Holyrood 2026: Who is eligible to vote? Can 16-year-olds vote? Do you need photo ID?
Take a look at who is eligible to vote in the Scottish Parliament election.
Scots are set to descend on polling stations up and down the country on May 7 to elect their new MSPs for the next five years.
The rules on who can and cannot vote in a Scottish Parliament election are slightly different to the rules for a UK general election.
Who is eligible to vote in the Holyrood election?
You must live in Scotland and be either a British or Irish citizen, or a foreign national who is permitted to stay in the UK.
You must then be registered to vote at an address in Scotland.
Can 16-year-olds vote?
Yes - 16 and 17 year olds are able to vote in this election.
They can register to vote from the age of 14, but can only cast a ballot if they are 16 or over on the day of the election.
This is different from the UK Parliament elections where voters need to be 18 or over.
Do I need to register to vote?
For most people, they will be automatically registered to vote, however some may need to register, for example if they have recently changed address.
This can be done on the UK Government website. Those who do not want to do an online form can print out a paper form from the website and hand it into their local registration office.
Read more here: How the Holyrood election works with Ballot Box Scotland
When you register to vote you will be asked for your National Insurance number, but you can still register even if you do not have one.
Overseas voters may need to give their passport details.
The deadline is 5pm on April 20.
Can you register to vote anonymously?
Only in some circumstances. If you are concerned about your details appearing on the electoral register for safety reasons, you can make an application online, but you will need to explain what the risk is and provide evidence to support your application.
Do you need a photo ID?
No - there is no requirement to show photographic ID at this election.
Can you do a postal vote?
Yes - if you are registered to vote, you can apply for a postal vote. You do not need to give a reason why.
You will need to download a form from the UK Government website and then send it to your local electoral registration office. Unfortunately, you cannot apply for this online.
The deadline for this is 5pm on April 21.
What if I cannot vote on the day?
If you cannot vote in person on the day, you can apply for a proxy vote, which is when a trusted person votes on your behalf.
You can only use a proxy vote under certain circumstances, such as being away on polling day, being registered as an overseas voter, have a medical issue or a disability, or are unable to go to the polling station due to work or military service.
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on April 28.
Emergency proxy votes may be allowed if there is a medical emergency on the day or because of work commitments. You have until 5pm on polling day (May 7) to do this online.
If you are applying for an emergency proxy vote, you must get the application signed by an appropriate person such as an employer or a doctor.
What do I do if I live abroad?
If you live abroad and want to vote in this election, you will need to apply for a postal vote or a proxy vote.
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