Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Bill

A Bill for an Act of the Scottish Parliament to enfranchise certain persons in respect of Scottish parliamentary and local government elections; to extend to certain persons the right to vote at, stand for election at, and hold office as elected members following, Scottish parliamentary and local government elections; and for connected purposes.

Read the Bill and accompanying documents

Current Status of the Bill

This Scottish Government Bill was introduced by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney MSP, on 20 June 2019.

It was given Royal Assent and became a law on 1 April 2020.

Stage 1

The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee was designated the lead Committee for this Bill. 

Stage 2

At its meeting on 16 January 2020 the Committee considered the Bill at Stage 2

Read the meeting papers and official report

Evidence

The Committee launched its call for views on Monday 1 July 2019, the deadline for responses was 6 September 2019.

Read the call for written evidence

Read the news release

Read the written submissions

The Committee will take oral evidence on the Bill in September and October 2019

Read the meeting papers and official reports

Correspondence

• Letter from the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans concerning the provisions in the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Bill (as introduced) that relate to protected subject-matter as defined by section 31(5) of the Scotland Act.
• Letter from the Scottish Government in relation to the Financial Memorandum which accompanied the Bill  (148KB pdf)

Work by other Committees

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on the Bill on 27 September 2019. 

Report

The Committee published its Stage 1 Report on 13 November 2019

• Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations in relation to the Stage 1 Report (153KB pdf)
• Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations in relation to the Financial Memorandum (152KB pdf)

The Committee published a report on the The Representation of the People Act 1983 Remedial (Scotland) Order 2019 on 14 November 2019

• Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations in relation to The Representation of the People Act 1983 Remedial (Scotland) Order 2019 (154KB pdf) 

Debate

The Stage 1 Debate on the Bill was held on 28 November 2019

Read the Official Report