Imprints for political parties: Scottish Parliamentary elections and council elections in Scotland
Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and the Elections Act 2022, there are rules about putting imprints on election material. We regulate compliance with those rules.
Whenever printed or digital election material is produced, it must contain certain details (which we refer to as an ‘imprint’) to show who is responsible for the material. This helps to ensure there is transparency about who is campaigning.
The rules on imprints apply to all registered political parties contesting Scottish Parliamentary elections and council elections in Scotland. They apply whenever you produce material promoting your party at the election.
Scottish imprints summary box
The new digital imprint rules in the Elections Act 2022 apply across the whole UK, including to parties campaigning at Scottish Parliamentary elections and council elections in Scotland.
We expect the Scottish government to update Scottish digital imprint legislation before the next scheduled polls. When that happens, we will update this guidance.
In the meantime, parties campaigning at any by-elections to the Scottish Parliament or to a Scottish council will be covered by the Scottish digital imprints law and the UK digital imprints law at the same time. You will need to understand both regimes in order to comply.
This factsheet explains the law on print imprints and the Scottish law on digital imprints.