Registered electors can: a) Vote in person at their allocated polling station b) Apply to vote by post in all elections, one election or for a specific period c) Appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf.

See following questions and answers for more information on these options.

 

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The name and address of the polling station will be printed on your poll card which will be issued before each election. Most council websites will list the polling places for each area. Contact your local council to check. The "contacts" link below will take you to a page with Local Council Website links.

contacts 

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Any elector can vote by this option. You need to complete and sign your own application form and provide your date of birth. Your signature and date of birth are kept on file and these personal identifiers have to be provided on a Security Statement sent with your ballot papers at each election. If they do not match your vote will not be valid. An application to vote by post can be downloaded by clicking the "Downloadable Electoral Forms" link below.

Downloadable Electoral Forms 

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To appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf in all elections you need to be unable to vote in person because of either an employment reason, attendance at an educational course or have health impairment Separate forms are available elsewhere on the website for each reason and all require verification by a relevant person. To appoint a proxy for one election only, you require a relevant reason why you cannot attend the polling station on polling date or vote by post. A one election proxy vote application form is also available on the website. All proxy vote application forms can be downloaded by clicking the "Downloadable Electoral Forms" link below.

Downloadable Electoral Forms 

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You can apply at any time but the closing date & time for postal votes to be received in time for an election is 5pm 11 working days before polling day Cancellations and changes from postal to proxy or proxy to postal must also be received by this time. New applications to vote by proxy for an election must be received by 5pm 6 working days before polling day. As a signed form containing date of birth and signature is a legal requirement only approved forms received by post, fax, scanned e-mail attachment or hand delivered before the deadline can be accepted. All proxy vote application forms can be downloaded by clicking the "Downloadable Electoral Forms" link below.

Downloadable Electoral Forms 

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As the closing date for applications and changes to existing arrangements is 5pm 11 working days before polling day ballot papers CANNOT be posted before 10 working days prior to polling day. Normally they are posted 8 or 9 days before therefore it is your responsibility to ensure you are able to receive, sign and return the ballot paper(s) and security statement before close of poll.

 

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You can agree to vote as proxy to any close relative- spouse or civil partner, parent, child, brother, sister, grandchild or grandparent. You can only agree to vote as a proxy for two people to whom you are not related as a close relative as listed above. Proxy electors can chose to vote by post if they do not want to go to the elector’s polling station. Contact the ERO for the relevant form or download an application to vote by post by cliking the "Downloadable Electoral Forms" link below.

Downloadable Electoral Forms 

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Check your council website for elected representatives. Remember each Electoral Ward has 3 or 4 elected councillors. You also have 8 MSP’s for each area, one directly elected and 7 others elected from the regional list. The "contacts" link below will take you to a page with Local Council Website links.

contacts 

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Yes, provided you are registered to vote. A polling card is only issued to advise electors of an election and their polling place. If you haven’t received a poll card contact the ERO as soon as possible to check that you are correctly registered to vote. Click on the "contacts" link below for contact information.

contacts 

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An emergency proxy vote is the only option available to electors who find out after 6 working days before polling day that they have a medical emergency which prevents them voting in person on polling day. Contact the ERO for an Emergency Proxy Vote as soon as possible within that 6 working day period. Only fully completed and verified forms received before 5pm on polling day can be accepted. Click on the "contacts" link below for contact information.

contacts 

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