Paragraph 38 Equipment of polling stations

(1)

The constituency returning officer shall provide each presiding officer with such number of ballot boxes and ballot papers as in the constituency returning officer’s opinion may be necessary. At a Scottish parliamentary general election, separate ballot boxes will be provided for the constituency ballot papers and for the regional ballot papers.

(2)

Every ballot box shall be so constructed that the ballot papers can be put in it, but cannot be withdrawn from it, without the box being opened.

(3)

The constituency returning officer shall provide each polling station with–

(a)

materials to enable voters to mark the ballot papers;

(b)

instruments for stamping on them the official mark;

(c)

copies of the register of electors or such part of it as contains the names of electors allotted to the station;

(d)

the parts of any special lists prepared for the election corresponding to the register of electors or the part of it provided under sub-paragraph (c) above;

(e)

copies of forms and declarations and other documents required for the purpose of the poll.

(4)

The constituency returning officer shall also provide each polling station with–

(a)

at least one large version of the constituency and regional ballot papers which shall be displayed inside the polling station for the assistance of voters who are partially-sighted; and

(b)

a device of the description set out in paragraphs (5) to (10) below, for enabling voters who are blind or partially-sighted to vote without any need for assistance from the presiding officer or any companion (within the meaning of rule 48(1)).

(5)

The device referred to in paragraph (4)(b) above shall be such that–

(a)

it satisfies the conditions in paragraphs (6) to (10) below;

(b)

a ballot paper can–

(i)

be inserted into, and removed from, it; or

(ii)

be attached to, and detached from, it; and

(c)

the ballot paper will remain firmly in place once inserted into, or attached to, the device.

(6)

There shall be sufficient space to allow the particulars of each candidate and, where appropriate, registered party named on the ballot paper to be clearly shown.

(7)

There shall be a separate hole in the device for each candidate and, where appropriate, registered party, named on the ballot paper.

(8)

Each hole in the device shall be of equal size.

(9)

Each hole shall be positioned to frame the space to the right of the particulars of the candidate or registered party (as the case may be) on which the vote may be marked (“the relevant space”).

(10)

Each hole shall be sufficiently large to allow a voter to mark a cross in the relevant space on the ballot paper.

(11)

A notice in the form O set out in the Appendix, giving directions for the guidance of the voters in voting, shall be printed in conspicuous characters and exhibited inside and outside every polling station.

(12)

At a Scottish parliamentary general election, a notice in the form P set out in the Appendix, giving information to voters shall be printed and exhibited either inside or outside every polling station and may be exhibited both inside and outside any polling station.

(13)

In every compartment of every polling station there shall be exhibited the notice–

“Vote once only on each ballot paper by marking a X. Put no other mark on each ballot paper issued or your vote may not be counted.”

(14)

In the case of a poll to fill a vacancy in the seat of a constituency member, the references in paragraph (13) above and in form O to “each ballot paper” shall be construed as references to “the ballot paper”.

(15)

The statements required by rules 19 and (except in the case of a poll to fill a vacancy in the seat of a constituency member) 20 above shall be printed in conspicuous characters and exhibited inside or outside every polling station and may be exhibited both inside and outside any polling station.