The Scottish Local Government Elections Rules 2002

The ballot papers

13.—(1) The ballot of every voter shall consist of a ballot paper and the persons remaining validly nominated for the electoral ward after any withdrawals under these Rules, and no other persons, shall be entitled to have their names inserted in the ballot paper.

(2) Every ballot paper shall be in the form in the Appendix to this Schedule, and shall be printed in accordance with the directions in that Appendix, and–

(a) shall contain the names, addresses and descriptions (if any) of the candidates as shown in their respective nomination papers and arranged alphabetically in the order of their surnames and, if there are two or more candidates with the same surname, of their other names; and (where a candidate is qualified as a registered local government elector and any of such candidate’s names or such candidate’s address has been changed between the qualifying date for the register and the last day for the submission of nomination papers) shall also, if so required by the candidate, give such candidate’s present names and current address;

(b) shall be capable of being folded up;

(c) shall have a letter or letters, number or numbers or combination of letter and number or letters and numbers printed on the back; and

(d) shall have attached a counterfoil with the same letter or letters, number or numbers or combination printed on it either on the back or front of the counterfoil.

(3) If a candidate who is the subject of a party’s authorisation under rule 4(4) above so requests, the ballot paper shall contain, against the candidate’s particulars, the party’s registered emblem (or, as the case may be, one of the party’s registered emblems).

(4) The request referred to in paragraph (3) above must–

(a) be made in writing to the returning officer; and

(b) be received by the returning officer before the last time for the delivery of nomination papers set out in the table in rule 1 above.

(5) For the purposes of the last foregoing paragraph, the first valid nomination paper delivered at the place appointed for the delivery of nomination papers in respect of a candidate shall be deemed to be the nomination paper of that candidate.