Act 1998;

"appropriate returning officer" means - 

(a) in relation to a candidate for return as a constituency member (or to an election agent or sub-agent for such a candidate) the constituency returning officer for that constituency; and

(b) in relation to an individual candidate for return as a regional member or to a registered party submitting a regional list for a particular region, (or to an election agent or sub-agent for such a candidate or such a registered party) the regional returning officer for that region,

a reference to a ballot paper shall, in relation to a general election for membership of the Scottish Parliament be construed as a reference to both the constituency ballot paper and the regional ballot paper;

a reference to a numbered article shall be construed as a reference to the article bearing that number in this Order;

"Citizen of the Union" shall be construed in accordance with Article 8.1 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (as amended by Title II of the Treaty on European Union), and "relevant citizen of the Union" means such a citizen who is not a commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland;

"constituency returning officer" means the officer who, in accordance with article 14, is the constituency returning officer for a Scottish parliamentary election in a constituency;

"European Parliamentary Election" has the same meaning as in section 27(1) of the 1985 Act;

"local authority" has the same meaning as in the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973[5];

"nominating officer" means the person registered under the Registration of Political Parties Act 1998[6] as the officer with responsibility for the matters referred to in paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 1 to that Act in respect of a registered party;

"ordinary local government election" means an ordinary election of councillors for local government areas in Scotland;

"regional returning officer" means a regional returning officer for the purposes of the 1998 Act;

"register of electors" means the register of local government electors;

"registered emblem" means an emblem registered by a political party under the Registration of Political Parties Act 1998;

"registered party" means a party registered under the Registration of Political Parties Act 1998;

"registration officer" means an electoral registration officer within the meaning of the 1983 Act;

"service voter" means a person who has made a service declaration in accordance with section 15 of the 1983 Act and is registered or entitled to be registered in pursuance of it; and

"Scottish parliamentary election" means an election for membership of the Scottish Parliament and "Scottish parliamentary general election" shall be construed accordingly.

    (2) For the purposes of this Order a person shall be deemed not to have attained a given age until commencement of the relevant anniversary of the day of his birth.

(a) by proxy or by post as elector; or

(b) by post as proxy,

in any case where the application is not made for a particular Scottish parliamentary election only.

    (2) An appeal lies on any point of law from any decision of the sheriff under this article to the court of three judges constituted under section 57(2) of the 1983 Act.

    (3) An appeal made by virtue of this article or section 57 of the 1983 Act which is pending when notice of an election is given shall not prejudice the operation as respects that election of the decision appealed against, and anything done in pursuance of the decision shall be as good as if no such appeal had been brought and shall not be affected by the decision of the appeal.

    (4) Notice shall be sent to the registration officer by recorded delivery post of the decision of the sheriff court or of the Court of three judges referred to in paragraph (2) above on any appeal by virtue of this article, and the registration officer shall make such alterations in the - 

(a) record kept under article 8(4); or

(b) record kept under article 11(6),

as may be required to give effect to the decision.

    (5) Where, as a result of the decision on an appeal under this article or section 57 of the 1983 Act an alteration in the register is made on or before the last day for the delivery of nomination papers at an election paragraph (3) above does not apply to that appeal as respects that election.

    (6) The registration officer shall on an appeal brought under this article be deemed to be a party to the proceedings, and the registration expenses payable to a registration officer shall include any expenses properly incurred by him by virtue of this paragraph.

Polling districts and places at elections
     5.  - (1) Every constituency shall be divided into polling districts and, subject to the provisions of this article there shall be a polling place designated for each polling district.

    (2) The polling districts and polling places designated under this article shall be the same as those used or designated for parliamentary elections, except where it appears to those responsible for the designation of parliamentary polling districts and polling places under section 18(3) of the 1983 Act that special circumstances make it desirable for some other polling district or polling place to be designated for the purpose of a Scottish parliamentary election.

    (3) An election shall not be questioned by reason of - 

(a) any non-compliance with the provisions of this article; or

(b) any informality relating to polling districts or polling places.

