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Introduction

This guidance is for electoral observers who have been accredited by the Electoral Commission. It includes information on the elections taking place and what to expect at the electoral processes you are entitled to observe.
Find out more about becoming an accredited observer

Scottish Parliamentary Elections

Which election is taking place?

On Thursday 7 May 2026, there will be an election to the Scottish Parliament. This guidance is for accredited observers observing in Scotland.
What can I observe?

As an accredited observer you are entitled to attend:

  • the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers
  • the polling stations
  • the verification and counting of the votes

We have published a Code of Practice for electoral observers. You must comply with the standards of behaviour set out in this Code.
You do not need to tell electoral officials that you want to observe proceedings ; by law you have a right to attend as detailed above. However, if you do tell them, they may be able to provide you with some relevant local and practical information, for example a list of polling stations or adaptations made to venues for accessibility purposes. You can still make unannounced visits or change your plans if you want to.

Contact a Returning Officer to ask for local and practical information.

Who can vote in these elections?

You can vote in this election if you are registered to vote in Scotland, will be 16 years old or over on polling day and are: 

  • a UK or Irish citizen or
  • a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK or
  • a qualifying foreign national who is living in Scotland and has permission to enter or stay in the UK or who does not need such permission, including EU citizens
  • British citizens living overseas can’t vote in the Scottish Parliament election.

Which voting method will be used?

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) are elected using the Additional Member System. At these elections, voters will be given two ballot papers and they cast one vote on each paper. 
With the first vote, the voter chooses between candidates standing for election in their constituency by putting a cross [X] next to their choice on a lilac ballot paper. 
Then, they cast a second vote to choose a political party or independent candidate to represent their region. They put a cross [X] in the box next to their choice of political party or independent candidate on a peach ballot paper.

Who does what at these elections?

The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is responsible for maintaining the register of electors and absent voters’ lists for their area. 
Contact an ERO to ask for local and practical information.

The Constituency Returning Officer (CRO) is responsible for ensuring the election is administered effectively in their constituency including the provision of polling stations, the printing of ballot papers, appointing polling station staff, the conduct of the poll, managing the postal vote process, and the verification and count.

They must also consider the accessibility for voters at polling stations. Our guidance on assistance with voting for disabled people provides further information.
 

The CRO is personally responsible for the conduct of the Scottish Parliament election in their constituency, including:

  • publication of the notice of election for the constituency contest
  • administration of the nomination process for the constituency contest
  • encouraging participation
  • publication of the statement of persons nominated and the notice of poll for the constituency contest
  • provision and equipment of polling stations
  • appointment of polling station staff
  • conduct of the poll
  • management of the postal vote process for both contests
  • verification and counting votes for both the constituency contest and that part of the regional contest that falls within your constituency
  • declaration of the constituency result
  • transmission of both contest results to the RRO

Contact a CRO to ask for local and practical information.

Their duties as CRO are separate from their duties as a local government officer. As CRO they are not responsible to the council but are directly accountable to the courts as an independent statutory office holder.
While CROs can appoint one or more persons to discharge any or all of the CRO’s functions, they cannot delegate their personal responsibility for delivering the election. 

At a Scottish Parliament election each there will also be a Regional Returning Officer (RRO) for each of the 8 electoral regions. 
The RRO is responsible for overseeing the conduct of the regional election  . They have overall responsibility for calculating how many candidates from each party are elected based on the regional vote and for formally declaring those results and for formally declaring these results. The RRO is also responsible for administering the nomination process for regional candidates  . In some cases, a Constituency Returning Officer (CRO) may also serve as the RRO.

The RRO, in the region is personally responsible for:

  • publication of the notice of election for the regional contest
  • administration of the nomination process for the regional contest
  • publication of the statement of persons and parties nominated and the notice of poll for the regional contest
  • directing, if necessary, the CROs in your region about the means of informing you of the results of both contests in each constituency within the region
  • the collation, calculation and allocation of seats for the region
  • the declaration of the regional result

If the CRO is also the RRO they are uniquely placed to liaise with other CROs in their area to ensure that all voters and candidates in the region receive a consistent and high-quality experience.

