Scottish poll delivered successfully despite challenging circumstances

The May 2021 Scottish Parliament election was well-run and voters were confident in participating. This is the main finding from the Electoral Commission’s report on the poll published today. 


The Commission found that changes agreed by the electoral community – including government, political parties and electoral administrators, alongside the Electoral Commission -  to deal with the impact of Covid-19 helped to support and reassure voters and candidates.  


Nearly all voters (95%) said they were satisfied with the process of voting in the 6 May election, and the vast majority (94%) said this was by their preferred method. The majority of candidates (88%) also said that the election had been well-run.


Voters and candidates did not appear to be deterred from participating, with the poll seeing the highest turnout ever for a Scottish Parliament election at 63.5% and the largest number of constituency candidates since 2003.
 

“This year’s Scottish election took place in unprecedented circumstances. It is testament to the hard work and collaboration of everyone in the electoral community that the poll was delivered successfully and commanded the confidence of voters.” 

Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland said:

Voter confidence in elections remains high with 85% of voters saying it was well-run. However, the experience of these polls has once again highlighted concerns about the resilience and capacity of electoral administration services. 


Those running elections faced challenges securing polling station venues, and finding and training staff to work on polling day. The report also highlights reliance on a small marketplace of expert suppliers for specialist election services, including ballot printing, and the risks this creates.  
 

“We have repeatedly highlighted concerns about the resilience and capacity of electoral administration services in Scotland, which are coupled with the challenges of delivering elections within an outdated and increasingly complex electoral law framework. 


“Further legislative changes are already in the pipeline and it is critical that these services are properly resourced and funded, so that voters can continue to receive the support they need to register and vote.” 


“For our part, we will continue to work in partnership with the Electoral Management Board in Scotland and governments to address the challenges of capacity and resilience.” 
 

This was the first election in the UK to require campaigners to include an imprint on their digital campaign material to give voters transparency about who was trying to target them online. The Commission found that most candidates and parties complied with the new rules. However, it was difficult to make contact with some campaigners who did not. The Commission has recommended that it is given an additional power that would enable it to obtain information from social media companies to support compliance with the rules. 

Ends
For more information contact the Electoral Commission press office on 0131 225 0211, out of office hours 07789 920 414 or [email protected]
 

Notes to editors
1.    The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity by:
•    enabling the delivery of free and fair elections and referendums, focusing on the needs of electors and addressing the changing environment to ensure every vote remains secure and accessible
•    regulating political finance – taking proactive steps to increase transparency, ensure compliance and pursue breaches
•    using our expertise to make and advocate for changes to our democracy, 
•    aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency
The Commission was set up in 2000 and reports to the Scottish, UK and Welsh Parliaments.
2.    The Commission has a statutory responsibility to report on the administration of the Scottish Parliament election. The Commission’s report, and the research data it draws on, are available at: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/scottish-parliamentary-elections.
3.    The Commission has today also published the following reports:
•    Report on the May 2021 elections in England  
•    Report on the May 2021 elections in Wales