Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Scottish Parliament election

Certain people may object to the validity of a nomination form or regional list. For more information on who is entitled to inspect and object to nominations see our guidance on attendance at delivery of nomination papers.

Objections can be made on the last day for delivery of nomination papers.

Timetable for objections

The time within which an objection can be made depends on when the nomination form was delivered.

Objections on the grounds that a candidate is imprisoned for a year or more

The only exception is where the objection is on the grounds that a candidate is disqualified because they are serving a prison sentence of a year or more.3 In this case, objections can be made between 10am and 4pm on the next working day after the deadline for delivery of nomination papers. 

If it appears to you that a candidate (whether for return as constituency member or regional member) may be disqualified from standing for election (i.e. because they are imprisoned and serving a sentence of a year or more), you must as soon as practicable after the close of nominations publish a draft of the constituency statement of persons nominated or the regional statement of persons and parties nominated (as appropriate)4 containing a notice stating that any person who wishes to object to the nomination of a candidate on the grounds that they are disqualified from standing for election because they are imprisoned and serving a sentence of a year of more may do so between 10am and 4pm at the place specified in the notice.5