Rules for Scottish parliamentary elections
     6.  - (1) The proceedings at Scottish parliamentary elections (including the return of members) shall be conducted in accordance with the Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules in Schedule 2 to this Order.

    (2) It is the general duty of every returning officer at a Scottish parliamentary election to do all such acts and things as may be necessary for effectually conducting the election in the manner provided by those Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules.

    (3) No Scottish parliamentary election shall be declared invalid by reason of any act or omission by a returning officer or any other person in breach of his official duty in connection with the election or otherwise of those Rules if it appears to the tribunal having cognizance of the question that - 

(a) the election was so conducted as to be substantially in accordance with the law as to Scottish parliamentary elections; and

(b) the act or omission did not affect the result.

    (4) Schedule 2 to this Order (Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules) has effect.

Manner of voting at Scottish parliamentary elections
     7.  - (1) This article applies to determine the manner of voting of a person entitled to vote as an elector at a Scottish parliamentary election.

    (2) He may vote in person at the polling station allotted to him under this Order, unless he is entitled as an elector to an absent vote at the election.

    (3) He may vote by post if he is entitled as an elector to vote by post at the election.

    (4) If he is entitled to vote by proxy at the election, he may so vote unless, before a ballot paper has been issued for him to vote by proxy, he applies at the polling station allotted to him under this Order for a ballot paper for the purposes of voting in person, in which case he may vote in person there.

    (5) If he is not entitled as an elector to an absent vote at the election but cannot reasonably be expected to go in person to the polling station allotted to him under this Order by reason of the particular circumstances of his employment, either as a constable or by a returning officer, on the date of the poll for a purpose connected with the election, he may vote in person at any polling station in the constituency.

    (6) For the purposes of the provisions of this Order a person entitled to vote as an elector at a Scottish parliamentary election is entitled as an elector to vote by post or entitled to vote by proxy at the election if he is shown in the absent voter list for the election as so entitled; and references in those provisions to entitlement as an elector to an absent vote at an election are references to an entitlement as an elector to vote by post or entitlement to vote by proxy at the election.

Absent vote at Scottish parliamentary elections for an indefinite period
     8.  - (1) Where a person applies to the registration officer to vote by post, or to vote by proxy, at Scottish parliamentary elections for an indefinite period, the registration officer shall grant the application (subject to paragraph (6) below) if - 

(a) he is satisfied that the applicant is eligible for an absent vote at Scottish parliamentary elections for an indefinite period;

(b) he is satisfied that the applicant is or will be registered in the register of electors; and

(c) the application meets the requirements set out in Schedule 3.

    (2) For the purposes of this article, a person is eligible for an absent vote at Scottish parliamentary elections for an indefinite period - 

(a) if he is or will be registered as a service voter;

(b) if he is no longer resident at his qualifying address or at any other address in the same area;

(c) if he cannot reasonably be expected - 


(i) to go in person to the polling station allotted or likely to be allotted to him under this Order; or

(ii) to vote unaided there,



by reason of blindness or other physical incapacity;

(d) if he cannot reasonably be expected to go in person to that polling station by reason of the general nature of his occupation, service or employment or that of his spouse; or

(e) if he cannot go in person from his qualifying address to that polling station without making a journey by air or sea.

    (3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), two addresses are in the same area only if both addresses are in the same electoral ward.

    (4) The registration officer shall keep a record of those whose applications under this article have been granted showing - 

(a) in the case of those who may vote by post, the addresses provided by them in their application as the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent; and

(b) in the case of those who may vote by proxy, the names and addresses of those appointed as their proxies.

    (5) The registration officer shall remove a person from the record kept under paragraph (4) above - 

(a) if he applies to the registration officer to be removed;

(b) in the case of any registered person, if he ceases to be registered or registered at the same qualifying address or ceases to be, or becomes, registered as a service voter; or

(c) if the registration officer gives notice that he has reason to believe there has been a material change of circumstances.

    (6) A person shown in the record kept under paragraph (4) as voting by post or, as the case may be, voting by proxy may subsequently alter his choice (subject to paragraph (7) below) on an application to the registration officer that meets the requirements set out in Schedule 3 and the registration officer shall amend the record accordingly.

