Scotland to Elect 129 MSPs on May 7

Voters across Scotland will head to the polls on Thursday, May 7, to elect all 129 members of the Scottish Parliament, determining the composition of Holyrood and the government responsible for devolved matters such as health, education, and housing.

The election marks the largest democratic exercise in Scotland since the 2024 UK general election. Polling stations will open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with most postal ballots already delivered. Eligible voters, including those aged 16 and older who are British or Irish citizens or qualifying foreign nationals resident in Scotland, can cast ballots in person, by post, or via proxy. No identification is required at polling stations, where voters receive two ballot papers: a lilac one for the local constituency member under a first-past-the-post system, and a peach one for regional representation through a proportional allocation formula. This elects 73 constituency members and 56 regional members, seven per each of Scotland's eight regions. Registration closed on April 20, and polling cards detail station locations, which can also be found online by postcode.

Counting begins Friday morning, May 8, with results expected throughout the...