Chief officer ‘no concerns’ over referendum count

ELECTORAL monitors have said they are not probing a video which some have claimed shows vote-rigging during the independence referendum count.

Postal votes are counted first at the Count Collection Centre at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. Pic:Jane Barlow

The video, posted to YouTube in the wake of the result, contains footage in which one counter appears to switch Yes votes to the No pile, a bundle of Yes votes has been collected with No votes and another counter seems to be filling in ballot papers.

Counting officials said they were aware of the video but are not investigating it.

A spokeswoman for chief counting officer Mary Pitcaithly said: “The Chief Counting Officer is satisfied that all counts throughout Scotland were properly conducted and scrutinised by thousands of people representing both the Yes Scotland and the Better Together campaigns, as well as international election observers, media and police.

“None of these people raised any concerns during the verification, counting and adjudication stages.”