Scotland's Holyrood Elections: How They Work in 2026

Carmen López · 2026-04-23

If you've ever tried to explain how Scotland's Holyrood elections work to someone over dinner, you know it gets messy fast. The system isn't as simple as picking one candidate and calling it a day. We're talking about a hybrid voting method that combines first-past-the-post with proportional representation. It's called the Additional Member System (AMS), and it's designed to give voters more say while keeping regional balance. ### What Is the Additional Member System? Think of it as a two-part vote. When you head to the polls in May 2026, you'll get two ballots. One is for your local constituency member, and the other is for a regional list. The first vote works like a traditional election: whoever gets the most votes wins that seat. But the second vote is where things get interesting. It helps correct the imbalance that can happen when one party sweeps all the local seats. So even if your favorite candidate doesn't win locally, their party might still pick up seats through the regional list. This system was created to avoid the kind of lopsided results you see in Westminster elections. In the UK general elections, a party can win a huge majority with just over a third of the vote. That doesn't happen as easily in Scotland. The AMS ensures that smaller parties and independent voices have a real shot at representation.  ### How the Two Votes Work Together Here's where people get confused. The regional list seats are allocated based on a formula that takes into account how many constituency seats each party already won. So a party that did really well in local contests will get fewer top-up seats from the list. That's the beauty of the system: it balances things out without being overly complicated once you understand the logic. - **Constituency vote:** Choose your local candidate. The winner is the person with the most votes. - **Regional vote:** Choose a party or independent candidate. Seats are doled out to make the overall result more proportional. This means your vote matters twice. You can vote for a local candidate from one party and a regional list from another. It's called split-ticket voting, and it's perfectly legal. In fact, it's encouraged if you want to send a message. ### Why This Matters for 2026 The Holyrood elections in May 2026 will be critical. Scotland's political landscape keeps shifting, and the AMS ensures that the final makeup of the Scottish Parliament reflects the diversity of opinions across the country. Whether you're in Edinburgh or the Highlands, your voice gets heard in a way that simple winner-takes-all systems don't allow. One thing to keep in mind: turnout matters. The more people who participate, the more accurate the representation. So mark your calendar, check your registration, and get ready to use both votes wisely. ### Common Misconceptions Some folks think the regional vote is a waste if their party doesn't win locally. That's not true. Regional list seats can flip the balance of power. Others believe the system is too confusing to bother with. But honestly, it's like learning a new board game: the first round is slow, but after that, it clicks. The Electoral Reform Society has been advocating for fairer voting systems for years, and they've got plenty of resources to help you understand the nuts and bolts. Just remember: every vote counts, and in Scotland's hybrid system, that's literally true. > "The Additional Member System gives voters more choice and ensures that the final result is closer to how people actually voted." – Electoral Reform Society ### Final Thoughts Scotland's Holyrood elections are a model of how to blend local representation with proportional fairness. It's not perfect—no system is—but it's a huge improvement over the outdated first-past-the-post method used in many other places. So when May 2026 rolls around, don't skip the second ballot. That's where the real magic happens.