Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Scottish Parliament elections

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Resources for candidates and agents at Scottish Parliament elections

Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Scottish Parliament elections

Election timetable 7 May 2026 - SP (DOCX)
Q&As on web based guidance for candidates and agents (PDF)
Constituency Returning Officer and Regional Returning Officer contact details - Scottish Parliament (PDF)

Nominations

Nomination pack Scottish Parliament election for constituency candidates (for use on or after 7 May 2026)(DOCX)
Nomination pack Scottish Parliament election for regional party list (for use on or after 7 May 2026) (DOCX)
Nomination pack Scottish Parliament election for regional individual candidates (for use on or after 7 May 2026)(DOCX)
Withdrawal form Scottish Parliament constituency election (DOCX)
Withdrawal form Scottish Parliament regional individual candidates not on a regional party list (DOCX)
Withdrawal form Scottish Parliament regional party list for use by the party's NO or candidate (DOCX)
Withdrawal form Scottish Parliament regional election withdrawing a full party list (DOCX)

Postal voting

Postal voting agent appointment form (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements postal voting Scottish Parliament Election (DOCX)

Polling Day

Polling agent appointment form (SP Constituency) (DOCX)
Polling agent appointment form (SP Regional Individual) (DOCX)
Polling agent appointment form (SP Regional Party List) (DOCX)
Tellers dos and don'ts SP SLG Senedd LGW (PDF)
Tellers guidance SP SLG Senedd LGW (PDF)
Secrecy requirements the poll Scottish Parliament Election (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements postal voting Scottish Parliament Election (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements the count Scottish Parliament Election (DOCX)

Verification and Count

Counting agent appointment form (SP Constituency) (DOCX)
Counting agent appointment form (SP Regional individual) (DOCX)
Counting agent appointment form (SP Regional Party List) (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements the count Scottish Parliament Election (DOCX)
Doubtful ballot paper booklet Scottish Parliament (DOCX)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat Scottish Parliament constituency election (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat Scottish Parliament regional election (PDF)

After the election

Constituency candidate return Scottish Parliamentary election (XLSX)
Independent regional candidate return Scottish Parliamentary election (XLS)
Candidate return Scottish Parliamentary election - constituency and independent regional candidates (PDF)
Candidate declaration (constituency or independent regional) Scottish Parliament
Agent declaration (constituency or independent regional) Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament non-party campaigner Article 41 spending return & declaration
Party list candidate declaration with personal expenses declaration
Last updated: 29 January 2026