Frequently asked questions - Scottish Parliamentary Elections 2021

Please contact the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) and let them know. Contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk or their website. 
 

Please contact the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) and let them know. Contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk or their website. 

Please contact the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) and let them know. Contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk or visit their website.  

The registration deadline for the Scottish Parliamentary Election is Monday 19th April 2021.

Please contact the Electoral Registration Office (ERO). Contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk or visit their website.  

The deadline for applications for this election is 5pm on Tuesday 6th April 2021. 

Please contact the Electoral Registration Office (ERO). Contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk or visit their website.  

The deadline for new applications for this election is 5pm on Tuesday 27th April 2021.

Please contact the Electoral Registration Office (ERO). Contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk or visit their website.  

The deadline for applications for this election is 5pm on Tuesday 6th April 2021.

Monday 19th April 2021. Applications should be made to the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) - contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk,or visit their website.  

The deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes is 5pm on Tuesday 6th April 2021. Applications should be made to the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) - contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk, or visit their website.  

The deadline for new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) is 5pm on Tuesday 27th April 2021. The deadline to make changes to an existing proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 6th April 2021. Applications should be made to the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) - contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk, or visit their website.  

The deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes is 5pm on Tuesday 6th April 2021. Applications should be made to the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) - contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk, or visit their website.  

The deadline for cancelling existing postal or proxy votes is Tuesday 20th April 2021. To cancel you should contact the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) - contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk, or visit their website.  

The deadline for emergency proxy applications is 5pm on Thursday 6th May 2021. Applications should be made to the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) - contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk, or visit their website.  

In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you can't vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote. This must be something that you weren't aware of before the normal proxy vote deadline. This emergency includes instances where you cannot vote in person because you are following Scottish Government or medical advice by shielding or self-isolating, and only became aware of the need to shield or self-isolate less than 6 days before polling day. Applications should be made to the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) - contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk, or visit their website.  

16 and 17 year olds can vote at this election, as long as they are registered. To register (or to check you are registered) please contact the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) and let them know. Contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk, or visit their website.  

This election is being held to elect Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to the Scottish Parliament.

One candidate will be elected to serve as an MSP for each constituency. 7 candidates will be elected from the North East Scotland Regional List.

The list of candidates can be found on the Scottish Parliamentary Elections 2021 page. 

You can find a list of the relevant polling places on the Scottish Parliamentary Elections 2021 page. 

Please contact the Election Office who can advise if your postal vote can still be used, or how to get a replacement. Please call them on 01224 523521 or email elections@aberdeencity.gov.uk
 

Please contact the Election Office who can help you get a replacement. Please call them on 01224 523521 or email elections@aberdeencity.gov.uk
 

If your postal vote hasn't arrived by Friday 23rd April please contact the Elections Office on 01224 523521 or email elections@aberdeencity.gov.uk. 

The election will be held on Thursday 6th May 2021, with voting between 7am and 10pm.

The count will start on the morning of Friday 7th May 2021, at TECA. It will run for two days. There is no public access.

The results should be announced by the evening of Saturday 8th May 2021.

The Additional Member System (AMS) is used. That gives each elector two papers to vote with, one for a constituency MSP and one for regional MSPs.

There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). There are two ways an MSP can be elected. Each elector (voter) has two votes.

Scotland is divided into 73 constituencies and each constituency elects one MSP. These are known as constituency MSPs and are elected by 'first past the post' in exactly the same way as MPs are elected to Westminster. This is the elector's 'first vote'.

The 'second vote' is used to elect 56 additional members. Scotland is divided into 8 parliamentary regions and each region elects 7 regional MSPs. In the second vote the voter votes for a party or independent candidate rather than a candidate. The parties are then allocated a number of additional members to make the overall result more proportional. The regional MSPs are selected from lists compiled by the parties. These MSPs are also sometimes referred to as List MSPs.

Please complete the form on the working at elections webpage. 

