The Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) (Amendment) Order 2008

Amendment of paragraph 1 of Schedule 3

9.—(1) Paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 (general requirements for applications for an absent vote) is amended as follows.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1) omit the “and” preceding paragraph (e) and after paragraph (e) insert–

“(f) in the case of a person who is unable to provide a signature, the reasons for his request for waiver of any requirement under article 9, 10, 11 or 12 to provide a signature and the name and address of any person who has assisted him to complete his application, and

(g) where the applicant has, or has applied for, an anonymous entry, that fact,”.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1) for “signed by the applicant ” substitute “dated”.

(4) After sub-paragraph (1) insert–

“(1A) Where an application is required to contain a signature and date of birth, the information must be set out in a manner that is sufficiently clear and unambiguous as to be capable of electronic scanning by configuring the information as follows–

(a) the signature shall appear against a background of white unlined paper at least five centimetres long and two centimetres high; and

(b) the applicant’s date of birth shall be set out numerically configured in the sequence of date, month and year, namely [d][d][m][m][y][y][y][y].

(1B) Where the application contains a request that the registration officer waive the requirement for a signature, sub-paragraph (1A)(a) shall not apply.”.