Published on:
24
April 2012
With less than a week to go to the Clackmannanshire Council elections on 3rd May the Returning Officer and her team have printed 46,100 ballot papers; issued over 4400 postal ballot packs and trained 108 polling station staff to ensure the 37,687 voters in Clackmannanshire can cast their vote. And they are reminding voters that they will need to vote by numbers to make sure their vote counts.
The council elections use a form of voting called Single Transferable Vote where voters number candidates in order of choice. They mark a 1 by their first choice candidate, a 2 by their second, a 3 by their third and so on.
Voters do not need to number all the candidates if they don't want to, but they will need to number at least one for their vote to count. Elaine McPherson, Returning Officer for Clackmannanshire Council said: "This year we are voting with numbers instead of using an X. It's important to take the time to read the ballot paper instructions carefully so you can be sure you have completed your ballot paper properly."
Voters in Clackmannanshire will elect a total of 18 councillors to five wards.
The independent Electoral Commission has sent a voter information booklet to all homes in Scotland. Andy O'Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission's Scotland Office said: "It's your vote and we don't want you to lose it by not filling in the ballot paper correctly. Make sure your vote counts on 3rd May by reading the booklet we sent to every house. If you have mislaid it you can visit www.aboutmyvote,co.uk or call 0800 3 280 280"