Referendums (Scotland) Act 2020

Information, guidance, advice and encouragement S

25 Information for voters S

(1) The Electoral Commission must take such steps as they consider appropriate to promote public awareness and understanding in Scotland about—

(a) the referendum,

(b) the referendum question, and

(c) voting in the referendum.

(2) Each Scottish public authority must take such steps as it considers appropriate to—

(a) encourage people entitled to vote in the referendum to register to vote,

(b) promote public awareness and understanding in Scotland about—

(i) registering to vote,

(ii) the manner of voting, including how and when to vote, and

(iii) any such other matter about voting in the referendum as it considers appropriate.

26 Guidance S

(1) The Electoral Commission may issue guidance to the Chief Counting Officer about the exercise of the Chief Counting Officer's functions under this Act.

(2) The Chief Counting Officer may issue guidance to counting officers and registration officers about the exercise of their respective functions under this Act.

(3) The Electoral Commission may, with the consent of the Chief Counting Officer, issue guidance to counting officers about the exercise of their functions under this Act.

(4) The Electoral Commission may issue guidance to permitted participants and persons who may become permitted participants about the provisions set out in schedule 3 of this Act.

(5) Guidance issued under subsection (4) must include information on what may constitute a common plan or other arrangement for the purposes of paragraph 21 of schedule 3.

27 Advice S

The Electoral Commission may, if asked to do so by any person, provide the person with advice about—

(a) the application of this Act,

(b) any other matter relating to the referendum.

28 Encouraging participation S

(1) The Chief Counting Officer must take whatever steps the Chief Counting Officer considers appropriate to—

(a) encourage participation in the referendum, and

(b) facilitate co-operation among officers taking steps under this section.

(2) A counting officer must take whatever steps the counting officer considers appropriate to encourage participation in the referendum in the local government area for which the officer is appointed.

(3) A registration officer must take whatever steps the registration officer considers appropriate to encourage participation in the referendum in the area for which the officer acts.