The Scottish Local Government Elections Rules 2002

Voting procedure

30.—(1) A ballot paper shall be delivered to a voter who applies for one, and immediately before delivery–

(a) the ballot paper shall be stamped with the official mark;

(b) the number, name and address of the elector as stated in the copy of the register of electors shall be called out;

(c) the number of the elector shall be marked on the counterfoil;

(d) a mark shall be placed in the register of electors against the number of the elector to denote that a ballot paper has been received but without showing the particular ballot paper which has been received; and

(e) in the case of a person applying for a ballot paper as proxy, a mark shall be placed against such person’s name in the list of proxies.

(2) The voter, on receiving the ballot paper, shall forthwith proceed into one of the compartments in the polling station and there secretly mark such paper and fold it up so as to conceal the vote, and shall then show to the presiding officer the back of the paper, so as to disclose the official mark, and put the ballot paper so folded up into the ballot box in the presiding officer’s presence.

(3) The voter shall vote without undue delay, and shall leave the polling station as soon as the voter has put the ballot paper into the ballot box.