Elections

Scottish Parliamentary Elections - 7 May 2026

View the notice of election documents online.

Scotland will go to the polls on Thursday 7 May 2026 to elect 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). MSPs are elected through two voting systems:

• 73 constituency MSPs are elected using First Past the Post
• 56 regional MSPs are elected using the regional party list system

The Electoral Commission explains how MSPs are elected and what they do.

Our Chief Executive is the Returning Officer for two constituencies:

• Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale
• Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire

Polling will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026, between 7am and 10pm with results expected on Friday 8 May 2026.

The election notices for the constituency polls and the regional poll were published on Monday 16 March. 

Please note, the regional poll is administered by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale constituency

Statement of Persons Nominated

The following candidates have been validly nominated for election as a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale constituency.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by surname.

• Keith Cockburn, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
• Daniel Coleman, Scottish Labour Party
• Duncan Angus Melville Dunlop, Scottish Liberal Democrats
• Carolyn Grant, Reform UK
• Calum Kerr, Scottish National Party (SNP)

Spoken ballot paper

An audio version of the regional ballot paper is available:

Spoken ballot paper - Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale constituency

A new ballot paper overlay is available at all polling places as an additional option for blind and partially sighted voters.  The overlay does not replace existing equipment options such as plastic tactile voting devices or magnifiers.  That equipment is also available at all polling station. When combined with an audio recording of the ballot paper, the overlay is intended to provide a complete self-service solution to blind and partially sighted voters to vote independently and in secret.

Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire Constituency

Statement of Persons Nominated

The following candidates have been validly nominated for election as a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by surname.

• James Robert Anderson, Independent 
• Ray Georgeson, Scottish Liberal Democrats 
• Rachael Hamilton, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 
• Terry Howson, Alliance to Liberate Scotland 
• Kaymarie Hughes, Scottish Labour Party 
• Jamie Alexander Langan, Reform UK 
• John Redpath, Scottish National Party (SNP)

Spoken ballot paper

An audio version of the regional ballot paper is available:

Spoken ballot paper - Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency

South Scotland Region

Statement of persons and parties nominated

The following parties and individuals have been validly nominated for election as Members of the Scottish Parliament for the South Scotland region.

Parties are listed in alphabetical order.
Candidates appear in the order provided on each party’s list.

Alliance to Liberate Scotland

1. Terry Howson
2. Garry Campbell McClay
3. Yvonne Lazenbury
4. Maureen Johnston
5. Marjorie Ellis Thompson

Independent Green Voice

1. Maxwell Morrison Dunbar

Reform UK

1. Jamie Langan
2. David Kirkwood
3. Senga Beresford
4. Dr Tim Kelly
5. Carolyn Grant
6. Dan Clarke
7. John McNamee
8. Andrew Fleming Russell
9. Andrew Scott
10. Anne Millar

Scottish Alliance for Democracy and Freedom

1. David Ballantine
2. Glen Maney

Scottish Common Party

1. Paul Adkins
2. Muhammad Tufail

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

1. Rachael Hamilton
2. Craig Hoy
3. Finlay Carson
4. Sharon Dowey
5. Brian Whittle
6. Keith Cockburn
7. Julie Pirone
8. James Adams
9. Tracey Clark

Scottish Family Party

1. Gareth Kirk
2. Hamish Neil Goldie Scot
3. Laura Jane Shell
4. Josh Lee James Witherspoon

Scottish Green Party

1. Laura Moodie
2. Ann McGuinness
3. Dominic Ashmole
4. Neil Mackinnon
5. Barbra Harvie
6. Cameron Garrett
7. Tim Clancy
8. Thomas Kerr
9. Korin Matthew Vallance

Scottish Heritage Party

1. David Philip Griffiths
2. Gisele Skinner
3. Elspeth Margaret Lindsay Griffiths
4. Charles David McEwan

Scottish Labour Party

1.  Carol Mochan
2. Joe Fagan
3. Linda Dorward
4. Ewan MacPhee
5. Lynsey Hamilton
6. Daniel Coleman
7. Kaymarie Hughes
8. Davy Russell
9. Brian McGinley
10. Jack McConnel

Scottish Liberal Democrats

1. Duncan Angus Melville Dunlop
2. Ray Georgeson
3.  Aisha Mir
4. Richard John Brodie
5. Charlotte Sureyya Sayre Olcay
6. Michael Gregori
7. Tracey Warman