The Electoral Management Board for Scotland (EMB) seeks to ensure that the interests of the voter are kept at the centre of all elections planning and administration. The EMB undertakes this by assisting ROs and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) through the promotion of best practice by providing information, advice or training. The EMB Convener has the power to issue directions to ROs and to EROs in respect of Scottish Parliament election and their aim is to achieve consistency in delivery across Scotland.

The Electoral Commission is an independent statutory body set up by UK Parliament.
The Electoral Commission promotes confidence in elections in the UK by regulating political finance, accrediting observers, and advising on electoral matters. It registers parties and campaigners, monitors donations and spending, and promote voter awareness. We do not run elections but have responsibility for providing advice and assistance.
You can find more information about our role on our website.

Our contact details are:

The Electoral Commission, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1YJ
Tel: 0333 103 1928
[email protected]
www.electoralcommission.org.uk

Briefings

The relevant RO at each of either constituency or regional election will offer briefings ahead of the election for candidates and agents. You may be able to attend these sessions which will help you to understand the processes that you are entitled to attend and observe. If you wish to attend these briefings, you should contact the relevant CRO or RRO elections office beforehand to find out more information.

Duty to maintain secrecy

The CRO will give you a copy of the statutory Requirement of Secrecy. Anyone attending a postal vote issuing or opening session must comply with this. Ballot papers will be kept face down throughout a postal vote opening session.

Anyone attending an opening session must not:

  • attempt to see how individual ballot papers have been marked
  • attempt to look at identifying marks or numbers on ballot papers
  • disclose how any particular ballot paper has been marked
  • pass on any such information gained from the session

Anyone found guilty of breaching these requirements can face an unlimited fine or may be imprisoned for up to six months.

Postal voting

Electors can apply to vote by post. The CRO starts to send postal voting packs to postal voters around three weeks before polling day. Voters can return their packs by post to their Returning Officer or hand them in to polling stations in the constituency on polling day. Completed postal voting packs must be returned by 10pm on polling day.

You are entitled to attend both the issuing of postal voting packs and postal vote opening sessions. Candidates may appoint a postal vote agent to attend on their behalf.

The CRO will be able to tell you when and where these sessions are taking place.

What happens at a postal vote issuing session?

Postal ballot packs will be dispatched from around three weeks before polling day. There is likely to be more than one session for issuing postal votes and will likely take place at an external printer. Information about the arrangements for postal vote dispatch can be given by the CRO.

At the issuing session, postal voting packs will be put together. The packs will include:

this is the envelope that the elector returns their ballot paper(s) in. It is marked with the letter ‘A’ and the words ‘ballot paper envelope

this is the envelope that the elector will use to return the ballot paper envelope and the postal voting statement. It is marked with the letter ‘B’ and the address of the CRO

this contains the elector’s name, the number of the ballot paper(s) issued to them, instructions on how to vote by post and space for the elector to sign and provide their date of birth

The lilac constituency ballot paper

The peach regional ballot paper

A list showing the names of the candidates who appear on the regional list of each party and the individual regional candidates

Postal voting packs will then be delivered to electors, either by post or in some cases by hand.

When will postal votes be opened?

There will be several postal vote opening sessions before polling day, as well as on polling day itself. You can contact the CRO for details of these locally. There will also be a final opening session held after the polls have closed. Postal votes handed in to polling stations will be opened at this session. This session may be held at the count venue or in another location.

What happens at a postal vote opening session?

Postal voters must complete and return a postal voting statement which includes their signature and date of birth, as well as their ballot paper(s).
The CRO will decide whether or not the date of birth and signature provided by electors on their postal voting statements matches the signature and date of birth previously provided by the elector and held on their records. If they do not match, the postal vote will be rejected.

A small number of voters will have been granted a signature waiver because they are unable to sign or provide a consistent signature due to a disability or an inability to read or write. These voters do not need to sign their postal voting statement but still must provide a date of birth.

Observers are entitled to observe the postal voting opening session but must not impede the proceedings and under no circumstances can they touch the ballot papers.