    (7) A person applying to vote by post must provide an address in the United Kingdom as the address to which his ballot papers are to be sent.

Absent vote at a particular Scottish parliamentary election and absent voters list
     9.  - (1) Where a person applies to the registration officer to vote by post, or to vote by proxy, at a particular Scottish parliamentary election, the registration officer shall grant the application (subject to paragraph (4)) if - 

(a) he is satisfied that the applicant's circumstances on the date of the poll will be or are likely to be such that he cannot reasonably be expected to vote in person at the polling station allotted or likely to be allotted to him under this Order;

(b) he is satisfied that the applicant is or will be registered in the register; and

(c) the application meets the requirements set out in Schedule 3.

    (2) Paragraph (1) above does not apply to a person who is included in the record kept under article 8 but such a person may, in respect of a particular Scottish parliamentary election, apply to the registration officer - 

(i) for his ballot papers to be sent to a different address in the United Kingdom; or

(ii) to vote by proxy,



if he is shown in the record so kept as voting by post.

    (3) The registration officer shall grant an application under paragraph (2) above if it meets the requirements set out in Schedule 3.

    (4) Subject to paragraph (2) above, the registration officer shall, in respect of each Scottish parliamentary election, keep a special list ("the absent voters list") consisting of - 

(a) a list of - 


(i) those who are for the time being shown in the record kept under article 8 as voting by post (excluding those so shown whose applications under paragraph (2) above to vote by proxy at the election have been granted), together with the addresses provided by them in their applications under article 8 or, as the case may be, paragraph (2) above as the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent; and

(ii) those whose applications under paragraph (1) above to vote by post at the election have been granted, together with the addresses provided by them in their applications as the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent; and



(b) a list ("the list of proxies") of those who are for the time being shown in the record kept under article 8 as voting by proxy or whose applications under this article to vote by proxy at the election have been granted, together with the names and addresses of those appointed as their proxies.

    (5) A person applying to vote by post must provide an address in the United Kingdom as the address to which his ballot papers are to be sent.

Proxies at Scottish parliamentary elections
     10.  - (1) Subject to the provisions of this article, any person is capable of being appointed proxy to vote for another (in this article and article 11 referred to as "the elector") at any Scottish parliamentary election and may vote in pursuance of the appointment.

    (2) The elector cannot have more than one person at a time appointed as proxy to vote for him at Scottish parliamentary elections.

    (3) A person is not capable of being appointed to vote, or voting, as proxy at a Scottish parliamentary election - 

(a) if he is subject to any legal incapacity (age apart) to vote at that election as an elector; or

(b) if he is neither a Commonwealth citizen nor a citizen of the Republic of Ireland nor a relevant citizen of the Union.

    (4) A person is not capable of voting as proxy at a Scottish parliamentary election unless on the date of the poll he has attained the age of eighteen.

    (5) A person is not entitled to vote as proxy in any constituency at the same Scottish parliamentary election on behalf of more than two electors of whom that person is not the husband, wife, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild.

    (6) Where the elector applies to the registration officer for the appointment of a proxy to vote for him at Scottish parliamentary elections for an indefinite period, the registration officer shall make the appointment if the application meets the requirements set out in Schedule 3 and he is satisfied that the elector is or will be - 

(a) registered in the register of electors for that election; and

(b) shown in the record kept under article 8 as voting by proxy at such elections,

and that the proxy is capable of being and willing to be appointed to vote as proxy at such elections.

    (7) Where the elector applies to the registration officer for the appointment of a proxy to vote for him at a particular Scottish parliamentary election, the registration officer shall make the appointment if the application meets the requirements set out in Schedule 3 and he is satisfied that the elector is or will be - 

(a) registered in the register of electors for that election; and

(b) entitled to vote by proxy at that election by virtue of an application under article 9,

and that the proxy is capable of being and willing to be appointed.

    (8) The appointment of a proxy under this article is to be made by means of a proxy paper issued by the registration officer.

