Views sought on changes to Scottish elections

Measures in the bill include allowing foreign nationals with limited leave to remain in the UK to stand for election and preventing a person from standing as a candidate if they have committed an offence involving the intimidation of election staff or people standing for election.

The bill also proposes changes to how much money can be spent during an election campaign, especially in relation to groups or campaigners that are not a political party or a candidate.

The committee has launched a consultation asking for views of those who might be affected by the bill, and it wants to know what the impacts of the proposed changes would be.

Other measures in the bill include:

• making it easier to arrange election pilots, which aim to increase voting engagement;
• allowing the Scottish government to fund activities to increase democratic engagement;
• clarifying the information that needs to be on digital election materials posted by an organisation that isn’t a regulated campaigner; and
• creating an offence if people do not follow the rules on the information that should be on digital election materials.

Speaking as the consultation launched, committee convener Martin Whitfield MSP said: “How elections are governed is of vital importance, but what is even more crucial is ensuring that participation in our democracy is open to as many people as possible and is as transparent as possible.

“The bill before our committee makes a series of changes about who can stand for election, as well as bringing in measures aimed at allowing voters more opportunity to follow the money and find out who is campaigning. Something which is important in this digital age.

“We want to hear from as many people as possible about whether these changes to the bill will have an impact in practice. So please have your say.”

The committee’s consultation is open until Wednesday 6 March 2024.