SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM 18 SEPTEMBER 2014 - SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNT HANDBOOK
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SCOTTISH
INDEPENDENCE
REFERENDUM
18 SEPTEMBER
2014
Scottish Independence Referendum
SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNT HANDBOOKContents This handbook is produced on behalf of the Counting Officer for the South Ayrshire Council area. Welcome from the Counting Officer 1 Count venue 2 Postal vote opening and checking 3 Count access and accreditation 4 Count team and guest liaison 5 Count centre and layout 6 Count process 8 Declaration 9
Welcome
Welcome from Eileen Howat,
Counting Officer for the South Ayrshire area
I’m very pleased to introduce our guide to the count for the
Scottish Independence Referendum on Thursday 18 September
2014.
The referendum gives voters across Scotland the chance to have
their say on whether Scotland should be an independent country
or not.
Polls open between 7am and 10pm on polling day and the count
will get underway at the Citadel Leisure Centre in Ayr as soon as
possible after the close of poll.
This guide sets out all you need to know about the referendum
and the count – where it’s happening, when it’s happening, what the layout is expected to be and how
votes will be counted and the local total announced.
Given we’re expecting a higher turnout than usual across the country, I don’t want to speculate about
timings for when the South Ayrshire count will be complete; however, we do expect this to be well into
the early hours of the morning of Friday 19 September.
My main aim is to deliver an efficient, secure and accurate count that will give us all confidence in the
integrity of the overall result.
I hope you find this guide useful; however, if you need any information, advice or assistance, please don’t
hesitate to get in touch.
You can also visit our dedicated referendum web pages at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/referendum.
I look forward to seeing you on Thursday 18 September.
Best wishes
Eileen Howat
Counting Officer
SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNT HANDBOOK 1Count venue
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The South Ayrshire Scottish Independence Referendum count will take place in the main hall of the Citadel Leisure
OAD
IN
DO
Centre, South Harbour Street,Conveyor
Ayr KA7 1JB from 10pm on Thursday 18 September 2014.
T
CK R
RE E
NE
O AD
N ST
T LA
Dock
Parking within the Citadel Leisure Centre car park will be strictly limited.
E
RE E
GRE
A L D L A NE
W
N ST
TAYL
Alternative free car parking for those attending the count will be available at the CromwellORRoad
STR car park at
OS
AD
EET
E
GRE
RO
the South
Esplanade. Please enter via Charlotte Street/Esplanade.
NE
UR
North Pier
T LA
T
Pier
SP
RE E
SALT
FIEL
RE E
D LA
NE
K ST
Compass
K ST
YOR
Pier
YOR
North Quay
CRO
Dock WN
Ayr STR
EET
Harbour
NE
T LA
R EE
NO
T
Car
R EE
RT Park
N ST
ST
H
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Ind Est
E
AR
N
GRE
AI
BO
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Citadel UR R BA
ST EE
Leisure T
Centre
SO
Liby
UT
HA
H
RB
OU
RS
T RE New
ET
ET Bridge
RE
ST
Cromwell Road (North)
E
DG
Fort Wall
Outfall Pipe Line
I
BR
(course of)
W
T
EE
NE
Car HI
R
GH
ST
Park ST
TH
T
RT
EN
Cromwell Road (South)
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Court
FO
EE
ST
SC
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AI
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CR NS
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OM L SA T RE
WE ET
E
C
LL PL E
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RO AC UC High
E BR
AD Charlotte Street
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Car
TERRA
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Coun Council Street
Park
ND
Offs CHARLOTTE STRE Offs
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SA
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QUEEN
MEWS LANE BO
Bus SW
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Pav Sta L
PA Offs
PW RK
BATH PLAC FU
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War ST
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Meml
ACE
PAVILION R ET
OA D
ALLOWAY PL
Council BARNS ST
REET
Offices
LANADE
2 SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM 18 SEPTEMBER 2014 Car Pk
DA
Pavilion
Citadel Leisure Centre Car WELLINGTO
Parks
LBL
N LANEPostal vote opening and checking
The opening and checking of postal votes will initially take place in County Hall, County Buildings, Wellington
Square, Ayr KA7 1DR. Please note, there is restricted parking around County Buildings between 8am and 6pm
Monday to Saturday, limited to 3 hours with no return within one hour.
The opening of the postal votes and the checking of postal vote statements will get underway at 9am on
Thursday 11 September 2014.
First stage adjudication, regarding the acceptance of postal vote statements, will take place during opening,
with final Counting Officer adjudication – undertaken by the Counting Officer and Depute Counting
Officer – taking place at 12 noon.
The same timetable and location will apply for postal vote opening on:
• Friday 12 September 2014
• Monday 15 September 2014
• Tuesday 16 September 2014.
The postal vote opening will then relocate to the Conference Room at the Citadel Leisure Centre.
The opening of the postal votes and the checking of postal vote statements at the Citadel Leisure Centre
will get underway at 9am on Wednesday 17 September, with final adjudication also taking place at 12
noon.
There will be further postal vote opening sessions at the Citadel during the day on Thursday 18
September 2014 and after the close of poll at 10pm – the exact times for the sessions will be confirmed
to agents once finalised.
The postal vote opening process can be observed by those with the appropriate accreditation.
SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNT HANDBOOK 3Count access and accreditation
Access to the main hall and count centre for guests, agents and observers at the Citadel Leisure Centre will be
available from 10pm on Thursday 18 September 2014.
All visitors must enter the Citadel via the main entrance and report to the security desk at the entrance
to the main hall. Only those with valid accreditation and a suitable form of ID such as a driving licence,
passport, press card or bank card will be allowed access.
Accreditation passes can only be used by the named holder and must be worn at all times.
