South Ayrshire Council corrects poll card error, What Do I Need To Vote

South Ayrshire Council apologised after polling card envelopes wrongly told residents what do i need to vote: photo ID for the Scottish Parliamentary Election on Thursday, May 7. The council said the poll cards inside the envelopes were correct, but the printed instruction on the envelope was not.

A spokesperson said: "We are aware that, due to an error by a third party printer, envelopes containing poll cards have incorrect information on them." The same spokesperson added: "The poll cards issued are correct and are in relation to the Scottish Parliamentary Election on Thursday, May 7."

South Ayrshire Council envelopes

The envelope text said, "You will need to show photo ID to vote at a polling station." That instruction matched the rule for Westminster elections, where photo ID is required, but it did not apply to the Scottish Parliament election in question.

The council said, "Contrary to what is printed on the envelopes containing the poll card, photographic ID will not be required to vote. We apologise for any confusion." For residents who received the wrong envelope message, the practical step was simple: follow the poll card itself, not the envelope.

Scottish Parliament election rules

Holyrood lawmakers decided against bringing in the photo ID rule because of concerns that ID would be a barrier for people to vote. That decision left Scottish Parliamentary elections different from Westminster elections on the same issue.

The error created a direct mismatch between the envelope and the vote requirement on Thursday, May 7. South Ayrshire Council’s correction removed that confusion: the polling cards were right, and photographic ID would not be needed at the polling station.