Topics • Who’s who Scottish Parliamentary Election • election timetable • public health principles in light of coronavirus 6th May, 2021 • the Electoral Register • campaigning • postal votes Arrangements • polling day • counting of votes • candidate spending Candidates and Agents Briefing • integrity • contacts

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Who’s who • The Depute Returning Officers (DROs) in Fife Who’s who • The Constituency Returning Officer, Steve (cont.). for this election will be:- Grimmond, is responsible for the constituency election and managing polling stations in Fife. • Morag Ferguson and Mike Melville (overall management of election) • The Regional Returning Officer, Steve • Emma Whyte (postal votes) Grimmond, is responsible for the regional election and the allocation of regional • Elections Lead Officer is Gillian Prestage seats. • The Electoral Registration Officer, Morag All contact details at end of presentation. Ferguson is responsible for maintaining the register of electors and absent voters’ lists in Fife.

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1 Election Deadline for new postal and postal 5pm – Tuesday 6 April Election Polling day 6 May – 7am to 10pm proxy applications/changes to postal 2021 Timetable or proxy votes Timetable Deadline to apply for an emergency 5pm – 6 May 2021 proxy Deadline for applications to register Midnight – Monday 19 to vote April 2021 (cont’d) Replacement for spoilt/lost postal 10pm – 6 May 2021 votes ends Deadline for cancelling existing Tuesday 20 April 2021 postal or proxy votes Alterations to register to correct 9pm – 5 May 2021 clerical error Deadline for applications for new 5pm – Tuesday 27 proxy votes April 2021 Return of spending returns to the + 35 calendar days CRO by constituency candidates from result Appointment of counting and polling Wednesday 28 April Return of spending returns to the agents (not postal proxies or 2021 RRO by individual regional emergency proxies) candidates and declarations of Appointment of sub agents Tuesday 4 May 2021 personal expenses by party list candidates

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Staying safe – General public health principles that Staying safe – No-one should attend any electoral events if Covid everyone should follow in all aspects of Covid they are considerations daily life, including participating in elections: considerations – unwell, symptomatic with COVID-19, – Maintain physical distancing – a confirmed case or – Clean hands regularly – a confirmed contact of someone who is – Avoid touching your face self-isolating – Wear a face covering where necessary

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2 Electorate / Contest Electorate Postal Access to the On written request. Votes Postal Votes electoral • Constituency and individual regional (First Interim Cowdenbeath 55,681 11,327 register / candidates are entitled to a free copy of Election Notice 61,406 13,465 lists of absent the full register and lists of absent voters of Alteration) 60,398 13,047 voters • Election agent for the party list (not the candidates) is entitled to a copy of the full Mid Fife & 54,022 11,056 register and the lists of absent voters North East Fife 57,254 12,651 Make written request to the relevant ERO(s) Fife Total 288,761 61,546

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Access to the • Only use data for permitted purposes! Registration • Candidates are uniquely placed to electoral encourage people to register to vote. register / – to help you campaign • You should encourage people to register lists of absent – to check that donations/loans are as soon as possible. voters permissible • The deadline for applying for the election is 19 April 2021. • Individuals can register online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. It only takes a few minutes.

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3 Registration • When discussing registering to vote with Absent voting • Postal Vote deadline is 5 p.m. tonight individuals, you will need to make them (Tuesday 6 April) Any elector registering aware that they will need: after this date will not be able to apply for – their National Insurance number, a postal vote for this election. – date of birth and address to register. • If you are encouraging people who don’t have a proxy vote to apply for one, make sure you explain that they will only qualify • People who do not have or cannot find for one if they are (or will be) registered in their National Insurance Number can still time to vote at the elections. register, but they may need to provide further information. If so, they will be • The deadline for a new application is contacted by the ERO. Tuesday 27 April

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Campaigning • CAMPAIGNING NOT ABLE TO START ON 5 APRIL Campaigning • Do use imprints on all your campaign AS HAD BEEN HOPED dos and don’ts material, including websites. • Campaigning at this point in time is therefore not considered essential or necessary activity. However, • Do comply with planning rules relating to you can continue to send voters campaigning advertising hoardings and large banners. information remotely • Do make sure outdoor posters are • Any changes to this position are to be determined and removed 2 weeks after the election. communicated by the Scottish Government. • Do not produce material that looks like a • You should continue to check the latest government poll card. guidelines on national and local restrictions, and be aware that different restrictions could apply to different • Do not pay people to display your adverts parts of the electoral area (unless they display adverts as part of their normal business).

