Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

has elections to several bodies: the

Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( ; ) is the Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. It is located in the Holyrood, Edinburgh, Holyrood area of Edinburgh, and is frequently referred to by the metonym 'Holyrood'. ...

, the United Kingdom Parliament, local councils and community councils. Before the United Kingdom

left Left may refer to: Music * ''Left'' (Hope of the States album), 2006 * ''Left'' (Monkey House album), 2016 * ''Left'' (Helmet album), 2023 * "Left", a song by Nickelback from the album ''Curb'', 1996 Direction * Left (direction), the relativ ...

the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

, Scotland elected members to the

European Parliament The European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it ...

Scottish Parliament

Scottish Parliamentary elections use the

Additional Member System The additional-member system (AMS) is a two-vote seat-linkage-based mixed electoral system used in the United Kingdom in which most legislator, representatives are elected in single-member districts (SMDs), and a fixed number of other "addition ...

(AMS). Under this system, voters are given two votes: one for their constituency, which elects a single MSP by

first-past-the-post First-past-the-post (FPTP)—also called choose-one, first-preference plurality (FPP), or simply plurality—is a single-winner voting rule. Voters mark one candidate as their favorite, or First-preference votes, first-preference, and the cand ...

; and one for their region, which elects seven MSPs by

closed list Closed list describes the variant of party-list systems where voters can effectively vote for only political parties as a whole; thus they have no influence on the party-supplied order in which party candidates are elected. If voters had some in ...

. Five Scottish Parliamentary elections have been held since the reconvention of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Elections are held every five years, on the first Thursday in May. Processed-f93e7532-8a6b-4b20-b1ab-d8c98171975c GGeo7Utt

Processed-f93e7532-8a6b-4b20-b1ab-d8c98171975c GGeo7Utt

2021

2016

2011

2007

2003

1999

By-elections

* 2019 Shetland by-election, Lib Dem hold * 2017 Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire by-election, Con hold * 2014 Cowdenbeath by-election, Lab hold * 2013 Dunfermline by-election, Lab gain from SNP * 2013 Aberdeen Donside by-election, SNP hold * 2006 Moray by-election, SNP hold * 2005 Glasgow Cathcart by-election, Lab hold * 2001 Banff and Buchan by-election, SNP hold * 2001 Strathkelvin and Bearsden by-election, Lab hold * 2000 Glasgow Anniesland by-election, Lab hold * 2000 Ayr by-election, Con gain from Lab

UK Parliament

2024

2019

2017

2015

At the 2015 election the SNP won a majority of Scottish seats for the first time.

2010

^* Philip Lardner, the Conservative candidate for North Ayrshire and Arran was disowned by the Conservative Party for comments he posted on his website, calling homosexuality 'abnormal'. It was too late for him to be replaced and he still read as the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party candidate on the ballot paper.

2005

2001

1997

1992

1987

1983

1979

October 1974

United Kingdom general election 1974 Oct in Scotland

February 1974

United Kingdom general election 1974 Feb in Scotland

1970

1966

1964

1959

1955

1951

1950

1945

1935

1931

1929

1924

1923

1922

1918

1910 December

1910 January

1906

1900

1895

1892

1886

1885

1880

1874

1868

1865

1859

1857

1852

1847

1841

1837

1835

1832

1831

1830

Local councils

Since 1995, local elections in Scotland have been generally held every four years for all the 32 unitary authorities created under the

Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c. 39) is an Act of parliament, Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that created the current Local government in Scotland, local government structure of 32 Unitary authority, unitary authori ...

. Between 1975 and 1992, elections were held every two years for either district or regional council, which sat for four-year terms. Those arrangements were set up by the

Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65) is an Act of Parliament (UK), act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that altered local government of Scotland, local government in Scotland on 16 May 1975. The act followed and largely impleme ...

. As one consequence of the Gould Report, which was a response to the fiasco of the 2007 elections, the next council elections were scheduled for 2012 (one year ''after'' the Parliamentary elections in 2011).

2022

2017

The elections were held again using the STV system of proportional representation, and as with the 2012 Scottish local elections, they were delayed for one year to ensure they were not held on the same day as the

2016 Scottish Parliament election The 2016 Scottish parliament election was held on Thursday, 5 May 2016 to elect 129 members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the fifth Next Scottish Parliament election, election held since the devolved parliament was established in 1999. It ...

s (which was delayed for a year, owing to the 2015 general election). For full analysis see 2017 Scottish local elections.

2012

The election was contested for the second time under the STV system of proportional representation. It was the first time in 13 years that the elections had not been held on the same day as the Scottish Parliament elections.

Past elections

* 1977 Scottish local elections *

1980 Scottish local elections Elections for the Scottish district councils were held in 1980. These were the third elections held to the 53 district councils established by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. The previous elections had been held in 1977. The elections ...

