Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Scottish Parliament election

Constituency candidates

A constituency candidate is deemed to be validly nominated only if you as CRO has received a deposit of £5001 and the following completed forms, by 4pm, 23 working days before the poll:2

• the nomination form3
• a consent to nomination4
• a certificate of authorisation, to allow a candidate to stand on behalf of a political party5
• a form for a candidate standing on behalf of a political party to request the use of an emblem6

To stand on behalf of a registered political party, the party must be registered on the Commission’s register of political parties and be listed as allowed to field candidates in Scotland.

Individual regional candidates

An individual regional candidate is deemed to be validly nominated only if the RRO has received a deposit of £500 and the following completed forms, by 4pm, 23 working days before the poll:

• the nomination form7
• a consent to nomination8

Regional party list

A party and each candidate included on the party list are deemed to be validly nominated only if the RRO has received a deposit of £500 and the following completed forms, by 4pm, 23 working days before the poll:

• the regional party list nomination form9
• a consent to nomination for each candidate on the party list10
• a certificate of authorisation,11 authorising the use of the party name and, if so desired, a registered description on the ballot paper (as prescribed) – to be provided with the party list nomination form
• a written request to use one of the party’s registered emblems (if desired)12

Any party standing at the regional contest must be registered on the Commission’s register of political parties and be listed as allowed to field candidates in Scotland.13

Production of nomination papers

Nomination forms can only be produced in English and not in any alternative languages or formats.14

Neither candidates nor parties have to use the nomination forms that you as CRO or the RRO have produced, as long as their nomination form is as prescribed.15

You must as CRO prepare nomination forms for the constituency election for signature if requested.16 If you are also the RRO, you must also prepare individual regional candidates’ nomination papers for signature if requested.17

RROs are not required by law to prepare the regional list form for signature, only to supply it. However, you should, wherever possible prepare a form for anyone who asks. 

We have produced a set of nomination papers, that can be provided to candidates and parties for:

• the constituency contest
• parties standing at the regional contest 
• candidates at the regional contest who are not standing on behalf of a political party

We have also produced nominations checklists for CROs and RROs which sets out what you need to consider and specific things to look out for when determining a nomination.

You can find nominations packs and nomination checklists in the nominations section of our resource page.