Scottish Parliament Election Set for May 2026 in Highlands

The official notice has been issued for the upcoming 2026 Scottish Parliament Election, scheduled to take place on May 7, 2026. The announcement was made by the Constituency and Regional Returning Officer for the Highland area, detailing the polling arrangements across three constituencies: Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, and Inverness and Nairn, along with Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.

Candidates interested in running for a seat in the Scottish Parliament can obtain nomination forms from the Highland Council’s official website at highland.gov.uk/spe2026. The deadline to submit these forms is set for 4:00 PM on April 1, 2026. Electors in the region will not only vote for a constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) but will also be responsible for electing seven additional Members from the Highlands and Islands Regional List.

The Highland and Islands regional constituencies include:
– Argyll and Bute
– Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
– Inverness and Nairn
– Moray
– Na h-Eileanan an Iar
– Orkney
– Shetland
– Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch

In addition to constituency candidates, nominations for candidates representing party lists are also available on the Highland Council’s website. As with the constituency candidates, the deadline for regional nominations will also be 4:00 PM on April 1, 2026.

To participate in the election, voters must ensure they are registered by the deadline of April 20, 2026. Registration can be completed quickly and easily online at gov.uk/register-to-vote or by contacting the Electoral Registration Office at 0800 393 783 to request a paper form.

Voters will have multiple options for casting their ballots. They may choose to vote in person at polling stations, apply for a proxy vote allowing someone else to vote on their behalf, or request a postal vote. The deadline for postal vote applications is set for 5:00 PM on April 21, 2026. Voters can download application forms and find further details at saa.gov.uk/h-wi-vjb. If printing the form is not feasible, individuals can request that application forms be mailed directly to their households.

For further information regarding the electoral process and participation details, interested parties can visit highland.gov.uk/spe2026.