Postal vote opening procedure

The stages of the postal vote opening process can be summarised as follows:

  1. Postal votes are brought to the opening session in ballot boxes
  2. The covering envelopes (envelope B) are taken out and counted
  3. The total number of covering envelopes is recorded
  4. Covering envelopes (envelope B) are divided between teams of opening staff
  5. Staff open each covering envelope (envelope B) and remove the postal voting statement and the sealed ballot paper envelope (envelope A)
  6. Staff check that the number on the postal voting statement matches the number on envelope A
  7. If the numbers match, staff check that the elector has provided a signature and a date of birth (without checking that they are the elector’s at this stage)
  8. Postal voting statements without a signature and date of birth cause the postal vote to be rejected
  9. If the statement or ballot paper envelope is missing, or the numbers on the statement and ballot paper envelope do not match, the document(s) are set aside, recorded and stored in secure packets
  10. The Constituency Returning Officer (CRO) must verify the dates of birth and signatures provided on the statements
  11. The CRO must be satisfied that the dates of birth and signatures on the statements match those previously held on record
  12. Following verification of the signatures and dates of birth, postal voting statements are removed from the tables
  13. Staff open the ballot paper envelopes (envelope A) and remove the ballot paper
  14. Staff check that the number on the back of the ballot paper matches the number on the ballot paper envelope (envelope A)
  15. Valid ballot papers (not votes) are counted and the total number is recorded
  16. All valid ballot papers are placed into the postal ballot boxes and stored being delivered to the count venue for counting after the close of poll

Matching up postal voting statements with postal ballot papers

The CRO will keep lists of any provisionally rejected postal ballot papers which are:

  • any postal ballot paper that has been returned without a postal voting statement
  • any postal voting statement that has not been returned with the postal ballot paper


The CRO will check these lists regularly to ensure that if any mismatched documents can be matched up, those postal ballots are re-introduced into the process.

What is verification?

Postal ballot papers previously received and opened will also be brought to the venue in sealed ballot boxes.

All ballot papers must then be verified. Verification has two main purposes:

  • ensure ballot papers have been brought to the count
  • to provide the figure that should match the result of the count.


The number of ballot papers in each ballot box are counted and will be compared with the number on the corresponding ballot paper account. If the number of ballot papers in each box matches the ballot paper account, the verification of that box is complete. 

If the numbers do not match, the ballot papers will be recounted and the documentation checked again. This process will continue until the CRO is satisfied as to the actual number of ballot papers to be included in the count. 

Observing at polling stations

You are entitled to observe inside polling stations. The CRO will be able to provide you with a list of all polling stations in the area where you want to observe. This information is available following the deadline for candidate nominations  on 1 April, in the Notice of Situation of Polling Places available from the council websites. The Constituency Returning Officer will publish this notice along with the Notice of Poll and Statement of persons nominated.

Returning Officers may have reviewed their polling stations since the last election, as result of any potential constituency boundary changes or there may be changes to polling stations if a venue has become unavailable. Changes may be communicated via council websites and/or social media channels.

When are polling stations open?

Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 7 May 2026. You are permitted to arrive shortly before this to observe the sealing of the ballot box(es) prior to the poll opening.

Example of a single polling station layout with one entrance/exit:
Example of a single polling station layout with separate entrance and exit:
Example of a double polling station layout:

Who can vote at a polling station?

Any person on the polling station’s register can vote at the polling station unless:
 

  • they are a registered postal voter
  • they are a registered proxy voter and their proxy has already voted for them or has applied to vote on their behalf by post
  • they are not 16 years of age or older on polling day
  • they are registered as an overseas elector


Electors receive a poll card before the election telling them where they can vote. Most electors do not need to take their poll card to the polling station in order to vote. The only electors who need to bring a poll card with them to vote are those who have registered anonymously because of risks to their safety.

Registered postal voters cannot be issued with a ballot paper at the polling station. They can return their completed postal ballot pack to their polling station or any polling station in the relevant electoral area or to the RO at the elections office. Postal ballot packs returned to polling stations must be handed to polling station staff and not placed in the ballot box. Polling station staff will keep any postal votes secure until they are collected.

Who is allowed to be in the polling station?

