TranslateScottish Parliament Election
A Scottish Parliament election will be held on Thursday 7 May 2026 to elect MSPs.
The Constituency Returning Officer for this Election is Craig Hatton (the council's Chief Executive) who is responsible for the Cunninghame North and Cunninghame South constituencies. There is a small team to deal with the administration and organisation of the poll including the staffing of polling stations. This team also deals with the organisation of the verification and counting of votes at the count.
Supporting resources such as nomination forms, forms for the appointment of agents and so on, are also available on the Electoral Commission's website.
In line with the Electoral Commission's guidance, the Constituency Returning Officer will hold two Candidates' and Agents' briefing sessions ahead of the election. The Electoral Commission strongly encourage you to attend, even if you have been an Election Agent or stood for election before. There will be a Pre-Nomination briefing session via Teams on Monday 16 March 2026 at 5.30pm. A further Candidates Post Nomination briefing session will be held on Thursday 2 April 2026 at 5.30pm via Teams after close of nominations to provide you with additional information about the poll and count. The session provides an important opportunity for you to clarify any issues or ask any questions you may have about the arrangements for the election.
The Access to Elected Office Fund is now open for applications for the next Scottish Parliament Election 2026. The Access to Elected Office Fund (Scotland) is paid for by the Scottish Government and run by Inclusion Scotland.
The Fund helps disabled people who want to stand for elected office in Scotland. It gives money for practical support and reasonable adjustments to remove barriers for candidates with a disability. This can include help with communication, transport or personal assistance. The Fund does not cover general campaign costs. To apply for the fund or for more information, please contact Inclusion Scotland's Civic Participation team at civicparticipation@inclusionscotland.org.
The North Ayrshire specific nomination pack document is available for you to view and download.
The Election team can accept Constituency nomination papers between 10am and 4pm from Tuesday 17 March 2026 to Wednesday 1 April 2026 at the Election Office, Cunninghame House, Irvine, KA12 8EE. If you require specific access arrangements to attend, please contact the Election Office on 01294 324729.
To ensure an appropriate member of staff is on hand to receive nominations, it would be helpful if Candidates or Election Agents could contact the Election Office on 01294 324729 or email elections@north-ayrshire.gov.uk to arrange a mutually convenient date and time for checking and lodging the nomination papers.
The Electoral Commission have also produced a video to assist you in completing your nomination papers.
Regional nomination packs are available from the Regional Returning Officer at Renfrewshire Council where they must be returned.
The key dates for the Election, particularly the closing dates for registration, postal and proxy applications are detailed below:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Publication of Notice of Election | Monday 16 March |
| Delivery of nomination papers | Tuesday 17 March to Wednesday 1 April, 10am to 4pm (daily) |
| Deadline for withdrawals of nomination | Wednesday 1 April, 4pm |
| Deadline for the notification of appointment of election agents | Wednesday 1 April, 4pm |
| Publication of Notice of Poll, including situation of polling stations | As soon as practicable after Wednesday 1 April, 4pm |
| Dispatch of poll cards to electors | Between Tuesday 17 March and Wednesday 18 March |
| Deadline for receiving applications for registration | Monday 20 April at midnight |
| Deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes | Tuesday 21 April, 5pm |
| Dispatch of postal ballot packs | Registered by Monday 23 March - between Wednesday 15 and Friday 17 April. Applied by Friday 10 April - posted Monday 20 April. |
| Final dispatch of postal ballot packs | Tuesday 28 April |
| Deadline for new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) | Tuesday 28 April, 5pm |
| Deadline for notification of appointment of polling and counting agents | Wednesday 29 April |
| Polling day | Thursday 7 May, 7am to 10pm |
| Last time that electors can apply for a replacement for a lost and spoilt postal vote | Thursday 7 May, 5pm |
| Deadline for emergency proxy applications | Thursday 7 May, 5pm |
| Last time to alter the register due to clerical error or court appeal | Thursday 7 May, 9pm |
| Verification and count | Friday 8 May, 9am |
| Latest date for candidates to submit their return and agent declaration | Friday 12 June |
The formal Election notices will be displayed here throughout the process.
