Covid safety measures in place at polling stations
Residents in East Renfrewshire will go to the polls with the rest of the country on May 6 to have their say on who represents them in the Scottish Parliament.
Planning is already well underway to help people stay safe while casting their vote.
There are a number of ways voters can have their say – you can vote in a polling station, by post or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf, which is known as a proxy vote.
Lorraine McMillan, returning officer for East Renfrewshire, said:“The Scottish Parliament makes decisions that affect every aspect of our daily lives so it is important to make your voice heard in this election and have a say on who represents you.
“Arrangements are being put in place to help you stay safe at the polling station.
“You can expect many of the measures you’ve become used to in shops and banks over recent months, such as hand sanitiser, floor markings and face masks.
“But if you would prefer not to vote in person you also have the option to apply to vote by post or by proxy.”
Andy O’Neill, head of Electoral Commission Scotland, added:“The choice on how to vote at next May’s elections is yours – you can have your say in person, by post or by proxy.
“If you’re thinking about voting by post, you can apply now.
“This will make sure your application is processed early, and your postal vote can be sent to you more quickly.
“It’s easy to apply and you can find out how by visiting the Electoral Commission website.
“You need to be registered to vote in order to have a say at the election – the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/ register-to-vote.
“And remember, it doesn’t matter where you were born, if you are aged 16 and over and are resident in Scotland you are now eligible to register and vote in Scottish Parliament elections.”
For residents choosing to apply for a postal vote, the deadline for applications is April 6 at 5pm, and the deadline for applying for a proxy vote is April 27 at 5pm.
Forms can be downloaded from the Electoral Registration Office website and once completed these should be returned by email to ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk (in PDF or TIFF format) or posted to The Electoral Registration Officer, Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board, The Robertson Centre, 16 Glasgow Road, Paisley, PA1 3QF.
For more information about the elections on Thursday, May 6, go to eastrenfrewshire. gov.uk/Scottish-parliament-elections2021