Election By Numbers

With a week to go to the local council elections on Thursday 3 May the Returning Officer and his team have printed 66,000 ballot papers, issued 8,253 postal ballot packs and trained 181 polling station staff to ensure the 65,311 voters in the Stirling Council area 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.  Bob Jack, Returning Officer for Stirling 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.”

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 3 May by reading the booklet we sent to every house. If you have mislaid it you can visit the About my vote website or call 0800 3280 280.”