Local non-party campaigners can spend up to £500 on campaigning for or against one or more individual candidates in a constituency, or one or more independent regional candidates.1
This is known as the permitted sum. It applies once the candidate is officially a candidate.
The earliest someone can officially become a candidate is Thursday 26 March 2026.2
You can find more information about when people become candidates in our guidance for candidates and agents at Scottish Parliamentary elections.
You should keep a record of your spending, to make sure that you do not exceed the permitted sum.
You can only spend over the permitted sum if it is authorised in writing by the agent of the relevant candidate.3
The authorised spending will be candidate spending and will count towards the candidate’s spending limit.4
If you have been authorised to incur candidate spending, you should read our guidance for candidates and agents.