Guidance on eligibility and nomination forms can be found on the Scottish Parliamentary Election 2021 page. Nomination forms must be completed and lodged with the Election Office during the nomination period, which is 16th March to 31st March, between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday. A candidate and agents briefing session will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams on Monday 8th March at 10.30am. Please contact the Elections Office for more details.

The nomination period for the Scottish Parliamentary Election is from 16th March until 31st March 2021. Nominations can be lodged between the hours of 10am and 4pm on each working day during this period at the Elections Office, Town House, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1FY.

Nomination forms can be found on the Scottish Parliamentary Election 2021 page.

The Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations will be published after the close of nominations on 31st March 2021.

Poll cards will be dispatched around 16th March 2021.

Postal votes are issued in three dispatches - the first being around 14th April, the second being around 16th April and the third around the 26th April. If your postal vote hasn’t arrived by 23rd April please get in touch and we can check it's status for you.

Telephone 01224 523521 or email elections@aberdeencity.gov.uk

You will notice several differences at polling stations when you go to vote to ensure the safety of all voters and election staff. These will include:

• The polling station will be cleaned before polling day, and touch points will be cleaned throughout the day.
• Staff will be wearing face coverings, and will be sitting behind a protective screen.
• All voters are encouraged to wear a face covering whilst inside the polling place.
• The polling station will be operating a one-way system. You will be expected to follow signs, instructions and floor markings to ensure social distancing.
• Hand sanitiser will be available at entry and exit.
• Staff will not take your polling card from you - please take this home with you.
• You are welcome to take your own pens or pencils, however single use pencils will be provided. which you can take home with you.

You will notice several differences at polling stations when you go to vote to ensure the safety of all voters and election staff. These will include:

• The polling station will be cleaned before polling day, and touch points will be cleaned throughout the day.
• Staff will be wearing face coverings, and will be sitting behind a protective screen.
• All voters are encouraged to wear a face covering whilst inside the polling place.
• The polling station will be operating a one-way system. You will be expected to follow signs, instructions and floor markings to ensure social distancing.
• Hand sanitiser will be available at entry and exit.
• Staff will not take your polling card from you - please take this home with you.
• You are welcome to take your own pens or pencils, however single use pencils will be provided. which you can take home with you.

You will notice several differences at polling stations when you go to vote to ensure the safety of all voters and election staff. These will include:

• The polling station will be cleaned before polling day, and touch points will be cleaned throughout the day.
• Staff will be wearing face coverings, and will be sitting behind a protective screen.
• All voters are encouraged to wear a face covering whilst inside the polling place.
• The polling station will be operating a one-way system. You will be expected to follow signs, instructions and floor markings to ensure social distancing.
• Hand sanitiser will be available at entry and exit.
• Staff will not take your polling card from you - please take this home with you.
• You are welcome to take your own pens or pencils, however single use pencils will be provided. which you can take home with you.

We encourage all voters to wear a face covering whilst in the polling place.

All elections staff will be wearing face coverings.
 

Floor markings will indicate a safe distance from the person in front of you if you are required to queue.
 

If you feel you would rather vote by post, please apply for one by contacting the Electoral Registration Office (ERO). Contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk, www.voteaberdeen.org

The deadline for applications for this election is 5pm on Tuesday 6th April 2021.  

If you develop COVID symptoms prior to 5pm on 27th April 2021, you may apply for a proxy vote. However if you develop symptoms AFTER the application deadline, you may apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 5pm on Thursday 6th May. Applications should be made to the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) - contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk, www.voteaberdeen.org.

If you are following Scottish Government or medical advice by shielding or self-isolating, and were aware of this prior to 5pm on 27th April 2021, you may apply for a proxy vote. However if you start to isolate or shield AFTER the application deadline, you may apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 5pm on Thursday 6th May. Applications should be made to the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) - contact them on 01224 068400, ero@grampian-vjb.gov.uk, www.voteaberdeen.org.