The following people are entitled by law to be present in a polling station:

  • the CRO and their staff
  • the RRO and their staff
  • the Presiding Officer and clerks
  • voters
  • persons under voting age who accompany voters
  • companions of disabled voters
  • candidates and their election agents (or a sub-agent on their behalf)
  • polling agents
  • police officers and community support officers on duty at the polling station
  • Electoral Commission representatives
  • observers accredited by the Electoral Commission
  • persons aged 16 or over handing in postal votes

What do polling agents do?

Candidates and political parties can appoint polling agents to be present at any polling station. The main role of a polling agent is to detect personation (when an individual votes as someone else – whether that person is living or dead or is a fictitious person).

Other duties that the polling agents may undertake include:

  • checking that the ballot box(es) is empty at 7am
  • being present when the Presiding Officer marks a ballot paper on behalf of a voter
  • being present at the close of poll to observe the sealing up of the ballot box(es) and other packages
  • attaching their own seal to the ballot box(es) or any packet in addition to the official seal at close of poll.

What happens in a polling station?

  • ask voters for their name and address, and make sure they are eligible to vote
  • mark a straight line against the voter’s entry on the register of electors
  • write the elector number on a list next to the number(s) of the ballot paper(s) to be issued
  • ensure the ballot paper(s) include the unique identifying mark and official mark (e.g. a barcode or watermark)
  • fold the ballot paper(s) and then hand them to the voter unfolded so that they can see all of the options on the ballot paper(s)

  • mark the ballot paper(s) in private in the polling booth
  • fold the ballot paper(s) and show the ballot paper number(s) and unique identifying mark on the back of the ballot paper(s) to the Presiding Officer
  • place the ballot paper(s) in the ballot box(es) and leave the polling station

    Each polling station will have two ballot boxes, one for the constituency ballot papers and one for regional ballot papers.

Anonymous electors

To protect them from harm, some electors will be registered without reference to their name or address – they will have an anonymous register entry. Anonymous electors wishing to vote in person will be required to show their poll card in order to vote in a polling station. 

Instead of asking for the elector’s name and address and calling out the elector’s name, staff will only ask for and call out their electoral number.

What assistance is available for voters with disabilities?

Through our work with civil society organisations and charities we have identified a range of equipment that can help to overcome the known barriers faced by disabled people. The following equipment should, as a minimum, be provided in all polling stations to support disabled voters:

this provides a place to rest for voters who cannot stand for long periods and a seat for voters who would like to take some time to think before entering the polling booth

these can provide support for voters who are visually impaired to vote independently by increasing the size of the text on a document. The strength of magnifier needed will vary depending on the amount of vision a voter has. You may need to provide more than one strength of magnifier depending on the needs of the voters at a particular polling station

tactile voting devices provide support for voters who are visually impaired to mark their vote on the ballot paper in the correct place, provided it is placed on the ballot paper correctly. They have been found to provide assistance in completing the ballot paper once visually impaired voters know the position on the ballot paper of the candidate for whom they wish to vote. They do not allow blind voters to vote independently unless they also have accessible information about the order of the candidates on the ballot paper, for example an audio or braille version of the ballot paper

helps to ensure that voters who use a wheelchair are able access a lower writing surface to ensure they can cast their vote in secret in a booth that is accessible

these help voters more easily identify who is a member of staff in the polling station and can therefore be approached for assistance. The type of badge and text used can be tailored to suit individual local circumstances. For example, you could provide polling station staff with a badge stating their first name and making clear their role and that they are happy to help

these can help voters with dexterity impairments to more easily hold and use a pencil independently

these support access to a polling station for voters who use a wheelchair or have difficulty using steps

for any doors that are required to remain shut during the day (for example, fire doors) – these provide a way for voters to let polling station staff know that they need assistance to open the door so they can access the polling station. These do not need to be permanently fixed or installed in a building used as a polling station but can be temporarily placed at an accessible level on a table or chair next to any doors that must remain closed

some polling station venues have good lighting but others may need additional lighting at the desk to ensure that voters can clearly see the faces of staff, and in the polling booths to support voters with visual impairments to be able to read and complete the ballot paper

this ensures that disabled voters can park as close as possible to the polling station
 

Voters with sight loss may use apps on their mobile phones or carry pocket-sized assistive equipment, such as video magnifiers to help them read documents. These could be used in conjunction with the template. The Constituency Returning Officer may also have provided other equipment to support voting without assistance.

