You must return the £500 deposit made by or on behalf of a candidate in a constituency contest if the candidate polled more than 5% of the total number of valid votes cast in the constituency.1
You must return the deposit to the person who made it no later than the next working day after the result of the election is declared.
If you are returning a deposit by cheque, it is treated as being returned on the day on which the cheque is posted.
Regional election
If you are the RRO, you must return the £500 deposit made by or on behalf of an individual regional candidate or a party in the regional contest if the individual candidate or party polled more than 5% of the total number of valid votes cast in the region.
The deposit will also be returned if a regional list or individual regional candidate is allocated a seat, even if they have not obtained more than 5% of the total number of valid votes cast in the region.2
You must return the deposit to the person who made it or, in the case of a party list, to the registered Nominating Officer of the party, no later than the next working day after the result of the election is declared.
If you are returning a deposit by cheque, it is treated as being returned on the day on which the cheque is posted.
Forfeited deposits
Candidates or parties who do not poll more than 5% of the total number of valid votes cast, or are not allocated a seat at a regional contest, forfeit their deposits to the Scottish Consolidated Fund. The Scottish Government will provide information on where to send forfeited deposits.