Scottish Parliament Political Parties Panel minutes: 4 March 2021

Legislative matters relating to Scottish Parliamentary election 2021

Iain Hockenhull (IH) confirmed the order to make the changes to proxy voting had been approved.

Electoral registration, postal voting, proxy voting

Pete Wildman (PW) said that the SAA TV Ad campaign had reached 2.1 million people across the country. The Household Notification Letter had received a positive response with over 70,000 requests for postal votes, not including downloads or parties. He said people could email a scanned or photocopied postal vote application and if received by 5pm on 6 April would receive a postal vote for the 6 May Scottish Parliament election. If they missed that deadline, they could still vote in person or appoint a proxy. He confirmed the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) letter had promoted a lot of interest. Chris Highcock (CH) confirmed there would be a number of sweeps to ensure pick-up on polling day Action: PW agreed to email Rachel Winham a list of ERO addresses in Scotland.

Martin McKeown (MMcK) referred to the Electoral Commission’s Code of conduct which directed parties to return applications within two days and to check absent voter lists to reduce the potential for duplication.

Chris Highcock (CH) talked about the directions the EMB had put in place, advice around one day of polling; the appropriate allocation of in-person polling station numbers to avoid long queues; the dates when poll cards would be sent out and he listed the health and safety measures which would be in polling places. Action: He said he would discuss out with the meeting how parties could get early communication of the locations of polling places.

CH talked about the arrangements for the commencement of counts and stressed that physical distancing would mean they would take longer and mean less available space for counting agents, or guests of the RO, but allow an appropriate degree of scrutiny and safety. The subject of Covid testing of staff was still under discussion but being considered. 

MMcK confirmed core guidance for parties had been published and spending return forms would be published shortly. All core guidance for candidates was on line and spending return forms published this week. There would also be a supporting document setting out what would be different at this election. He suggested early contact with Regional and Constituency Returning Officers who would give information on the conduct of elections locally. ACTION: He would send round a link to the RRO/RO Contact details. 

Penelope Curtis, said the Minister for Parliamentary Business had updated on preparations for the safe running of the election but also outlined how campaigning was likely to take place. The Scottish Government update included a link to that statement which sought to align campaigning activity as closely as possible to the updated strategic framework. It was anticipated leafleting by volunteers could begin from 15 March, subject to a decision taken that restrictions would be eased. Face to face door step campaigning could commence from 5 April. The public health test would be that infection rates across Scotland had reached 50 per 100,000 across Scotland and the test positivity rate under 5%. Any individual local authority exceeding these figures would have to suspend campaigning until figures dropped below that level. She said public acceptance and reaction to campaigning would be absolutely key and not all would welcome it. 

MMcK said he and Andy O’Neill (AON) had engaged with parties, particularly new ones, to get across key messages regarding rules they needed to be aware of, (e.g. new imprint rules). He said the offer was still there if parties wanted to meet. 

Sarah Mackie (SMa) talked about the Commission’s registration campaign, ‘Got 5’ which would launch on 9 March. She said the democratic engagement area of the website provided resources for stakeholders, including animations on how to vote, how to complete ballot papers and what to expect in the polling station. SMa also said that an animation about how postal votes are processed and kept secure would also be shared. She reported the Scottish Parliament website was developing a video on how the voting system worked. The Commission’s household booklet would be distributed from the week beginning 22 March with accessible versions available week commencing 15 March. A link to the booklet has been circulated, but SMa asked that members do not share this until the accessible versions were available. There had been requests from parties to be added to the press distribution list and she asked anyone who wished to be added to send her a request (in line with GDPR regulations).

Catherine Heggie (CHe) reported that the ‘Welcome to your vote’ campaign would begin on 9 March, was aimed at 16 & 17 year olds and newly-enfranchised foreign nationals and would run until the registration deadline. Digital and print resources were available for partners to use across their channels, as well as a voting factsheet for newly-enfranchised citizens and learning resources for 14-18 year olds.

Superintendent Gerry Corrigan (GC) reported the policing structure was in place and key risks were public order, terrorism, cyber threat and candidate safety though he stressed no specific threat had been identified. The police intended to provide all candidates with personal safety advice in relation to being a candidate and would support ROs in facilitating the throughput of people at polling places. They would engage, explain and encourage to abide by the rules, with enforcement activity as a last resort in extreme circumstances. He said they were keen to have sight of guidance going out to canvassers so their knowledge would be in tune. He said planning meetings were well under way and divisional points of contact well linked to local authorities so building a knowledge of where polling places were to develop a local picture. On polling day and the day of the count, police operation command centre would be maintaining a national overview of anything developing for a police perspective. Scott Martin (SM) asked if a 24 hour point of contact telephone list existed. ACTION: GC said he would communicate back on this over the next few days.

MMcC asked if anyone had questions regarding the previously circulated update. She said the SSI had gone to committee that morning.

Helena Brice (HB) asked if there were any questions regarding the previously circulated update.

Isabel Drummond-Murray said there was not much to report, she had postponed the meeting with the parties about the 2023 review and were now focussed on the islands review work. She said she would be back in touch in May to set up a meeting after the election. Action: Isabel Drummond-Murray to arrange meeting with parties through EC after the election.

CH said they had interacted with ROs, EROS and government around the practical delivery of the election.

AON said all had been covered in previous discussion. 

Sue Bruce informed the panel there was a preferred candidate for the position of Chair of the Electoral Commission and his name was John Pullinger who was a past president of the Royal Statistical Society. He had gone through processes led by the Speaker’s Committee and on Monday had been involved in a public session with them. If they agreed it would go for debate and be subject for the Royal Warrant. Alex Attwood Northern Ireland had been appointed as smaller parties Commissioner and the Royal Warrant was in processing. The Commission was also recruiting for a country Commissioner for Northern Ireland. 

AON said a date approximately 10 days after the election would be set for the next meeting as well as dates from autumn onwards to May 2022 for the Scottish council elections.