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The verification and count is not just about seeing who gets the most votes. The count involves important integrity checks to ensure that the whole process has been secure and can be trusted so that the voter has fullconfidence in the result. At the count all of the ballot papers – unused, spoiled and those in the ballot boxes are counted and reconciled.

There are two distinct stages to the counting process, with a short staff break in between.

Verification of ballot boxes or “the first count”

This is where the number of votes cast in each constituency, for both the constituency contest and the regional contest, is established by counting how many papers are actually in the boxes.

One set of 18 tables will verify the constituency contest ballot papers and the other set will verify the regional contest ballot papers.

Both contests – cornstituency and region– will be verified simultaneously. This is to allow us to identify any papers in the wrong ballot boxes to ensure that they end up in the correct count. The papers are different colours to make this easier.

At the end of the first count the total number of votes being counted will be known and there will be an announcement of the turnout at each of the contests.

The first count (verification) process follows these steps

• the ballot box team will allocate a ballot box of papers to each table
• the ballot box is opened and emptied onto the table
• the empty box is shown to everyone present
• the ballot box label is placed in a stand on the table so that observers can see what polling station it has come from
• the papers are counted face up
• the number of papers inside should match the number given out by the presiding officer at the polling station and written on the ballot paper account
• if the number is different, the box must be counted again until the numbers match or until the same number of ballot papers is arrived at twice in a row
• once the number of papers counted is accepted, the papers are put into the clear plastic box for that table
• each counting table retains the papers they have counted for the second stage of the count
• at no point will ballot papers be shared with other counting tables
• supervisors will inform the counting agents at each table of the confirmed number of papers in each box
• the overall result of the verification will be made available to candidates and election agents.

The Count Manager will prepare a statement showing how many ballot papers were received in each ballot box against how many ballot papers were expected. This statement will be provided to candidates and election agents. Copies of verification spreadsheets will be made available to acndidates and election agents and the Count Manager will check that they are happy with the way the count is being conducted. Any discrepancies between the numbers on the ballot paper account and those in the ballot box are recorded and explained on the statement. 

The verification stage gives the number of votes cast in each contest in the constituency and allows the Returning Officer to announce the turnout figures and percentage poll.

The counting of votes or “the second count”

The second stage of the count separates the ballot papers and counts them by candidate and party and any doubtful papers.

At the second oucnt the same plastic box’s contents are counted by the original table that verified them. At no point will ballot papers be shared with other counting tables. If we add up the total for each candidate/party and any doubtful papers it should reconcile with the number found at verification.

The second count process follows these steps

• count assistants at each counting table
  • take the papers from their clear plastic box
  • sort the votes into piles for different candidates/parties and any doubtful papers
• the pile for each candidate/party is counted into bundles of 50 papers and odds (the remainder)
• once there are sufficient papers sorted, some count assistants will be allocated the task of checking the sorting and counting of votes for each candidate/party
• count assistants are instructed to check each other’s bundles and supervisors will sample bundles to ensure the sorting is correct
• when count assistants check the sorting, they will do so by transferring papers from an unchecked bundle to a checked bundle one paper at a time
• counting agents are able to observe fully and have confidence that papers have been allocated to the correct candidate/party
• the total number of papers for each candidate/party will be added up on a spreadsheet and
• the total number of papers will be reconciled with the number of papers that were found at the verification stage.

Doubtful ballot papers

Count supervisors have been given a copy of the Electoral Commission’s doubtful ballot placemat. They are able to accept a ballot paper as good if it is on the placement or is similar, or if it is obvious who the vote is for.

Count supervisors have been instructed to show such papers to candidates and agents nearby to get their agreement. If there is any disagreement, then the Count Supervisor will put the paper aside to be adjudicated by the Count Manager.

Information from the Electoral Commission with guidance on how to deal with doubtful papers will be available at each count area and count managers have been briefed on the principles to be applied.

Ballot papers that are not marked with a clear ‘X’ (or a tick) in the box next to a candidate are doubtful papers as it may not be immediately obvious what the intention of the voter may be. As long as the intention of the voter is apparent, the vote can be accepted as valid and be counted.

Copies of the Doubtful Votes Placemats produced by the Electoral Commission will be placed on signs in the Count Hall and in the café. You can also find these on the Electoral Commission's website. Please note that these PDFs may not be accessible documents.

See also the . This covers both contests.

Count assistants are aware that a paper can be accepted as good if a tick has been used instead of a cross in the voting box.

Adjudication

Count Managers will adjudicate doubtful votes towards the end of the second count process. Five minutes’ notice of the start of the adjudication will be given. The adjudication will be announced once only. It is the responsibility of

• candidates and/or election agents in the constituency contest
• election agents or their nominated counting agent in the regional contest

to ensure that they are present at adjudications. Because of the numbers involved, only election agents or their nominated counting agent are able to attend the adjudication of regional papers.

Two representatives - a candidate and agent - will be able to attend adjudication for a constituency. However for regional adjudication, only one representative is able to attend.

Adjudication will be carried out digitally using camera to display images of the papers on large screens so that all will be able to observe the papers, while allowing physical distancing measures. Face coverings must be worn.

If it is not possible to work out the voter’s intention the ballot paper is rejected and marked with the reason for the rejection. These are called “rejected votes.” Only the returning officer or a count manager acting as his depute can reject a ballot paper.

If the candidate or agent attending the adjudication disagree with a decision to reject a ballot paper, they can ask the count manager to mark on the ballot paper “rejection objected to”.

Following the adjudications, the accountant will finalise the provisional result. The count manager will show this to candidates/agents present in the constituency contest and agents in the regional contest. It is therefore important that candidates / agents in the constituency contest and agents/nominated counting agent in the regional contest remain near the count manager’s table after the adjudication to be informed of the provisional result.

Once all of the valid votes and any rejected votes have been added together and checked against the total number of ballot papers from the first stage of the count, the count manager or Returning Officer will share the provisional result with candidates, parties and their agents and informally consult with them to confirm that they are happy with the way the count has been conducted.

Recount

At this point, a candidate or their agent present in the constituency contest and agents in the regional contest can ask for a recount of the votes. The returning fficer can refuse the request if they think it is unreasonable.

Should a recount be agreed, the returning officer will discuss with the candidates and agents concerned how the counting agents for that constituency will be enabled to clearly view the proceedings.

After consulting the candidates and agents present in the constituency contest and agents in the regional contest and after any recount, the returning officer will announce the votes cast for all candidates and parties.

When the second stage is concluded totals for the regional counts in each of the six Edinburgh constituencies will be aggregated with the one constituency regional results for Midlothian North and the two East Lothian constituencies, when they are known.