{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/scottish-local-government-elections-order-2011/schedule-1/rule-14",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/scottish-local-government-elections-order-2011/schedule-1/rule-14.json",
  "legislation": "ssi/2011/399",
  "legislation_title": "The Scottish Local Government Elections Order 2011",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/scottish-local-government-elections-order-2011",
  "path": "schedule/1/rule/14",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "14",
  "heading": "The ballot papers",
  "text": "(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.\n(2) Every ballot paper shall be in the form set out in Form 4 or a form to the like effect and shall be printed in accordance with the directions in Form 5, and in accordance with sub‑paragraphs (a) to (e)—\n(a) the ballot paper shall contain the names... and descriptions (if any) of the candidates as shown in their respective nomination papers and arranged alphabetically in the order of their surnames;\n(aa) where the candidate has made and signed a statement on the home address form that they require their home address to be made public in accordance with rule 4(11)(a), the candidate’s home address;\n(ab) where the candidate has not made and signed a statement on the home address form that they require their home address to be made public in accordance with rule 4(11)(a), the relevant area in which the candidate’s home address is located as indicated on the home address form or, as the case may be, the country in which the candidate’s home address is located (for the definition of relevant area, see rule 4(12));\n(b) where a commonly used surname or forename is stated by a candidate on that candidate’s nomination paper in accordance with rule 4(3), the commonly used surname or forename (instead of any other name) shall, subject to paragraphs (7) and (8), appear on the ballot paper;\n(c) if there are two or more candidates with the same surname, they shall be arranged alphabetically in the order of their other names;\n(d) 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, the ballot paper shall also, if so required by the candidate, give such candidate’s present names and current address; and\n(e) the ballot paper shall have a letter or letters, number or numbers or combination of letter and number or letters and numbers and other unique identifying mark printed on the back.\n(3) If a candidate who is the subject of a registered political party’s authorisation under rule 4(5) or (6) 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).\n(4) If a candidate who is the subject of an authorisation under rule 4(7) so requests, the ballot paper shall contain, against the candidate’s particulars, the registered emblem (or, as the case may be, one of the registered emblems) of one of those parties.\n(5) The request referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4) must—\n(a) be made in writing to the returning officer; and\n(b) be received by the returning officer before the last time for the delivery of nomination papers set out in the timetable in rule 1.\n(6) For the purposes of paragraph (5), 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.\n(7) Where the returning officer thinks—\n(a) that showing a candidate’s commonly used name on the ballot paper is likely to mislead or confuse electors; or\n(b) that the commonly used name is obscene or offensive,\nthe returning officer may refuse to show the commonly used name on the ballot paper.\n(8) Where paragraph (7) applies, the returning officer shall give notice in writing to the candidate of the returning officer’s reasons for refusing to allow the commonly used name to be shown on the ballot paper.",
  "extent": "S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 14(2)(a) omitted (9.9.2020) by virtue of The Scottish Local Government Elections Amendment Order 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/239), arts. 1(1), 8(a) (with art. 1(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Sch. 1 rule 14(2)(aa), (ab) inserted (9.9.2020) by The Scottish Local Government Elections Amendment Order 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/239), arts. 1(1), 8(b) (with art. 1(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in sch. 1 rule 14(2)(ab) inserted (1.10.2025) by Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 (asp 4), ss. 36(2)(c), 73(2); S.S.I. 2025/106, reg. 2(1)(c), sch. Pt. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Sch. 1 rule 14 in force at 10.11.2011 except for the purposes of any election to be held on or before 2.5.2012, see art. 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/399/schedule/1/rule/14",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T21:47:08.568170+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}