* 1982 Scottish regional elections * 1984 Scottish local elections * 1986 Scottish regional elections * 1988 Scottish local elections * 1990 Scottish regional elections * 1992 Scottish local elections * 1994 Scottish regional elections * 1995 Scottish local elections *

1999 Scottish local elections Local elections were held in Scotland on 6 May 1999, the same day as First Scottish Parliament elections. It was the second election for all 32 Scottish councils and the first after a major review into all wards. Boundary changes A Major revi ...

* 2003 Scottish local elections * 2007 Scottish local elections

By-elections

2008

*''date to be announced'': Abbey (4-member ward),

Dumfries and Galloway Dumfries and Galloway (; ) is one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, located in the western part of the Southern Uplands. It is bordered by East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, and South Lanarkshire to the north; Scottish Borders to the no ...

, 1 member elected by

single transferable vote The single transferable vote (STV) or proportional-ranked choice voting (P-RCV) is a multi-winner electoral system in which each voter casts a single vote in the form of a ranked ballot. Voters have the option to rank candidates, and their vot ...

: ''result pending'' (result May 2007: 2 Con, 1 SNP, 1 Lab) *1 May: Troup (3-member ward),

Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire (; ) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland. It takes its name from the Shires of Scotland, historic county of Aberdeenshire (historic), Aberdeenshire, which had substantial ...

, 1 member elected by single transferable vote: ''result pending'' (result May 2007: 1 SNP, 1 Con, 1 Ind) *6 March: Cambuslang East (3-member ward),

South Lanarkshire South Lanarkshire (; ) is one of 32 unitary authorities of Scotland. It borders the south-east of the Glasgow City council area and contains some of Greater Glasgow's suburban towns, as well as many rural towns and villages. It also shares bor ...

, 1 member elected by single transferable vote: Lab gain from SNP (result May 2007: 2 Lab, 1 SNP; after by election: 3 Lab) *28 Feb: Lerwick South (4-member ward),

Shetland Shetland (until 1975 spelled Zetland), also called the Shetland Islands, is an archipelago in Scotland lying between Orkney, the Faroe Islands, and Norway, marking the northernmost region of the United Kingdom. The islands lie about to the ...

, 1 member elected by single transferable vote: Ind hold (result May 2007: 4 Ind; after by election: 4 Ind) *21 Feb: Highland (3-member ward),

Perth and Kinross Perth and Kinross (; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. It is bordered by Highland (council area), Highland and Aberdeenshire to the north, Angus, Scotland, Angus, Dundee, and F ...

, 1 member elected by single transferable vote: SNP hold (result May 2007: 2 SNP, 1 Con; after by election: 2 SNP, 1 Con) *14 Feb: Elgin City South (3-member ward),

Moray Moray ( ; or ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with a coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland. Its council is based in Elgin, the area' ...

, 1 member elected by single transferable vote: SNP gain from Ind (result May 2007: 1 SNP, 1 Lab, 1 Ind; after by election: 2 SNP, 1 Lab) *31 January: Kilsyth (3-member ward),

North Lanarkshire North Lanarkshire (; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders the north-east of the Glasgow City council area and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns, and villages. It also borders East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk (co ...

, 1 member elected by single transferable vote: Lab hold (result May 2007: 2 Lab, 1 SNP; after by election: 2 Lab, 1 SNP)

2007

*22 November: Lochee (4-member ward),

Dundee Dundee (; ; or , ) is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, fourth-largest city in Scotland. The mid-year population estimate for the locality was . It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firt ...

, 1 member elected by single transferable vote: SNP hold (result May 2007: 2 SNP, 2 Lab; after by election: 2 SNP, 2 Lab) *4 October: Helensburgh and Lomond South (3-member ward),

Argyll and Bute Argyll and Bute (; , ) is one of 32 unitary authority, unitary council areas of Scotland, council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod ...

, 1 member elected by single transferable vote: Lib Dem gain from Ind (result May 2007: 1 Con, 1 Ind, 1 Lib Dem; after by election: 2 Lib Dem, 1 Con) *16 August: Midstocket/Rosemount (3-member ward),

Aberdeen Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...

, 1 member elected by single transferable vote: SNP gain from Con (result May 2007: 1 Con, 1 SNP, 1 Lab; after by election: 2 SNP, 1 Lab)

2006

*8 December: Elderslie,

Renfrewshire Renfrewshire () (; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. Renfrewshire is located in the west central Lowlands. It borders East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire, and lies on the southern ba ...

, Lab hold (16% swing Lab to SNP) *28 September: Markinch and Woodside East,

Fife Fife ( , ; ; ) is a council areas of Scotland, council area and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in Scotland. A peninsula, it is bordered by the Firth of Tay to the north, the North Sea to the east, the Firth of Forth to the s ...

, SNP gain from Lab *10 August: Lochardil,

Highland Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally, ''upland'' refers to a range of hills, typically from up to , while ''highland'' is usually reserved for range ...

, Lib Dem gain from

Ind Ind or IND may refer to: General * Independent (politician), a politician not affiliated to any political party * Independent station, used within television program listings and the television industry for a station that is not affiliated with ...

