Scottish independence: 4m poll cards out to voters

Thomas Blake, from Document Outsourcing Limited, loads up poll cards ready for posting at Strathclyde Business Park. Picture: PA

Poll cards are being dispatched tomorrow and Friday to every registered voter to provide them with details of their local polling place and how to vote in the referendum on September 18.

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Chief counting officer Mary Pitcaithly is urging those who are eligible to make sure they can participate in the referendum by ensuring they are registered to vote.

She said: “Only people who are registered to vote and are aged 16 or over on the day of the referendum will be entitled to vote, so it is vital that those who want to take part ensure their details are on the electoral register.

“It may be worth taking the time to check your details are on the register and that they are up to date, particularly if you’ve changed address in recent months.

“Poll cards are being issued this week to people who are already on the electoral roll, providing them with essential information about how and where to vote on September 18.”

Counting officers are required to publish a formal notice of the Scottish independence referendum in their area to outline the date of the referendum, details of polling places, who is eligible to vote and a reminder to voters to ensure they are registered.

Applications to the electoral register must be received by electoral registration offices by midnight on September 2 and applications to vote by post or by proxy must be received by 5pm on September 3.

As of August 1, there were 4,166,683 registered electors on the electoral roll in Scotland.