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EA Bulletin: 385 Scotland

On this page

  • ERO guidance update
  • May 2026 elections: call for polling place data
First published: 16 March 2026 Last updated: 19 March 2026

In this edition

  • ERO guidance update  
  • May 2026 elections: call for polling place data 

ERO guidance update

We have updated our guidance for Electoral Registration Officers to reflect the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1983 Remedial (Scotland) Order 2025, which apply to Scottish Parliament and Scottish local government elections from 7 May 2026.  Full details of the pages updated can be found in the change log.  

The Order enables some patients detained in mental health hospitals on criminal grounds to register to vote.  

The ITR for these electors is in the final stages of being updated, and we will let you know via the Bulletin once this has been published.  

If you have any queries, please do get in touch with our Scotland team at [email protected].

May 2026 elections: call for polling place data

This year we’re once again running the polling place finder, in partnership with Democracy Club, to help make sure voters have access to accurate and timely information about how and where they can vote.  

We need your updated polling place information to make sure voters head to the right polling place. By having this information easily available online, it should help to reduce the number of calls you’ll get from voters looking for this information.  

We understand that the ERO will be providing the data to Democracy Club.  

Providing your data is straightforward. You can export the data from your EMS, and then email it to [email protected].   

Detailed instructions are available for each supplier, if you need them (opens in new window).  

To make sure we have time to change the information, we ask that you send your polling place data as soon as possible, if you’ve not done so already.  

If you’d like to see the polling place finder on your own website, you can embed Democracy Club’s election widget (opens in new window).

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