Postal voting packs

MORE than 2,000 ballot papers for postal voters in Shetland will be arriving on doormats over the next few days, ready for the council election on Thursday 3 May.

Postal votes must be posted in time to meet the deadline of 10pm on election day. Shetland’s returning officer Jan Riise is advising postal voters to read and follow the instructions carefully before completing their ballot paper.

“Don’t forget to include your date of birth and signature on the postal voting statement. This statement is kept separately from your ballot paper so your vote is always secret. Follow the instructions in the pack to make sure your vote counts,” Mr Riise said.

Andy O’Neill, Head of the Scotland Office at the Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog, advised voters to make sure they return their ballot papers promptly.

“Postal ballot papers must be received by the local Returning Officer by 10pm on 3 May at the latest. So, as soon as you have completed your ballot paper and postal vote statement place it in the envelope and return it to make sure that it is received in good time.”