If a voter is unable to mark a ballot paper themselves because they have a disability, the Presiding Officer or a companion can mark it for them. The voter must tell the polling station staff that this is how they want to vote.

If a companion marks the ballot paper for a voter, they will be asked to fill in a form. A companion cannot assist more than two electors to vote at an election.

Electors can contact the Constituency Returning Officer to communicate any specific access needs that they have. As a result, there may be extra equipment in certain polling stations where the Constituency Returning Officer has provided specific equipment to meet those access needs.

What are Tellers?

Tellers stand outside polling stations and record the elector numbers of people who 
have voted. They can then identify likely supporters who have not voted yet and 
encourage them to vote before the close of poll.

Tellers have no legal status, and voters can refuse to give information to them.

What happens after polls close?

Polls close at 10pm. Any voters waiting in a queue at their polling station at 10pm will be allowed to vote, even if they haven’t been issued with their ballot paper(s) yet.

Once all voters who have been issued with ballot paper(s) have voted, the Presiding Officer must seal the ballot box(es ). Candidates, agents and polling agents can also add their own seal if they want to.

The Presiding Officer must then complete a number of official forms:

  • the ballot paper account(s) (which states how many ballot papers were issued)
  • the list of voters with disabilities assisted by companions
  • the list of votes marked by the Presiding Officer
  • the statement of the number of voters whose votes were marked by the Presiding Officer
  • the list of tendered votes

Duty to maintain secrecy in the polling station

Anyone attending a polling station must maintain the secrecy of the ballot. In particular, the following information must not be disclosed:

•    the name or electoral number of who has or has not voted
•    the number or other unique identifying mark on a ballot paper

Anyone attending a polling station must not try to determine how a voter has voted or who they are about to vote for. A polling agent can mark off on their copy of the register of electors those voters who have applied for ballot papers. If the polling agent leaves the polling station during the hours of polling, they must leave the marked copy of the register in the polling station to ensure that secrecy requirements are not breached.

Any person found guilty of breaching the secrecy requirements can face an unlimited fine or may be imprisoned for up to six months.

Observing the verification and count

After polling stations close at 10pm the ballot boxes will be transported to the count ahead of the count the next day. For this election there is no overnight verification of the ballot papers in the ballot boxes or counting of votes. 
CROs may choose to verify the unused, spoilt ballot papers and postal votes at the close of poll and overnight. Observers, candidates and their agents will be able to attend these processes.

The count will take place on Friday 8 May. CROs must ensure that the first ballot boxes are opened at 9am on Friday 8 May, to allow the verification and counting of constituency and regional ballot papers in their constituencies to begin.

You are entitled to attend the verification and count. You are only permitted to 
observe the process. You are not allowed to enter the restricted area where staff count the votes. CROs have the right to limit the number of observers who may be present at any one time during the verification and count.

The CRO is responsible for verifying and counting the votes cast in their constituency. They are also responsible for declaring the results of the constituency(ies) in their area.

The CRO will be able to tell you when and where the count will take place and another other local arrangements.

Who can attend the count?

The following people are entitled by law to attend the verification and count:

•    Constituency and Regional Returning Officers and their staff
•    candidates plus one guest
•    election agents (or a sub-agent on their behalf)
•    counting agents
•    Electoral Commission representatives
•    observers accredited by the Electoral Commission
•    any other person permitted by the CRO

The CRO may allow representatives of the media to attend the verification and count. 
They must not interfere with the process or compromise the secrecy of the vote.

What do counting agents do?

Counting agents have a number of important roles to play at the count:

  • they observe the counting process and make sure that it is accurate
  • they can draw to the attention of count staff any doubtful ballot papers
  • if they disagree with a decision by the CRO to reject a ballot paper, they can ask the CRO to mark on the ballot paper “rejection objected to

If a count is suspended for any reason, counting agents can add their seals 
 

How are the votes counted?

After the verification stage is complete, the CRO must mix the polling station and postal vote ballot papers before the votes are sorted and counted. The ballot papers should be kept face upwards and be visible at all times to any candidates, agents and observers present. Any doubtful ballot papers should be placed aside for adjudication.