    (9) The appointment may be cancelled by the elector by giving notice to the registration officer and shall also cease to be in force, where the appointment related to a Scottish parliamentary election or Scottish parliamentary elections, on the issue of a proxy paper appointing a different person to vote for him at a Scottish parliamentary election or Scottish parliamentary elections (whether in the same Scottish parliamentary constituency or elsewhere).

    (10) Subject to paragraph (9) above, the appointment shall remain in force - 

(a) in the case of an appointment for a particular election, for that election; and

(b) in any other case, while the elector is shown as voting by proxy in the record kept under article 8 in pursuance of the same application under that article.

Voting as proxy
     11.  - (1) A person entitled to vote as proxy at a Scottish parliamentary election may do so in person at the polling station allotted to the elector under this Order unless he is entitled to vote by post as proxy for the elector at the election, in which case he may vote by post.

    (2) Where a person is entitled to vote by post as proxy for the elector at any election, the elector may not apply for a ballot paper for the purpose of voting in person at the election.

    (3) For the purposes of this Order, a person entitled to vote as proxy for another at a Scottish parliamentary election is entitled so to vote by post if he is included in the list kept under paragraph (9) below in respect of the election.

    (4) Where a person applies to the registration officer to vote by post as proxy at Scottish parliamentary elections for an indefinite period, the registration officer shall (subject to paragraphs (10) and (12) below) grant the application if - 

(a) the applicant is included in any record kept under article 8 in respect of a constituency for the whole or any part of which the registration officer acts; or

(b) the address provided by the applicant in his application as the address to which his ballot papers are to be sent is not in the same area as the elector's qualifying address,

and the application meets the requirements set out in Schedule 3.

    (5) For the purposes of this article, two addresses are in the same area only if both addresses are in the same electoral ward.

    (6) The registration officer shall keep a record of those whose applications under paragraph (4) have been granted showing the addresses provided by them in their applications as the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent.

    (7) Where a person applies to the registration officer to vote by post as proxy at a particular election and the application meets the requirements set out in Schedule 3, the registration officer shall (subject to paragraphs (10) and (12) below) grant the application if - 

(a) he is satisfied that the applicant's circumstances on the date of the poll will be or are likely to be such that he cannot reasonably be expected to vote in person at the polling station allotted or likely to be allotted to the elector under this Order; or

(b) the applicant is, or the registration officer is satisfied that he will be, included in respect of the constituency for the whole or any part of which the registration officer acts in any of the absent voters lists for that election.

    (8) Where, in the case of a particular election, a person included in the record kept under paragraph (6) above applies to the registration officer for his ballot papers to be sent to a different address in the United Kingdom, the registration officer shall grant the application if it meets the requirements set out in Schedule 3.

    (9) The registration officer shall, in respect of each Scottish parliamentary election, keep a special list of - 

(a) those who are for the time being included in the record kept under paragraph (6) above, together with the addresses provided by them in their applications under that paragraph or, as the case may be, paragraph (8) above as the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent; and

(b) those whose applications under paragraph (7) above have been granted in respect of the election concerned, together with the addresses provided by them in their applications as the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent,

and shall forthwith supply to the constituency returning officer a copy of that list on completion of the compilation of it.

    (10) The registration officer shall not grant any application under this article unless - 

(a) he is satisfied that the elector is or will be registered in the register of electors; and

(b) there is in force an appointment of the applicant as the elector's proxy to vote for him at Scottish parliamentary elections or, as the case may be, the election concerned.

    (11) The registration officer shall remove a person from the record kept under paragraph (6) above - 

(a) if he applies to the registration officer to be removed;

(b) where he was included in the record on the ground mentioned in paragraph (4)(a) above, if he ceases to be included in any record kept under article 8 above in respect of a Scottish Parliamentary constituency for the whole or any part of which the registration officer acts or becomes so included in pursuance of a further application under that article;

(c) if the elector ceases to be registered as mentioned in paragraph(10)(a) above; or

(d) if the appointment of the person concerned as the elector's proxy ceases to be in force (whether or not he is re-appointed).

    (12) A person applying to vote by post as proxy must provide an address in the United Kingdom as the address to which his ballot papers are to be sent.

