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| Q&A: Voting in the Scottish independence referendum | Q&A: Voting in the Scottish independence referendum |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| On Thursday, 18 September, registered voters in Scotland will be asked the referendum question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" | On Thursday, 18 September, registered voters in Scotland will be asked the referendum question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" |
| Those voters will have a straight choice between "yes" and "no". | Those voters will have a straight choice between "yes" and "no". |
| For the first time - and for this vote only - 16 and 17 year olds will be able to sign up to the electoral register and make a choice in the historic poll. | For the first time - and for this vote only - 16 and 17 year olds will be able to sign up to the electoral register and make a choice in the historic poll. |
| Here is a quick guide to who has the right to vote in the referendum, how you go about registering to vote and the different ways to vote. | |
| If you are not registered to vote in Scotland then you cannot vote. | If you are not registered to vote in Scotland then you cannot vote. |
| So, people who consider themselves Scottish living outside Scotland will not be able to have their say. About 800,000 Scots live in other parts of the UK. | So, people who consider themselves Scottish living outside Scotland will not be able to have their say. About 800,000 Scots live in other parts of the UK. |
| Convicted prisoners are another group that will not be given a say. | Convicted prisoners are another group that will not be given a say. |
| To vote in the independence referendum - including those aged 16 on the day - you need to be on the electoral register. | To vote in the independence referendum - including those aged 16 on the day - you need to be on the electoral register. |
| If you are already on the register and your details have not changed, then you will not be required to re-register. | If you are already on the register and your details have not changed, then you will not be required to re-register. |
| However, if your details have changed since you last voted - or if they will change before the referendum - then you will need to get in touch with the electoral registration office. | However, if your details have changed since you last voted - or if they will change before the referendum - then you will need to get in touch with the electoral registration office. |
| The Electoral Registration Office contacted households in October and November 2013 to check the names of those who are eligible to register. Each house was sent two forms. | The Electoral Registration Office contacted households in October and November 2013 to check the names of those who are eligible to register. Each house was sent two forms. |
| One requested the details of those who are 15 but will be 16 on the day of the vote. The second form requests the details of everyone else. | One requested the details of those who are 15 but will be 16 on the day of the vote. The second form requests the details of everyone else. |
| If you have not received a form, or need another copy, you can contact your local Electoral Registration Office to request a new one or you can download a form. | If you have not received a form, or need another copy, you can contact your local Electoral Registration Office to request a new one or you can download a form. |
| The deadline for registering to vote is midnight on 3 September 2014. | The deadline for registering to vote is midnight on 3 September 2014. |
| There are three ways in which you can vote. | There are three ways in which you can vote. |
| The deadline to apply to use a postal or proxy vote at the referendum - excluding an emergency proxy vote - is 17:00 on 3 September. | The deadline to apply to use a postal or proxy vote at the referendum - excluding an emergency proxy vote - is 17:00 on 3 September. |
| Polling places will open on 18 September from 07:00 and close at 22:00. | Polling places will open on 18 September from 07:00 and close at 22:00. |
| You can only apply for a proxy vote if your reason for needing it is one of the following; | You can only apply for a proxy vote if your reason for needing it is one of the following; |
| If this is the case, then you could fill out an application form. | If this is the case, then you could fill out an application form. |
| You would also need to fill out an application form if you wanted a postal vote. | You would also need to fill out an application form if you wanted a postal vote. |
| If you have a medical emergency after the proxy vote deadline has passed, which means you will be unable to vote in person, then you could apply for an emergency proxy vote. | If you have a medical emergency after the proxy vote deadline has passed, which means you will be unable to vote in person, then you could apply for an emergency proxy vote. |
| The deadline for emergency proxy votes is 17:00 on 18 September 2014. | The deadline for emergency proxy votes is 17:00 on 18 September 2014. |
| Anyone who is eligible to vote in the referendum can vote on your behalf as long as they are willing. | Anyone who is eligible to vote in the referendum can vote on your behalf as long as they are willing. |
| You cannot act as a proxy for more than two people - unless they are a close relative. | You cannot act as a proxy for more than two people - unless they are a close relative. |
| No, like all elections in the United Kingdom, compulsory voting is not in place for this referendum. It is up to each individual to decide whether they wish to vote. | No, like all elections in the United Kingdom, compulsory voting is not in place for this referendum. It is up to each individual to decide whether they wish to vote. |
| Immediately after the polls close at 22:00 on 18 September 2014, the votes will be counted. However, a paper from Chief Counting Officer Mary Pitcaithly declared: "an estimate of a final result cannot be given with any confidence". | Immediately after the polls close at 22:00 on 18 September 2014, the votes will be counted. However, a paper from Chief Counting Officer Mary Pitcaithly declared: "an estimate of a final result cannot be given with any confidence". |
| Counts will be taking place in 32 local authority areas and a number of factors could mean a longer wait than usual for the results. | Counts will be taking place in 32 local authority areas and a number of factors could mean a longer wait than usual for the results. |
| Mary Pitcaithly wrote: "With the current processes and volumes of ballots, particularly postal votes, it is unlikely to be in the early hours as might have been the experience in previous elections. Turnout, volumes of postal votes and logistical factors dependent on the geography and climate must all come into the consideration." | Mary Pitcaithly wrote: "With the current processes and volumes of ballots, particularly postal votes, it is unlikely to be in the early hours as might have been the experience in previous elections. Turnout, volumes of postal votes and logistical factors dependent on the geography and climate must all come into the consideration." |