WARNINGS about potential flare-ups at polling stations have been issued after conspiracy theorists drew up detailed guidance designed to prevent today's general election being rigged.
Voters have been encouraged to photograph their ballot papers and follow ballot boxes to polling stations by extremists who believe that the independence referendum result was fixed by the UK authorities and fear a repeat.
The project, which has circulated online and has become known as Operation Scallop, advises voters to check unique identifying numbers are on the back of ballot papers, after a series of conspiracy theories regarding 'blank' ballots in the wake of the independence referendum took hold among a minority of nationalists despite senior SNP figures publicly accepting the result.
After turning up at polling stations between 9pm and 10pm and photographing their ballot paper, voters are advised to observe the loading of boxes into council vans. The Electoral Commission warns against photographing ballot papers, so that laws around the secrecy of ballots are not breached inadvertently.
"The goal is to have as many eyes on those ballot boxes at all times," the documents state, adding: "I'm sure you understand the upheaval last time and want to avoid any doubt... our presence will make it much harder to do the ballot paper swap."
The guidelines, issued online by the Twitter account in the name of a Glasgow-based IT company Spectrum Systems, ask that those taking part in the project do not cause disturbances and comply with requests from police. Those who chose to follow vans are told not to break any traffic laws, while organisers emphasise that they do not encourage any disruptive behaviour whatsoever.
However, it is believed that warnings have been sent from Scotland's electoral management board (EMB) to returning officers in all 32 local authorities to watch for queues forming and for any disruption or "threatening behaviour" at polling stations.
Police Scotland has also circulated warnings and advice from the EMB to all divisional commanders, urging them to watch for queues forming after 9pm and to be aware of problems emerging in polling stations and on the roads after vans leave at 10pm with ballot boxes.
The official advice, passed to the London-based newspaper, reportedly states: "This is all in the context of the various conspiracy theories after the referendum and of the general suspicion out there among certain sectors of the public. The police are aware of this campaign as are the Electoral Commission."
Jim Baird, the Police Scotland commander overseeing polling night operations, said: "We are aware of this. However, we will not comment on specific details of security arrangements.
"I would like to take this opportunity to assure the public that appropriate policing and security arrangements will be put in place to ensure the election process runs smoothly. The safety and security of the process is a top priority for Police Scotland and we have been liaising with the Electoral Commission and returning officers and will continue to do so throughout."
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