Scottish Libertarian Party

1. Daniel Fraser

Scottish National Party (SNP)

1. Mairi McAllan
2.  Alan Brown
3.  Emma Harper
4. Siobhian Brown
5. Katie Hagmann
6. John Redpath
7. Collette Stevenson
8. Stephen Thompson
9. Alex Kerr
10. Allan Dorans
11. Kirsty Campbell
12. Ross Clark

Scottish Socialist Party

1. Mark Sands
2. Zoë Greenan
3. Alex Creel

UK Independence Party (UKIP)

1. Janice Mackay
2. Laurie James Steele
3. Robert Bilcliff
4. Gail Bilcliff
5. Colin Sullivan

Individual regional candidates

The following individuals have been validly nominated as individual regional candidates.

• Sean Davis, Independent
• Denise Sommerville, Independent

Spoken ballot paper

An audio version of the regional ballot paper is available:

Spoken ballot paper – South Scotland Region

Information for voters

Are you vote-ready

If you live in the Scottish Borders, now is the perfect time to make sure you're ready to have your say.

• You need to register by Monday 20 April for the Scottish Parliament election. You can register online or find out more information about registering to vote through the Electoral Commission.
• You can check if you’re already registered to vote by contacting the Electoral Registration Office at Electoral.Registration@scotborders.gov.uk or by phoning 01835 825100.
• If you move house, you must register to vote again.
• If you change your name for any reason you can contact the Electoral Registration Officer to request a change of name form.

Voting by post or proxy

If you can’t get to the polling station on polling day you can apply to vote by post or vote by proxy.

• The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April.
• The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.

Completed postal and proxy votes must be returned to the Electoral Registration Officer, PO Box 13639, Council Headquarters, Melrose, TD6 6BQ

Get help with electoral registration

Contact the Electoral Registration Officer to find out if you’re on the electoral register, and if you already have a postal or proxy vote.

• Phone: 01835 825100
• Email: Electoral.Registration@scotborders.gov.uk

Being prepared early means you won't miss out when polling day arrives. Make sure your voice is heard in May.

How to vote

To vote you simply place a cross (X) against the candidate of your choice on the constituency (lilac) ballot paper and a cross (X) against your party or individual candidate of choice on the regional list (peach) ballot paper.

Information for candidates and agents

This section provides essential information for prospective candidates, agents, and political parties wishing to take part in either the constituency or regional contests.

Guidance videos for candidates and nominating officers

The Electoral Commission has produced various videos to support those submitting nomination papers, which are published on the Commission's YouTube channel:

• Guidance for Scottish Parliament constituency candidates on completing your nomination papers
• Guidance for Scottish Parliament regional individual candidates on completing your nomination papers
• Guidance for Scottish Parliament party list nominating officers on completing nomination papers

Key dates

• Prospective candidates online briefing: 3 March 2026
• Notice of Election published: 16 March 2026
• Nominations open: 17 March 2026
• Nominations close: 1 April 2026
• Online candidates and agents briefing: 30 April 2026
• Polling day: Thursday 7 May 2026
• Count: Friday 8 May 2026

Qualifications and disqualifications

Full eligibility criteria is outlined in the Electoral Commission’s guidance. Typical requirements include:

• At least 18 years old
• A British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or a qualifying foreign national
• Not disqualified under electoral, bankruptcy, or criminal offence provisions

Candidates safety and support

Standing for election is a vital part of our democratic process, and all candidates should be able to campaign safely and with confidence. A number of organisations – including Police Scotland, the Electoral Commission, the Electoral Management Board and local authorities – work together to support and protect candidates and to respond when unacceptable behaviour occurs.
Candidates who experience intimidation, harassment or abuse during the election period are encouraged to report concerns to Police Scotland. There is no expectation that candidates should know whether a particular incident is a criminal offence before reporting it.

Guidance jointly developed by Police Scotland, the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Management Board is available to help candidates understand the types of behaviour they may encounter and how to respond. This guidance is available for election candidates in Scotland from the Electoral Commission, it also explains when and how to seek police assistance.

We are committed to supporting a safe and respectful democratic process for everyone taking part in the Scottish Parliament elections on 7 May. Prospective candidates can contact the elections office for more guidance.