Aberdeenshire Schools Referendum on Scottish Independence

A Referendum on Scottish Independence took place in all 17 secondary schools and all 4 special schools in Aberdeenshire on 17th September 2013. Counting was staged at Meldrum Academy Games Hall on 18 September, exactly a year to the day before the whole of Scotland voted on the question of independence.

All secondary school pupils in Aberdeenshire were eligible to vote in this event and the same question was asked on ballot papers as that which was posed twelve months later:

“Should Scotland be an independent country? Yes/No.”

Staging a schools referendum on independence was designed to engage young people fully in the competing arguments for and against, and to reinforce the constitutional importance of the issue. It also represented the latest in the programme of schools elections organised by the Council's Electoral Participation Group, following the Schools General Election in 2010 and Schools Scottish Parliament Election/AV Referendum the following year. The purpose of these events was to encourage electoral participation, to seek to engage young people as fully as possible in the democratic process and to acquaint young people with formal voting and counting processes.

The Schools Referendum was run on highly authentic lines, featuring the use of real polling booths and ballot boxes, a secure voting process including ballot papers specifically printed for the project, and a single count event where results were declared by the Council's Depute Returning Officer.

The project was supported and endorsed by both the prospective lead campaign groups for the 2014 Referendum, Better Together and Yes Scotland. The Council is grateful for their help and backing.

Results

11,653 secondary school pupils in Aberdeenshire took part in the vote.  A total of 8718 voted No in response to the referendum question, with 2847 voting Yes. The turnout was 79.9%.

Declaration of Results – Aberdeenshire Region (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Aboyne Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Alford Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Anna Ritchie School (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Banchory Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Banff Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Carronhill School (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Ellon Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Fraserburgh Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Inverurie Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Kemnay Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Mackie Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Mearns Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Meldrum Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Mintlaw Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Peterhead Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Portlethen Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – St Andrew’s School (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Turriff Academy (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Westfield School (PDF 17KB)

Declaration of Results – Westhill  School (PDF 17KB) 

Official notices were also produced for the event, as attached below.

Notice of Referendum (PDF 57KB)

Please contact our Election Team for more information.