Scottish Parliament Election 2026: Voters across the Scottish Parliament are preparing for one of the most important political events of the year as Scotland gets ready to elect its next set of lawmakers.
Millions of people are expected to cast their votes in the upcoming election, which will decide the future leadership of the parliament based in Holyrood.
The election will shape policies on key issues such as healthcare, education, taxes, and transport, which are managed by Scotland's devolved government. With rising concerns about the economy and public services, the upcoming vote has gained significant attention across the country.
Scottish Parliamentary Election Date
The next election for the Scottish Parliament will take place on Thursday, 7 May 2026. Polling stations across Scotland will open early in the morning and remain operational until late evening, allowing voters ample time to cast their ballots.
This election will select 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), who represent local constituencies and regions across Scotland. These representatives will form the new parliament and determine the government that leads the country.
The upcoming vote follows the previous election held in 2021, which took place during the coronavirus pandemic and saw restrictions affect traditional campaigning and voting patterns.
Scottish Parliamentary Election Time
Polling stations will operate from 07:00 to 22:00 on election day, giving voters a full day to participate in the democratic process.
In this election, each voter will receive two ballot papers:
- One ballot will be used to select a constituency MSP, representing a local area.
- The second ballot will be used to vote for a political party or an independent candidate at the regional level.
The constituency vote uses the first-past-the-post system, where the candidate with the most votes wins. The regional vote follows a proportional system that helps balance overall representation in parliament.
The parliament consists of 73 constituency MSPs and 56 regional MSPs, ensuring that all parts of Scotland receive representation.
Scottish Parliamentary Election Result Date
Unlike previous elections, vote counting will not begin immediately after polls close. Instead, officials will start counting ballots on Friday morning, the day after the election. Early results are expected around lunchtime, while most constituency and regional outcomes should be confirmed by Friday evening.
Political analysts expect the results to shape the leadership structure of the parliament, including the selection of the First Minister, who leads the Scottish Government. Recent political developments have intensified campaign competition, with major parties preparing for close contests in several regions.
Scottish Parliamentary Election Full Candidate List
| Stewart Whyte | Aberdeen Central |
| Liam Kerr | Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine |
| Hannah Powell | Aberdeen Donside |
| Douglas Lumsden | Aberdeenshire East |
| Alexander Burnett | Aberdeenshire West |
| Euan Blockley | Airdrie |
| Damian Doran-Timson | Almond Valley |
| Tracey Smith | Angus North and Mearns |
| Angus Macmillan Douglas | Angus South |
| Peter Wallace | Argyll and Bute |
| Sharon Dowey | Ayr |
| James Adams | Banffshire and Buchan Coast |
| Peter Heggie | Bathgate |
| Donald Mackenzie | Caithness, Sutherland and Ross |
| Tracey Clark | Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley |
| Alexander Stewart | Clackmannanshire and Dunblane |
| Alix Mathieson | Clydebank and Milngavie |
| Julie Pirone | Clydesdale |
| Andy Bruce | Coatbridge and Chryston |
| Darren Watt | Cowdenbeath |
| Keith Allan | Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |
| Ronnie Stalker | Cunninghame North |
| Maurice Corry | Cunninghame South |
| Gary Mulvaney | Dumbarton |
| Craig Hoy | Dumfriesshire |
| Jack Cruickshanks | Dundee City East |
| Abi Brooks | Dundee City West |
| Thomas Heald | Dunfermline |
| Brian Whittle | East Kilbride |
| Miles Briggs | East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs |
| Jackson Carlaw | Eastwood |
| Jo Mowat | Edinburgh Central |
| Tim Jones | Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent |
| Haris Young | Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith |
| Rachel Cairns | Edinburgh North Western |
| Christopher Cowdy | Edinburgh Northern |
| Sue Webber | Edinburgh South Western |
| Marie-Clair Munro | Edinburgh Southern |
| Rachael Hamilton | Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire |
| Lewis Stein | Falkirk East and Linlithgow |
| Neil Benny | Falkirk West |
| Edward Sheasby | Fife North East |
| Finlay Carson | Galloway and West Dumfries |
| Sandesh Gulhane | Glasgow Anniesland |
| John Murray | Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleson |
| Kyle Park | Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok |
| Naveed Asghar | Glasgow Central |
| Josephine Macleod | Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn |
| Daniel Bowman | Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill |
| Ross Hutton | Glasgow Southside |
| Alexandra Herdman | Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse |
| Ted Runciman | Inverclyde |
| Ruraidh Stewart | Inverness and Nairn |
| James Adams | Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley |
| Heather Greig | Kirkcaldy |
| Niamh Heald | Mid Fife and Glenrothes |
| Phil Doggart | Midlothian North |
| Keith Cockburn | Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale |
| Tim Eagle | Moray |
| Bob Burgess | Motherwell and Wishaw |
| George Macpherson | Na h-Eileanan an Iar |
| Jamie Halcro Johnston | Orkney Islands |
| Satbir Kaur Gill | Paisley |
| Murdo Fraser | Perthshire North |
| Roz McCall | Perthshire South and Kinross-shire |
| Jack Hall | Renfrewshire North and Cardonald |
| Farooq Choudhry | Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley |
| Annie Wells | Rutherglen and Cambuslang |
| Douglas Barnett | Shetland Islands |
| Helen Crawford | Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch |
| Stephen Kerr | Stirling |
| Pam Gosal | Strathkelvin and Bearsden |
| Meghan Gallacher | Uddingston and Bellshill |
| Russell Findlay | West of Scotland |
Who can vote in the Scottish Parliamentary Election?
Voting eligibility in Scotland includes a wide range of residents. Anyone who lives in Scotland and is registered to vote can participate in the election, provided they meet certain criteria.
To vote, individuals must:
- Be 16 years or older on polling day
- Be registered on the electoral roll
- Be a British or Irish citizen, or a foreign national legally allowed to stay in the UK
- Not be legally disqualified from voting
Authorities have encouraged voters to register ahead of deadlines to avoid missing their chance to participate. Registration deadlines and postal or proxy voting options allow flexibility for those unable to vote in person.
Scottish Parliamentary Election 2021 Result
The last election held in 2021 saw the Scottish National Party (SNP) emerge as the largest party.
Key results from the 2021 election included:
- SNP won 64 seats, just short of an overall majority
- Scottish Conservatives secured 31 seats
- Scottish Labour gained 22 seats
- Scottish Greens won 8 seats
- Scottish Liberal Democrats secured 4 seats
The outcome allowed the SNP to continue leading the government, shaping Scotland's policies over the following five years.
Why This Scottish Parliamentary Election Matters?
The 2026 vote is expected to be highly significant because it will determine Scotland's direction on economic growth, healthcare reform, and public services. Political debates have focused heavily on rising living costs, healthcare capacity, and immigration policies, which remain major concerns among voters.
With millions expected to participate, the election will not only shape Scotland's leadership but also influence political discussions across the wider United Kingdom in the coming years.