The first issue of Poll Cards will be between Tuesday 17 March 2026 and Wednesday 18 March 2026.
Electors are encouraged to check their poll card carefully. There may have been a change to your Polling Station since the last elections.
No photographic identification is required for this election.
Scottish Parliament Elections use the Additional Member System where each voter has two votes. One of these (lilac ballot paper) elects a Constituency MSP using the 'first past the post' system. The other (peach ballot paper) elects Regional representatives from a list of political parties and individual candidates.
Everyone in Scotland is represented by eight MSPs:
- one for their Constituency (for example, Cunninghame North and Cunninghame South)
- seven for the larger Region in which they live (for example, West Scotland Region)
There are currently two Scottish Parliamentary Constituencies in the North Ayrshire Council area. You can currently vote to return a Constituency MSP for:
- Cunninghame North
- Cunninghame South
Following the Second Review of the Scottish Parliament Boundaries, Stewarton and Dunlop are now included in Cunninghame South and the election for these areas will be administered by the staff at North Ayrshire Council.
The West Scotland Region consists of the constituencies of:
- Clydebank and Milngavie
- Cunninghame North
- Cunninghame South
- Dumbarton
- Eastwood
- Inverclyde
- Paisley
- Renfrewshire North and Cardonald
- Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley
- Strathkelvin and Bearsden
Craig Hatton (Chief Executive of North Ayrshire Council) is the Constituency Returning Officer for both Cunninghame North and Cunninghame South.
Alan Russell (Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Council) is the Regional Returning Officer for the West Scotland Region.
If you live in the Cunninghame North and Cunninghame South Constituencies and want to vote in this Election, you need to be registered to vote.
The last day you can register to vote in this Election is Monday 20 April 2026.
You can register to vote online or if you would prefer to register by post, then you should contact the Electoral Registration Officer (for Ayrshire), as detailed below, and a paper form will be posted out to you.
If aged 16 years or over by Thursday 7 May 2026 you will be able to vote in this Election but you must be registered.
The Electoral Commission have prepared a short animated video giving more information about the election.
Applications to vote by Post or Proxy
If you are unable to go to your polling place in person you may wish to apply for a postal or proxy vote.
Application forms for a postal or proxy vote can be obtained by contacting the Electoral Registration Officer (for Ayrshire), more information on applying can be found on the Government website. Only electors who are (or will be) registered individually are entitled to apply to vote by post or proxy. Further information for voters is available from the Electoral Commission's Website.
Contact details for the Electoral Registration Officer (for Ayrshire) are detailed below.
The deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications in this Election is Tuesday 21 April 2026, 5pm.
The deadline for new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) is Tuesday 28 April 2026, 5pm.
All postal vote and proxy application forms must be returned to the Electoral Registration Officer (for Ayrshire) and not to North Ayrshire Council.
The first issue of ballot papers to postal voters for those registered by Monday 23 March 2026 will be sent between Wednesday 15 April 2026 and Friday 17 April 2026. Postal votes applied for by Friday 10 April 2026 will be posted on Monday 20 April 2026. Postal vote applications received by 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026 will be sent on Tuesday 28 April 2026.
Address: 9 Wellington Square, Ayr, KA7 1HL
The verification and counting of votes will take place in The Portal, 66 High Street, Irvine, KA12 0AZ on Friday 8 May 2026, commencing at 9am prompt.
Admission to the Count will be strictly by accredited admission pass only.
Results from the Election will be published on the council's website following the Count on Friday 8 May.
Previous election results are available for you to view.
For any further information on registering to vote, including postal and proxy voting, please contact the Electoral Registration Office.
For all other enquiries, including becoming a candidate, contact the Election office.