Scottish Parliament Elections- 7 May 2026

Scottish Parliament elections will be held on Thursday 7 May 2026 to elect Members of the Scottish Parliament to represent each Scottish parliamentary constituency and to select regional MSPs.

The North East Scotland region includes all electors living in Angus and residents can vote in either the Angus North & Mearns parliamentary constituency or Angus South parliamentary constituency, depending on where they live.

The Mid Scotland and Fife region includes all electors living in Perth & Kinross and residents can vote in either the Perthshire North parliamentary constituency or Perthshire South & Kinross-shire parliamentary constituency, depending on where they live.

Key information about who can vote and deadlines for both registering to vote and deadlines for submitting either a postal or proxy votes are detailed in the sections below.

For more information please visit the dedicated Scottish Parliament elections page for Angus Council or Perth & Kinross Council and also watch this voter information video

Who is eligible to vote in this election?

You can vote in the Scottish Parliament elections on Thursday 7 May 2026 if you are registered to vote and are:

• Resident within the electoral area
• Aged 16 or over on Thursday 7 May 2026
• A qualifying British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen
• A qualifying foreign citizen who has permission to stay in the United Kingdom, or who does not need such permission
• A convicted prisoner normally resident in Scotland and serving a combined sentence of 12 months or less anywhere in the UK
• A Member of the House of Lords

The following people cannot vote in a Scottish Parliament Election:

• Electors aged under 16 years old on polling day
• Peers of the Realm and who are registered as living overseas
• British citizens registered as Overseas electors
• Convicted persons detained for a period of more than 12 months in pursuance of their sentences, excluding contempt of court (though remand prisoners and non-convicted prisoners and civil prisoners can vote if they are on the electoral register)
• Anyone found guilty within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election

Registering to Vote

The deadline to register to vote for this election is Monday 20 April 2026.

Polling Information Letters

Polling information letters will be sent on or around Tuesday 17 March 2026 to all electors who are registered on or before Friday 6 February 2026.

Anyone who registers between Saturday 7 February 2026 and Monday 20 April 2026 will also receive a notification letter from the Electoral Registration Officer confirming when their registration has been processed.

Further Polling Information Letters

Electors registered after 6 February 2026 will receive polling information letters according to the following schedule:

• Applications received between Saturday 7 February 2026 and Monday 30 March 2026 – poll letters will be sent on or around Wednesday 8 April 2026.
• Applications received between Tuesday 31 March 2026 and Monday 20 April 2026 – poll letters will be sent on or around Monday 27 April 2026

Postal Voting

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is:

5 pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026

You cannot apply for, cancel, or amend a postal vote after this deadline.

To ensure ballot papers reach voters in time, they will be issued according to the date the postal vote application is received:

Applications received by Tuesday 24 March 2026

Ballot papers posted on or around Wednesday 15 April 2026

Applications received between Wednesday 25 March 2026 and Friday 10 April 2026

Ballot papers posted on or around Friday 17 April 2026

Applications received between Saturday 11 April 2026 and 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026

Ballot papers posted on or around Monday 27 April 2026

You are encouraged to apply for a postal vote as early as possible.

For more information on postal voting and/or downloading a postal vote application form please visit the Electoral Commission website.

Proxy Voting

Electors are entitled to appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf if they are unable to visit the polling station on the date of the poll.

You can apply to appoint a proxy for the following reasons:

• blindness
• other disability (the disability must be specified)
• occupation/employment/service/attendance on a course (details must be provided)
• registered as a service voter or overseas voter
• registered as an anonymous elector
• journey necessary by sea or air to get from the registered address to their polling station
• prisoners convicted to a term of 12 months or less 

Eligibility to act as a proxy

Your appointed proxy must:

• Be 16 or over on polling day (Thursday 7 May 2026)
• Be registered to vote
• Be eligible to vote in the election
• Be able to get to your polling station on polling day

Your proxy does not have to be related to you.

Deadline to appoint a proxy – 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026

For more information on voting by proxy and/or downloading a proxy application form please click here.

In some cases, an attestation in support of the application is also required. More information can be found in the Electoral Commission’s guidance on attestations.

Proxy Voting – Voting by post

If your proxy cannot visit the polling station, they may apply to vote by post on your behalf.

Deadline for postal proxy applications: 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026

(This is earlier than the ordinary proxy deadline.)

Contact the Electoral Registration Officer to request an application form for your proxy.

Cancelling your proxy

If you have appointed a proxy but later wish to vote yourself, you must cancel your proxy appointment before 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026.

Emergency Proxy

After 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026, you may still apply for an Emergency Proxy for any of the following reasons:

• A medical condition, illness or disability arising after the ordinary proxy deadline
• Becoming disabled after 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026, where this made it unreasonable to apply earlier
• (A written explanation is required)
• Being a mental health patient detained under civil powers
• An unexpected change in your occupation, service or employment that prevents you attending the polling station
• If your existing proxy becomes unable to vote at your polling station on polling day
• (Note: a postal proxy cannot be changed under this provision)

Emergency Proxy Application Window

From after 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026 until 5pm on Thursday 7 May 2026 (Polling Day).

For more information and application forms please click here

Accepted Emergency Proxy Applications

Once an emergency proxy application is accepted, a confirmation will be issued to both you and your appointed proxy. This will include details of the polling station at which your proxy may vote.

Please note you can still vote in person if you have a proxy vote, but only if you do so before your proxy has voted for you.

How to contact the Electoral Registration Officer

If you require any further assistance please contact either.

Angus

Electoral Registration Officer for Angus at [email protected] or call 01307 499910

Perth & Kinross

Electoral Registration Officer for Perth & Kinross at [email protected] or call 01738 630303