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The Scottish Government today issued a consultation on detailed proposals to improve local government elections in Scotland.

The consultation seeks views on a range of issues including the design of the ballot paper, the election timetable and the timing of the count.

It is the third in a series of consultations following the publication of the Independent Review of the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary and Local Government Elections (the Gould Report).

The previous consultations addressed the decoupling of local government elections from elections to the Scottish Parliament and the possible creation of a post of Chief Returning Officer for Scotland.

Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford said:

"The Gould Report provided a series of recommendations to improve the running of elections in Scotland. We have already moved to decouple local government elections from the Scottish Parliamentary elections, consulted on the post of a Chief Returning Officer and now we are examining key administrative issues which will need to be addressed in the regulations for the next local government elections in 2012.

"This is the next stage in a series of reforms aimed at ensuring there is no repeat of the problems in the 2007 elections.

"It is vital that the processes that relate to the administration of elections in Scotland are robust and fit for purpose. This consultation will enable all those with an interest in the processes to make their voices heard on proposals which seek to improve fairness and accessibility for all.

"The Scottish Parliament agreed to legislation last year to separate local elections from elections to the Scottish Parliament. The Government was keen to avoid voter confusion and to give each set of elections its due place. It is disappointing therefore that the UK Government has announced its intention to hold a referendum on voting reform for Westminster next May on the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament."

The consultation will run until October 15, 2010.

This consultation will examine and discuss the remaining recommendations made by the Gould Report and consider options for implementation. These are:

• Election timetable
• Process for deciding format and effectiveness of ballot papers
• The positioning of candidates' names on ballot papers
• Maintaining the secrecy of the ballot
• Counting of ballots
• Auto-adjudication of ballot papers
• Alternative voting arrangements

A consultation on decoupling elections began in March 2008. The consultation led to the passage of the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Act in June 2009. The Act ensures local government and national elections are no longer held on the same day.

In December 2008, a consultation began on the creation of a new post of Chief Returning Officer, aimed at bringing greater clarity and consistency to the management of elections in Scotland. An Interim Electoral Management Board has been established and is continuing to take this measure forward.

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