Staff will count the number of votes cast for each candidate on the constituency ballot paper, and on the regional ballot paper votes cast for the political party or independent candidate.

CROs will adjudicate doubtful ballot papers regularly as the count proceeds. The adjudication of doubtful ballot papers should not be left until the end of the count. Any area used for adjudication, must be clearly announced to those entitled to observe the process.

When adjudicating doubtful ballot papers, CROs must:

  • always be clear and consistent
  • take time to ensure that a considered decision is given in every case
  • determine whether the intention of the voter clearly appears

As part of this, they will need to:

  • consider the whole of the ballot paper
  • consider whether the way a ballot paper has been marked means that:
     
  • at the constituency contest, a vote for one candidate is clearly apparent
  • at the regional contest a vote for one party or individual regional candidate is clearly apparent  

What are doubtful ballot papers?

A doubtful ballot paper is a ballot paper that has not been completed by the voter in accordance with the instructions. During the count, these ballot papers will be placed aside. The CRO will adjudicate these ballot papers regularly throughout the count to determine whether the intention of the voter clearly appears on the ballot paper.
 

An announcement will be made that an adjudication on doubtful ballot papers is about to be made. The CRO will decide whether each doubtful ballot paper is valid in the presence of candidates, agents and observers. You can attend the adjudication, but it will not be delayed if you are not present.

The CRO will inform those present whether or not each doubtful ballot paper is valid and the reason for their decision. The CROs decision is final and can only be challenged by an election petition.
 

Any doubtful ballot papers that are declared as valid must be counted and included in the total number of votes cast for the appropriate candidate or party.

A ballot paper will not be counted if it:

  • does not contain the official mark
  • contains votes for more than one candidate in a constituency contest or at the regional contest for more than one registered party / individual regional candidate
  • contains any mark or writing that can identify the voter
    is unmarked
  • or does not indicate the voter’s intention with certainty

The CRO must mark the word “rejected” on any ballot paper that is rejected and must draw up a statement showing the number of ballot papers rejected for these reasons.

Provisional results and recounts

  • CROs should be satisfied that the number of votes for each candidate or party (as appropriate) is accurate before proceeding to a provisional result.
     
  • All processes should be undertaken within the framework of maximum openness and transparency implemented throughout the various stages of the count so that all candidates and agents can have confidence in the processes and the provisional result provided.
     
  • Once satisfied, CROs should advise candidates and agents of the provisional result and seek their agreement on the announcement of the result. They should make it clear that candidates and agents are entitled to request a recount.
     
  • In addition, for the regional contest, CROs should make it clear that it is not possible to request a recount at the regional level, only at the constituency level.
     
  • CROs must give the candidates and agents sufficient time to digest the provisional result before proceeding with the declaration. It is at this point that candidates and agents may request to have the votes recounted, or following a recount, recounted again.


The candidate(s) with the most votes are elected for the constituency. The CRO will make a declaration stating who has been elected after each contest has been counted .

For the regional result the CRO will prepare a statement, setting out the total number of votes given for each party and individual candidate and the description (if any) of each party or individual candidate and, the number of rejected ballot papers given under each heading.  Once the statement is prepared and after submitting the results for the regional contest in that constituency to the RRO, the CRO will announce the local result for the regional contest in that constituency 

What happens if candidates have the same number of votes?

If two or more candidates in the constituency contest have the same number of votes, the CRO must decide between them by drawing lots. The method of doing so is at the CRO’s discretion.

Duty to maintain secrecy

Anyone attending the count has a duty to maintain the secrecy of the count. In 
particular, anyone attending must not:

  • ascertain or attempt to ascertain the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of any ballot paper
  • communicate any information obtained at the count as to the candidate for whom any vote is given on any particular ballot paper
     

Submitting feedback

We welcome feedback from your electoral observations which you can submit using our feedback form.
If you want to submit feedback on these elections, the deadline for feedback to be considered is Friday 5 June 2026.

Feedback may be shared with relevant Returning Officers to help improve the running of elections and the observer scheme.
If you would like to send feedback in a different format, please email [email protected]