Commentary Conduct Section 7 – Chief Counting Officer (CCO)
103.Section 7 of this Act provides for the appointment of the CCO. The CCO will be the person who, at the time an Act triggering a particular referendum, or regulations made under such an Act, comes into force, is convener of the Electoral Management Board unless there is no-one in post at the time, the person in post is unwilling or unable to act as the CCO or the person has previously been removed from office as the CCO. This section also provides for appointment of a replacement if the CCO dies, resigns or is removed from the post by the Scottish Ministers, who have a limited power to remove the CCO on certain grounds e.g. health or if the CCO has committed an offence. The CCO has the power to appoint a deputy. Any appointees under this section (including the CCO) must be, or have been, a returning officer.