Residents urged to register to vote as Scottish Parliament election announced

Eligible voters in Renfrewshire are being reminded to register to vote after the next Scottish Parliament election was announced today (16 March). 

Voting will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026 between 7am and 10pm, with the count for each constituency and the West Scotland Region being undertaken at Braehead Arena on Friday 8 May 2026. 

Three constituencies will be contested in Renfrewshire – Paisley, Renfrewshire North and Cardonald, and Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley – and voters will also vote for a political party or independent candidate to represent the West Scotland Region – with seven in total being elected on the list. 

There are a number of ways to vote in the upcoming election, but anyone who has never registered to vote before, or has moved house or changed their name recently, needs to register to vote by 20 April 2026. 
 
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 7 May 2026 to allow voting in-person and eligible voters unable to attend their polling station can apply for a postal or proxy vote – with a proxy being a trusted person nominated to vote on their behalf. 
 
New postal vote and postal proxy applications need to be submitted by 5pm on 21 April 2026 and proxy vote applications by 5pm on 28 April 2026. 

 
Alan Russell, Returning Officer and Renfrewshire Council Chief Executive said: “It’s important that anyone wishing to vote in the forthcoming election on 7 May is registered so if you have never registered to vote before, moved house recently or changed your name then you will need to register. 
 
“Once registered, you will receive a poll letter in the coming weeks which will outline where you should vote, but you are also able to register for a postal or proxy vote in advance if you are not able to vote in-person on the day. 
 
“Please be aware of the deadlines and apply as soon as possible to guarantee everything is in place to allow you to cast your vote in this important election on 7 May.” 
 
Following a review by Boundary Scotland, two constituencies have been renamed with Paisley now being joined by Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley and Renfrewshire North and Cardonald – with the latter reflecting the addition of Cardonald to within Renfrewshire’s electoral boundary. 

 
There are a number of other changes to polling districts, numbering and polling places, but any 
change will be outlined on voters’ poll letters and the majority of voters should notice no change other than the name of their constituency. 

To find out more about how to vote in the forthcoming election, visit the council website at: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/spe2026.