Paragraph 30 The official mark

Every ballot paper shall bear an appropriate security marking (the official mark), but at a Scottish parliamentary general election, if the constituency ballot paper and regional ballot paper are printed on the same sheet, an official mark on that sheet shall be deemed to be the official mark in respect of each ballot paper.

The official mark shall be kept secret, and an interval of not less than seven years shall intervene before the same official mark may be used again at a poll for a Scottish parliamentary election held in that constituency.

The constituency returning officer shall determine the official mark or marks to be used for ballot papers at an election and may use a different official mark for different purposes at the same election.