Absent voting at elections: miscellaneous
     12.  - (1) Section 59 of the 1983 Act (supplemental provisions as to members of forces and service voters) shall apply for the purposes of a Scottish parliamentary election subject to the following modification) - 

(a) in subsection (3)(a), "this Act" shall be construed as including a reference to this Order in connection with the rights conferred by this Order on a person having a service qualification by virtue of section 14(1)(a) or (b) of that Act in relation to the making and cancellation of appointments of a proxy and in relation to voting by post; and

(b) in subsection (3)(b), "this Act and any regulations made under it" shall be similarly construed.

    (2) Schedule 3 (which makes provision in connection with absent voting at Scottish parliamentary elections) has effect.

    (3) Schedule 4 (which makes provision in connection with the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers) has effect.

Combination of polls
     13.  - (1) Where the polls at a Scottish parliamentary general election and an ordinary local government election, are to be taken on the same date, they shall be taken together.

    (2) Where the polls at a Scottish parliamentary election and another election for related areas are to be taken on the same date but are not required by paragraph (1) to be taken together, they may nevertheless may be so taken if the returning officer for each election thinks fit.

    (3) In paragraph (2) the reference to another election means a local government election; and for the purposes of that paragraph two areas are related if one is coterminous with or situated wholly or partly within the other.

    (4) Where the polls at a Scottish parliamentary election and a local government election are combined under this article the cost of taking the combined polls (excluding any cost solely attributable to one election) and any cost attributable to their combination shall be apportioned in such proportions as the Secretary of State may determine.

    (5) Schedule 5 (which makes provision about the combination of polls) has effect.

Constituency returning officers
     14.  - (1) The constituency returning officer for a Scottish parliamentary election in a constituency other than the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands shall be the person who under section 25 of the 1983 Act (returning officers: Scotland) is, the returning officer for parliamentary elections in that parliamentary constituency.

    (2) The constituency returning officer for a Scottish parliamentary election in the Orkney Islands shall be the person who, under section 41 of the 1983 Act (local government elections in Scotland) is, or may discharge the functions of, the returning officer at elections of councillors for the Orkney Islands Council.

    (3) The constituency returning officer for a Scottish parliamentary election in the Shetland Islands shall be the person who, under section 41 of the 1983 Act (local government elections in Scotland) is, or may discharge the functions of, the returning officer at elections of councillors for the Shetland Islands Council.

Officers of councils to be placed at disposal of returning officers
     15.  - (1) Every local authority in Scotland shall place at the disposal of the constituency returning officer for a constituency wholly or partly situated in their area, for the purpose of assisting the constituency returning officer in the discharge of any functions conferred on him in relation to a Scottish parliamentary election the services of officers employed by the authority.

    (2) Every local authority in Scotland shall place at the disposal of the regional returning officer for a region wholly or partly situated in their area, for the purpose of assisting the regional returning officer in the discharge of any function conferred on him in relation to a Scottish parliamentary election the services of officers employed by the authority.

Returning officers: discharge of functions
     16.  - (1) A returning officer at a Scottish parliamentary election may, in writing, appoint one or more persons to discharge all or any of his functions.

    (2) Except in the case of an election to fill a vacancy in the seat of a constituency member, it shall be the duty of each regional returning officer and each constituency returning officer for a Scottish parliamentary constituency within that region to co-operate with each other in the discharge of their functions.

    (3) The duty imposed by paragraph (2) above applies as between constituency returning officers in any region as well as between such officers and the regional returning officer for that region.

Returning officers: general
     17.  - (1) A Scottish parliamentary election is not liable to be questioned by reason of a defect in the title, or want of title, of the person presiding at or conducting the election, if that person was then in actual possession of, or acting in, the office giving the right to preside or conduct the election.

    (2) A person is not subject to any incapacity to vote at a Scottish parliamentary election by reason of being or acting as a constituency returning officer or a regional returning officer at that election.

