Referendum ballot papers issued for overseas voters.

Ballot papers for Moray postal voters based overseas will be issued today ahead of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union on Thursday, June 23.

The first issue of 80 postal votes are being dispatched today to overseas postal voters who registered before and up to May 19.

The next issue of 14,043 postal votes for voters with UK addresses is expected on June 2. This issue will be for all those voters who successfully applied to vote by post by May 23.

A third issue of postal votes will take place in mid-June for all postal voters who successfully applied after this date.

Counting officer for the Moray voting area, Mark Palmer, advised postal voters to make sure they read and follow the instructions carefully before completing and returning their ballot paper.

He said: “Don’t forget to include your date of birth and signature on the postal voting statement. This is legally required and is checked and without this accompanying statement your ballot paper can’t be counted.

“Don’t rush completing your vote. Ensure that you put your date of birth and not the date you sign the statement. Also ensure that if more than one voter in the household has a postal vote you don’t mix them up and sign someone else’s.

“Follow the instructions in the pack to make sure your vote counts.”

Mr Palmer also re-emphasised to postal voters that they ensure they return their postal ballot packs promptly which helps election staff with the opening and verifying of the completed postal voting statement in advance of the count.

Once this process is completed and statements have been validated, the postal ballot paper can be sealed in the ballot boxes ready for the count on the night of June 23. Statements are handled separately from the ballot paper during this process to ensure that votes remain secret.

If you are going to be away during the referendum and can’t get to the polling station, the deadline for applying for a postal vote for the referendum is 5pm on Wednesday, June 8.

There is also still time to register for a proxy vote which enables you to appoint someone you trust to cast your vote on your behalf if you are away. The deadline for applying is 5pm on Wednesday, June 15.