*15 June: Dumbarton West, West Dunbartonshire, SNP gain from Lab *18 May: Altonhill Hillhead and Longpark,

East Ayrshire East Ayrshire (; ) is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It shares borders with Dumfries and Galloway, East Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. The headquarters of the council are located on London Roa ...

, SNP hold *11 May: Biggar, Symington and Black Mount,

, Con gain from SNP *30 March: Avondale South,

, Con hold *30 March: Borestone,

Stirling Stirling (; ; ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in Central Belt, central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town#Scotland, market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the roya ...

, SNP gain from Lab *30 March: King's Park,

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

, Lib Dem gain from Lab *16 February: Milton,

, SNP gain from Lab *2 February: North Carrick and Maybole East, South Ayrshire, Ind gain from Lab

2005

*8 December: Kirkshaws,

, Lab hold *10 November: Knightswood Park,

, Lab hold *10 November: Loanhead,

Midlothian Midlothian (; ) is registration county, lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area and one of 32 council areas of Scotland used for local government. Midlothian lies in the east-central Lowlands, bordering the City of Edinburgh council ar ...

, SNP gain from Ind *10 November: Murrayfield,

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

, Con hold *13 October: Lochside,

, Lab gain from Ind *29 September: Auchtertool and Burntisland East,

, SNP gain from Ind *11 August: Herbertshire,

Falkirk Falkirk ( ; ; ) is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically within the county of Stirlingshire. It lies in the Forth Valley, northwest of Edinburgh and northeast of Glasgow. Falkirk had a resident population of 32,422 at the ...

, SNP gain from Lab *16 June: Kildrum and Park,

, SNP gain from Ind *9 June: Huntly East,

, Con hold *9 June: Kilnknowe and Clovenfords, Borders, SNP gain from Ind *17 March: Dalkeith/Woodburn,

, Lib Dem gain from Lab *17 March: Dumbarton West, West Dunbartonshire, Lab hold

European Parliament

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

, a Scotland-wide constituency replaced eight

constituencies used in the elections between 1979 and 1994. This returned eight MEPs under the

d'Hondt method The D'Hondt method, also called the Jefferson method or the greatest divisors method, is an apportionment method for allocating seats in parliaments among federal states, or in proportional representation among political parties. It belongs to ...

party-list proportional representation Party-list proportional representation (list-PR) is a system of proportional representation based on preregistered Political party, political parties, with each party being Apportionment (politics), allocated a certain number of seats Apportionm ...

system. Since then the number of MEPs returned by Scotland has been reduced twice, to seven in 2004, and then to six in 2009. Following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union on 31 January 2020, Scotland no longer elects representatives to the European Parliament. Elected candidates are shown in bold. Brackets indicate the number of votes per seat won.

2019

2014

2009

2004

1999

Pre-1999 elections

For full details of results please referee to related articles; *

Highlands and Islands The Highlands and Islands is an area of Scotland broadly covering the Scottish Highlands, plus Orkney, Shetland, and the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles). The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act o ...

* Lothians * Mid Scotland and Fife * North East Scotland * South of Scotland * Strathclyde East * Strathclyde West

1994

1989

1984

1979

Referendums

To date eight referendums have been held in Scotland, covering a wide range of issues. *

1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum The 1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum, also known variously as the Referendum on the European Community (Common Market), the Common Market referendum and EEC membership referendum, was a non-binding referendum tha ...

1979 Scottish devolution referendum Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

* 1994 Strathclyde water referendum * 1997 Scottish devolution referendum * 2005 Edinburgh congestion charge referendum *

2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum The United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum, also known as the UK-wide referendum on the Parliamentary voting system was held on Thursday 5 May 2011 in the United Kingdom to choose the method of electing MPs at subsequent general elections. ...

2014 Scottish independence referendum A independence referendum, referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom was held in Scotland on 18 September 2014. The referendum question was "Should Scotland be an independent country?", which voters answered with "Yes" or ...

2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum The 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, commonly referred to as the EU referendum or the Brexit referendum, was a referendum that took place on 23 June 2016 in the United Kingdom (UK) and Gibraltar under the provisions o ...

References

External links

Scotland
–

Electoral Commission An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...

Boundary Commission for Scotland
{{Navboxes , title = Scottish local elections , list = {{Aberdeen elections {{Aberdeenshire elections {{Angus elections {{Argyll and Bute elections {{Clackmannanshire elections {{Dumfries and Galloway elections {{Dundee elections {{East Ayrshire elections {{East Dunbartonshire elections {{East Lothian elections {{East Renfrewshire elections {{Edinburgh elections {{Falkirk elections {{Fife elections {{Glasgow elections {{Highland elections {{Inverclyde elections {{Midlothian elections {{Moray elections {{Na h-Eileanan Siar elections {{North Ayrshire elections {{North Lanarkshire elections {{Orkney elections {{Perth and Kinross elections {{Renfrewshire elections {{Scottish Borders elections {{Shetland Islands elections {{South Ayrshire elections {{South Lanarkshire elections {{Stirling elections {{West Dunbartonshire elections {{West Lothian elections