Friday 06-03-2026 - 12:41

What is a Scottish Parliament election?

The Scottish Parliament is the national parliament of Scotland. Elections to the Scottish Parliament usually happen every 5 years. A Scottish Parliament election will take place on Thursday 7th May 2026.

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) are elected in a Scottish Parliament election. At the 2026 election, 129 MSPs will be elected to represent 73 constituencies.

The party (or group of parties) with the most support forms the Scottish Government, and the leader of the government becomes the First Minister of Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament has wide-ranging powers to make laws and decisions on important areas of life in Scotland, including:

• How the NHS works
• Funding for education, schools and colleges
• Tuition fee and student support levels for Scottish students
• Transport initiatives
• Housing
• The environment

How do I register to vote in the Scottish Parliament election?

You need to register to vote on the UK Government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. You can also find information about registering using a paper form on this website.

You will be asked to provide your name, your date of birth, your nationality, your address(es) and your National Insurance number.

If you do not know your National Insurance number, you can get assistance in finding it here: https://www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number

The deadline to register to vote in the Scottish Parliament election is midnight on Monday 20th April 2026.

How old do I have to be to vote in the Scottish Parliament election?

You need to be aged 16 or over on polling day to be able to vote in a Scottish Parliament election.

So, if you were born on or before 7th May 2010, you're eligible to vote in the Scottish Parliament election. You can register to vote in Scotland from the age of 14 and over.

I'm an international student. Can I vote?

Yes, international students who are resident in Scotland are able to vote in Scottish Parliament elections as long as they are registered to vote.

If you are an international student studying in Scotland, make sure you register to vote by the deadline of midnight on Monday 20th April 2026.

Can I register to vote at two addresses?

Yes, students are allowed to register to vote at more than one address. However, you can only vote at one address in a Scottish Parliament election.

We know that students often split their time between their term-time address and their home address, so it's important that you are registered at both. You must be registered to vote at your current address to be able to vote in the Scottish Parliament election. 

Do I need to register to vote again if I change address?

Yes, you need to register to vote every time you change address.

Will I need photo ID?

No, you will not need to show photo ID in order to vote in the Scottish Parliament election.

What if I'm away from home on 7th May

If you are unable to vote in person on 7th May, you can apply for a postal vote or a proxy vote.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21st April 2026.

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 28th April 2026.