Payments by and to returning officers
     18. Section 29 of the 1983 Act shall apply for the purposes of a Scottish parliamentary election subject to the following modifications: - 

(a) any reference to a parliamentary election shall be construed as a reference to an election for membership of the Scottish Parliament;

(b) any reference to a returning officer shall be construed as a reference to a constituency returning officer and a regional returning officer;

(c) subsections (1) and (2) shall be omitted;

(d) the reference in subsection (5) to "section 30 below" shall be construed as a reference to article 19;

(e) in subsection (8), for "Regulations may" substitute "The Secretary of State may by regulations"; and

(f) after subsection (8) there shall be inserted - 

    " (8A) Any order made under subsection (3) above and any regulations made under subsection (8) above may make different provision in relation to different cases or in relation to different classes of case.".

Taxation of returning officer's accounts
     19.  - (1) An application for the accounts to be taxed shall be made to the Auditor of the Court of Session.

    (2) On any such application the Auditor has jurisdiction to tax the account in such manner and at such time and place as he thinks fit, and finally to determine the amount payable to the constituency returning officer or, as the case may be, regional returning officer.

    (3) On any such application the returning officer may apply to the Auditor to examine any claim made by any person against him in respect of matters charged in the account; and the Auditor, after notice given to the claimant and after giving him an opportunity to be heard and to tender any evidence, may allow or disallow or reduce the claim objected to with or without costs; and the determination of the Auditor shall be final for all purposes and against all persons.

Loan of equipment for Scottish parliamentary elections
     20.  - (1) Any ballot boxes, fittings and compartments provided for parliamentary elections out of money provided by Parliament, may, on request, be lent to a constituency returning officer at a Scottish parliamentary election on such terms and conditions as the Secretary of State may determine.

    (2) Any ballot boxes, fittings and compartments provided by or belonging to a local authority shall, on request, and if not required for immediate use by that authority, be lent to a constituency returning officer at a Scottish parliamentary election on such terms and conditions as may be agreed.

Effect of registers
     21.  - (1) The register of electors shall for the purposes of this Part be conclusive on the following questions - 

(a) whether or not a person registered in it was on the qualifying date resident at the address shown; and

(b) whether or not that address is in any local government area or any particular part of a local government area.

    (2) Any entry in the register of local government electors, if it gives a date as that on which the person named will attain voting age, shall for any purpose of this Part relating to him as elector be conclusive that until the date given in the entry he is not of voting age nor entitled to be treated as an elector except for the purposes of a Scottish parliamentary election at which the date fixed for the poll is that or a later date.

    (3) A person registered as a local government elector, or entered in the list of proxies, shall not be excluded from voting at a Scottish parliamentary election on any of the grounds set out in paragraph (4) below; but this shall not prevent the rejection of the vote on a scrutiny, or affect his liability to any penalty for voting.

    (4) The grounds referred to in paragraph (3) above are - 

(a) that he is not of voting age;

(b) that he is not, or, on the qualifying date or the date of his appointment (as the case may be); was not - 


(i) a Commonwealth citizen;

(ii) a citizen of the Republic of Ireland,

(iii) a relevant citizen of the Union;



(c) that he is, or, on the qualifying date or the date of his appointment (as the case may be), was, otherwise subject to any other legal incapacity to vote.

Effect of misdescription
     22. No misnomer or inaccurate description of any person or place named - 

(a) in the register of electors; or

(b) in any list, record, proxy paper, nomination paper, ballot paper, notice or other document required for the purposes of this Order,

affects the full operation of the document with respect to that person or place in any case where the description of the person or place is such as to be commonly understood.

Discharge of registration duties
     23.  - (1) A registration officer shall comply with any general or specific directions which may be given by the Secretary of State with respect to the arrangements to be made by the registration officer in carrying out his functions under this Order.

    (2) Any of the duties and powers of a registration officer under this Order may be performed and exercised by any deputy for the time being approved by the local authority which appointed the registration officer, and the provisions of this Order apply to any such deputy so far as respects any duties or powers to be performed or exercised by him as they apply to the registration officer.

    (3) It shall in the duty of each local authority to assign such officers to assist the registration officer appointed by that authority as may be required for carrying out his functions under this Order.

[2] 1983 c.2back

[3] 1985 c.50back

[4] S.I. 1986/1111back

[5] 1973 c.65back

[6] 1998 c.48back