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4 Code of • Campaigners are an essential element of a healthy Code of • Postal ballot packs: democracy, but their activities should not bring into – Never touch a postal ballot paper question the integrity of the electoral process. conduct for conduct for – Never observe electors completing their postal vote. campaigners campaigners – Never handle or take any completed ballot paper or • Electoral registration and absent vote applications: postal ballot pack from voters – Ensure forms fully confirm to the requirements of electoral law – Include the ERO’s address for the return of forms • Campaigning outside polling stations: – Ensure unaltered applications are sent to ERO within two – You are allowed to put your messages to voters on working days. polling day, including public spaces outside polling – Make sure electors understand implications of applying for places an absent vote. – Keep access to polling places and the pavements – Do not encourage postal ballot pack redirection. around polling places clear to allow voters to enter – Do not encourage electors to appoint a campaigner as (including maintaining social distancing) proxy.

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Postal vote Applications Delivered to Postal vote • Schedule of openings - all at 10:00 at deliveries Royal Mail openings Rothes Halls, Glenrothes Received by 26th March 14th April • Every weekday from Tuesday 20 April (except Monday 26 April / Monday 3 May) Processed by 9th April 16th April • Polling Day (also at 14:30 / 19:30 / 22:30) Processed after 9th April 26th April • All constituencies opened each day except – Tuesday 20 (Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and N.E.F. only) – Wednesday 21 (Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline, and Mid Fife & Glenrothes only)

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5 Postal vote • Two separate rooms (for opening and Polling day • Arrangements in place to ensure that openings adjudication) polling stations are safe places to vote • Each candidate may appoint ONE agent – extra staff to assist manage flow of electors – one way flows (where possible) and floor to observe the opening of postal votes for markings to ensure physical distancing, all or individual sessions. – Requirement to wear face coverings • Notice of appointments must be delivered – the provision of hand sanitiser on entry and before opening session is due to begin. exit • Voters will be encouraged to bring own • Screens between agents and staff pen or pencil for use in polling stations • Observation points for each opener / • Pencils / PPE will also be made available adjudicator – agents can move between for electors empty points

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Polling day • Significant number of changes to polling Polling day • Polling stations open from 7am to 10pm places in Fife due to need for social • Elections Office open 6.00am to 10.00pm for distancing / unavailability queries or problems relating to the administration of the election • Encourage voters to check their poll card • Voters in the polling station or in a queue outside before polling day, to see if their polling the polling station at 10 pm can apply for a ballot station has changed since previous paper elections. • Postal votes – can be handed into polling stations • Three further changes – replacement poll within voting area or delivered to the elections office until 10pm. cards will be issued this week • A person in a queue at a polling station at 10pm waiting to hand in postal vote can do so after 10pm. • Candidate seals – only at close of poll

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6 • All counts, will start at 9 a.m. with exception Counting of Counting will be over 2 days – Friday 7th and Counting of of Kirkcaldy which will commence at 10 a.m. votes - Saturday 8th votes to stagger arrival of candidates/agents Schedule Michael Rothesay • Both count centres will open to candidates Woods Sports House and agents from 8.30 a.m. each day – & Leisure Kirkcaldy candidates and agents are asked Centre not to arrive before 9.30 am.. Friday 9 a.m. North East Fife Cowdenbeath • The allocation of regional seats will be held in Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre, 10 a.m. Kirkcaldy Glenrothes on Saturday 8th after receipt of final results CountingSaturday of 9 a.m.ConstituencyDunfermline and Regional Mid Fife ballots & will be carried out in parallel Glenrothes

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Counting of • Adaptations to the verification and count Counting of • Enumerators will count facing candidates/ votes in light of the public health situation. votes agents – intend one place to observe per • Access : enumerator • Protective screens will be between – Constituencies – likely 5-7 (tbc) enumerators and candidates/agents – Regional contest – very limited numbers – • Consideration being given to how to make – Can appoint more counting agents but adjudications accessible access to count room will be limited to • Limited access to declarations – considering specified number need for livestream of declarations via – Candidates / parties will be given passes – Council website / YouTube can pass between agents but no entry without a pass.