Our accreditation passes are colour coded, so we can see who is who and ensure that people have
access to the relevant permitted areas:
Counting Officer Staff Gold
Enumerator Gold
Counting Officer Guest Blue
Press and Media Pink
Counting Agent Lilac
Referendum Agent Peach
Observer Green
Postal Ballot Agent Orange
Any requests or queries regarding accreditation for campaigns and agents should be directed to the
Election Office on 01292 612222 or email election@south-ayrshire.gov.uk.
Any queries or requests for access or accreditation for the media should be directed to the
communications team on 01292 612211 or email communications@south-ayrshire.gov.uk.
4 SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM 18 SEPTEMBER 2014Count team and guest liaison
The referendum and count team is led by Counting Officer, Eileen Howat, who is Chief Executive
of South Ayrshire Council. If you need to contact anyone in the election team, please call 01292 612222
or email election@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
Eileen is supported by a team, including:
Valerie Andrews Ralph Riddiough
Depute Counting Officer Head of Legal and
Democratic Services
Wynne Carlaw Kim Smith Phillip Ewing Denise Robertson Billy Andrew
Democratic Office Registration, Public Affairs Repairs and
Governance Manager Records and Manager Maintenance
Manager Information Manager
Co-ordinator
Our corporate management team will provide guest liaison services at the count. If you need any assistance at
the count, please make contact with any of the officers listed below in the first instance.
Please note, all media queries should be directed to Denise Robertson, Public Affairs Manager.
Lesley Bloomer Douglas Hutchison
Executive Director Director of Educational
Economy, Neighbourhood Services
and Environment
Tim Eltringham Hugh Carswell
Director of the South Head of Children’s
Ayrshire Health and Services
Social Care Partnership
Claire Monaghan Mike Newall
Head of Communities Head of Neighbourhood
Services
SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNT HANDBOOK 5Count centre and layout
The main hall is expected to be set up as shown in our layout plan, although this may be subject to change
based on the demands on equipment and resources.
Some tables and chairs will be provided in the main hall as well as access to power points and a wireless
internet connection.
Catering and refreshments for guests attending the count will be available in the Ark, which is located
immediately off the main hall where the count is taking place. Direct access is available from the main hall.
The Ark includes ample seating and large screen TVs where you can keep up with referendum news and
developments during the count. There is also another wifi connection within the Ark.
There will be a speaker feed into the Ark, so any announcements from the main hall can be picked up.
Television cameras will be present throughout the count, with the expectation that the declaration of the
South Ayrshire total will be broadcast live.
6 SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM 18 SEPTEMBER 2014Count centre and layout
Flr - cl Flr - cl
4.585m 2.962m
Flr - cl
4.702m
Flr - cl
2.489m
BOXES IN CAFETERIA - RETURNING
OFFICERS, STAFF & GUESTS
LOCKED LOCKED
1000 2025
2900
Adjudication table
Out H m
l
In
Count Control
A
1000 1000 1980
Out
In
2600 In
B Out G
Out In
In
Out
Out
In
In
Out
Out
In
Entrance and Catering D E
Area
C F
2120 2120
1933
500
3100
T.V. Cameras Podium
media only
8000
PLATFORM
7000
4000
3000 2.486m
Flr - cl
AGENTS
SECURITY CHECK
SECURITY
BARRIER 2.877m
Flr - cl
CAFETERIA
SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNT HANDBOOK 7Count process
The counting of votes for the Scottish Independence Referendum will get underway from 10pm on Thursday 18
September 2014.
This will include postal votes that have been opened and processed in advance of polling day. Postal votes
opened and checked on polling day will be added in as soon as they have been processed.
In South Ayrshire, the count will be conducted using the ‘mini count’ model recommended by the Chief
Counting Officer. This breaks the count down into sections, with each section working to a detailed
identical procedure.
There will be eight sections in operation at the Citadel (A-H), each with nine enumerators (counting
assistants) and a section supervisor, who will be responsible for overseeing the section allocated to them.
Ballot boxes will be allocated to each of the sections (with allocations based on expected time of ballot
box arrival and maximum number of ballot papers), and the section will begin by verifying the ballot
papers.
The purpose of this is to ensure that all ballot papers issued at the polling stations and all postal votes
received are included in the count.
The verification process will be conducted with the ballot papers counted face down. Verification involves
the staff counting the number of papers within each ballot box and checking this against the number of
ballot papers issued, taking account of both the unused and spoilt ballot papers.
Once the verification process is complete, and following authorisation from the Chief Counting Officer,
the Counting Officer will be able to confirm South Ayrshire turnout for the Scottish Independence
Referendum. The full South Ayrshire count can then get underway.
The count will be carried out in the eight sections with ballot papers separated out into YES, NO and
doubtful ballot papers. During the count, ballot papers will be kept face up and will be visible to the
accredited counting agents, referendum agents and observers, who are entitled to view this part of the
process.
Doubtful ballot papers will be adjudicated by the Depute Counting Officer and the Head of Legal and
Democratic Services.
8 SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM 18 SEPTEMBER 2014Declaration
After all the votes have been counted – and following approval from the Chief Counting Officer – the Counting
Officer will announce the local South Ayrshire total – how many yes votes, how many no votes – at the official
count centre, the Citadel Leisure Centre in Ayr.
We expect this to take place in the early hours of Friday 19 September 2014.
The South Ayrshire total will be fed into the national count centre at Ingliston in Edinburgh where the
Chief Counting Officer will announce all 32 local totals from each of the Council areas across Scotland.
Once all 32 local totals have been announced, the Chief Counting Officer will announce the national
result.
SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNT HANDBOOK 9WWW.SOUTH-AYRSHIRE.GOV.UK/REFERENDUM @southayrshire #indyref #sac
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