The election is currently planned for 6 May 2021.

The Scottish General Election (Coronavirus) Bill will:

• change the deadline for postal vote applications to give more time to process an expected high level of requests to vote by post
• make “dissolution” (the time before the election when MSPs no longer hold office) last one day, allowing the Parliament to make decisions if the election needs to be postponed
• give the Scottish ministers power to hold an all-postal election and to hold polling over multiple days, if appropriate
• allow flexible timing for the first meeting of the new Parliament and the election of a new Presiding Officer
• give a reserve power to the current Presiding Officer to postpone the 2021 election by up to 6 months in certain circumstances

Minister for parliamentary business Graeme Dey said: “We fully expect the Scottish Parliament election to go ahead as planned in May, but it is prudent and responsible to ensure we have planned for every eventuality so that the poll can be conducted safely and fairly during this pandemic.

“This bill includes measures to help ensure that polling can go ahead and that voters will be able to vote safely in person in May as planned.

“The proposed legislation, which will be scrutinised by parliament, also properly prepares for contingencies in the highly unlikely event that this is not possible due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“Importantly, should there be a need to defer the election because of Covid-19 during the pre-election period, the measures to delay dissolution will allow MSPs to return to parliament to take a vote on any such proposal through emergency legislation.”