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7 Count • Make sure appointments for counting agents Information are submitted to the CRO by 28 April 2021 Spending issues • Information pack on count process and arrangements will be issued with count passes • CRO/RRO briefing immediately prior to counts • Candidate Liaison Officers

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Election • The time when spending and donation Election You must keep within the spending limit for each rules apply is called the ‘regulated period’. period and keep separate records of spending for each spending spending period. • The regulated period for the Scottish Parliamentary election is divided into two All Fife constituencies are County constituencies periods: the 'long campaign’ (started 6 January and stops on the day you Long campaign: officially become a candidate) and the County constituency = £21,500 + 6.3p per elector 'short campaign’ (begins the day after you officially become a candidate and Short campaign: ends on polling day). County constituency = £8,700 + 9p per elector • Each period has its own spending limit.

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8 Electorate for Constituency Electorate Spending limits Constituency Long Short spending Cowdenbeath 55,262 Cowdenbeath 24,981,51 13,673.58 calculation Dunfermline 60,959 Dunfermline 25,340.42 14,186.31 Kirkcaldy 60,043 Kirkcaldy 25,282.71 14,103.87 Mid Fife & Glenrothes 53,666 Mid Fife & Glenrothes 24,880.96 13,529.94 North East Fife 56,692 North East Fife 25,071.60 13,802.28 Based on electorate at time of last date Independent Candidate (Region) for publication of Notice of Election The totals of the maximum limit for each campaign in each constituency in region (update at 1 March 2021)

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Election • Constituency and Individual regional candidates Spending limits • Details about the spending limits for must keep within the spending limit for each period candidates can be found in Part 3 of the spending and keep separate records of spending for each period. You will also need to keep separate Commission’s guidance for candidates records of any personal expenses during the short and agents campaign. • Further details about spending limits for parties can be found in the Commission’s • Party list candidates cannot incur expenses on guidance for political parties their own behalf, and spending incurred by the party counts towards party’s regional spending limit – party list candidates can incur personal • No spending will be reimbursed expenses that do not count towards the spending limit, but must be reported after the election.

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9 Spending • Election agents must deliver a constituency Spending • Individual regional candidates – their election agents must deliver a candidate’s spending return to the returns – candidate’s spending return to the CRO within returns - RRO within 35 calendar days of the declaration of 35 calendar days of the declaration of result of (Constituencies) (Regional contest) result of the election the election • Regional party list candidates – each list candidate • Election agents and candidates must deliver must deliver a declaration of their personal expenses declarations vouching for the candidate’s election to the RRO within 35 calendar days of the spending return to the CRO declaration of result of the election • Election agents and candidates must deliver • The election agent’s declaration must be delivered declarations vouching for the candidate’s election at the same time as the return. Generally all spending return to the RRO candidates’ declarations must be delivered within • The election agent’s declaration must be delivered at 7 working days of the election agent submitting the same time as the return. Generally all the return. candidates’ declarations must be delivered within 7 working days of the election agent submitting the return.

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Police single Julie Seath Integrity issues point of contact Fife Divisional Co-ordination Unit, Police , (SPOC) Fife ‘P’ Division, Detroit Road, Glenrothes, Fife, KY6 2RJ. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01592 418588 (if no response, call 101)

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10 • Steve Grimmond, Returning Officer – Tel. 03451 555555 (Ext Contacts 444143) – email: [email protected] Contacts • Morag Ferguson, Depute Returning Officer – Tel. 03451 555555 (Ext 442301) – email: [email protected] • Mike Melville, Depute Returning Officer – Tel 03451 555555 (Ext 442240) – email: [email protected] • Gillian Prestage, Lead Officer/Elections Office Tel 01592- 583111 email: [email protected] • Elections Office email [email protected]

• Electoral Registration Officer – Morag Ferguson • Electoral Registration Office – Tel 03451 555511

• Postal Votes – Emma Whyte, Depute Returning Officer – Tel 01592-583115 email @[email protected]

• Fife Council Elections web page: www.fife.gov.uk/elections

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Contacts • The Electoral Commission – Contacts • About My Vote – • Website www.electoralcommission.org.uk Website: aboutmyvote.co.uk • Address The Electoral Commission, City Chambers, , EH1 1YJ Tel 020 7271 0500 • Tel. 0333 103 1928 Fax: 0131 225 0205 Email: [email protected] • Email: [email protected] • Register to vote • Reasons why you should register • The election process • How do I vote • Campaigning • Am I registered to vote in the UK • Candidate spending • Home movers • Expenses forms • Armed Forces • Donations • Overseas electors • Permissibility checks on donors • Students • Hustings events

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