Election voting system

Vote by numbers

West Lothian residents are being reminded to vote by numbers in the council elections today (May 4).

On the ballot paper, you will be asked to number the candidates in order of your choice. You should put a 1 in the box next to your first choice, a 2 in the box next to your second choice and so on. You can make as many or as few choices as you wish. Only numbers should be used, and any other marks on the ballot paper could mean your vote is not counted.

Returning officer, Graham Hope, said: “Please follow the instructions on the ballot paper carefully to make sure your vote counts. You should only use numbers to vote in the West Lothian Council elections on May 4, so please do not make any other mark on the ballot paper. Replacement ballot papers are available from polling station staff if you make a mistake.”

West Lothian voters will be asked to elect either three or four councillors for their local ward. There are nine wards in West Lothian with a total of 33 councillors to be elected. The votes are counted in stages.In the first stage only first preferences are counted and anyone who reaches the quota is elected. Any votes received over the quota are not needed by the elected candidate and so are transferred to the second preference.

If not enough candidates have then reached the quota after this, the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated and all of their votes are passed to the next preference on the ballot papers. This process is repeated until three or four candidates have been elected. See p16 & 17.