Preparedness for the Scottish Parliament election 2026

Electoral Management Board for Scotland / Electoral Commission conference - Preparedness for the Scottish Parliament election 2026

As we prepare for the Scottish Parliament election in May 2026, the Electoral Management Board for Scotland (EMB) and the Electoral Commission held an in-person event for Returning Officers (ROs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and their teams on Tuesday 7 October. The agenda covered key topics central to planning and preparation for this election. 

Material from the conference can be downloaded from the website here: Preparedness for the Scottish Parliament election 2026 – Electoral Management Board for Scotland  including the agenda, full slide decks from all presentations and a checklist of actions for RO and ERO teams.

 Topics covered included 

• Scottish Parliament election - Roles and Responsibilities
• New Legislation update and impacts
• Directions from the Convener of the EMB
• Legislation divergence / convergence (Online absent voting applications)
• Advancements in accessibility provisions
• Learning from UKPGE: Print supply and postal vote considerations 
• Stakeholder communication and awareness – key messages
• Management and delivery of a safe election
• Finance and funding