Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Scottish Parliament elections

• Encourage people who are not on the electoral register to apply for registration. The deadline for registering to vote in time for the Scottish Parliament election is 12 working days before the poll.1 Individuals can register online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
• Help voters with information about postal and proxy voting and encourage voters to apply. The deadline for applying for a postal vote is 5pm, 11 working days before the poll.2 The deadline for applying for a proxy vote for the elections is 5pm, 6 working days before the poll,3 although in some circumstances electors may apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on polling day. 

The Convener of the EMB has issued directions to ROs on the timing of the first and final issues of postal votes. The directions are available on their website.

An elector can apply for an emergency proxy if, after 5pm 6 working days before the poll:

• they have had a medical emergency, (or, for electors who suffered a medical emergency before the deadline, and the nature of it meant that they could not reasonably make an application in time),
• they are accompanying another person to attend medical care or treatment,
• their appointed proxy is unable to vote at the polling station due to a change of circumstances,
• they have been called away on business,
• they become aware they will be serving a prison sentence of 12 months or less

You can find out more about who can register and postal and proxy voting on our website.