Our guide to the Scottish Parliament election 2026

22 April 2026

An important election is happening in Scotland on Thursday 7 May – over a third of MSPs are standing down at this election, meaning there will be many new parliamentary representatives in Holyrood after 7 May. Voting is a chance to make your voice heard on issues that matter to you. Here’s how you can do this.

A Scottish Parliament election is taking place on Thursday 7 May. At this, people living in Scotland will elect 129 MSPs to represent them in Holyrood.

In other parts of the UK, separate elections will be taking place for the Welsh Senedd and some local authorities in England.

Ahead of the election, we want to share some key information, and tell you how we plan to make an impact on the new Scottish Parliament and how you can get involved.

Your vote matters

The Scottish Parliament makes decisions about many things that affect our day to day lives – including healthcare, education and housing. They also control some aspects of tax and welfare support. Other UK-wide affairs (like defence, foreign policy and immigration) are decided in Westminster.

Over a third of MSPs are standing down at this election, meaning there will be many new parliamentary representatives in Holyrood after May 7. Using your vote allows you to have a say in changing things that matter to you

Important voting information

To vote in this election, you must be aged 16 or over and registered on the electoral roll. You can register and check your eligibility to vote on the Government’s website here.

On election day, polling stations will be open from 7pm until 10pm. You can find more information about where to go and what to bring here. If you’d rather vote by post or by proxy (where you choose someone else to vote on your behalf), you can learn more here.

All polling stations have to provide equipment to help disabled people to vote independently and secretly, including:

Pencil grips
Seating for voters who cannot stand for long periods
Polling booths at wheelchair level
Step-free access to polling stations
Parking spaces reserved for disabled voters, if the venue has parking

Disabled voters are also entitled to accommodations such as:

Large print ballot papers for reference
Assistance with ballot marking from the presiding officer or a trusted companion aged 18 or over
If a polling station is inaccessible, the presiding officer may bring the ballot paper to the voter outside

If you have any concerns, you can request more information from your local council or electoral registration office here.

What we’re calling for

As a member of the Neurological Alliance of Scotland, we are calling on the next Scottish Government to:

Provide targeted investment in neurology services
Ensure universal access to care coordinators (like neuromuscular care advisors)
Strengthen awareness of muscle wasting conditions among social care, education, housing and benefits staff

We’re calling on all prospective parliamentary candidates to commit to being a #NeuroChampion2026. You can find out more and get in touch with your candidates on the Neurological Alliance of Scotland website here.

Working with the new Government and the new MSPs

After the election, we’ll be reaching out to all MSPs and whoever forms the next Scottish Government to make sure the voices of our community are heard. We’ll highlight the challenges that face our community and call for the changes that would make the biggest difference, and we’ll be looking to meet as many new MSPs as possible over the coming year.

We need your help with all this! So, please keep an eye out for our updates on the Scottish Parliament election over the coming weeks.

You can sign up to receive our emails here to stay up to date with what we’re doing and how you can get involved.