Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013

Preparation of the Polling List

18 (1) Each registration officer must prepare, in accordance with this paragraph, a list merging all of the entries contained in—

(a) the register of local government electors for the registration officer’s area, and

(b) the register of young voters for that area.

(2) The list is referred to in this Act as the “Polling List”.

(3) The entries in the Polling List must be arranged in such a way that it is not possible from reading the List to distinguish between those entries that are drawn from the register of local government electors, on the one hand, and those drawn from the register of young voters on the other.

(4) Each entry in the Polling List is to contain the same information as the entry in the register from which it is drawn, except that any dates of birth are to be omitted.

(5) No person to whom this sub-paragraph applies may—

(a) supply to any person a copy of the Polling List, or

(b) disclose any information contained in the List (that is not also contained in the edited version of the register of local government electors),

otherwise than in accordance with this Act.

(6) Sub-paragraph (5) applies to—

(a) a registration officer, and

(b) any person appointed to assist a registration officer, or who in the course of the person’s employment is assigned to assist a registration officer, in the officer’s registration functions.

(7) Nothing in sub-paragraph (5) applies to the supply or disclosure by a person to whom that sub-paragraph applies to another such person in the connection with the person’s registration functions for the purposes of the referendum.

(8) The registration officer must ensure that the Polling List is securely destroyed no later than one year after the date of the referendum, unless otherwise directed by an order of the Court of Session or a sheriff principal.