Scots Vote in 2026 Holyrood Election with Results Expected Friday

Scotland's 2026 Holyrood election is underway with polling stations open until 22:00. Results will be announced starting Friday afternoon, with coverage available across BBC platforms.

Scottish Parliament Election Underway

Voters across Scotland are casting their ballots to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. Polling stations are open from 07:00 until 22:00 for those who have not already voted by postal ballot.

While some constituency boundaries have been altered since the 2021 Holyrood election, the total number of seats remains at 129.

This election will not feature overnight counting, a practice that was introduced in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions. Consequently, the first results are anticipated on Friday afternoon.

The Electoral Management Board for Scotland announced that counting will commence at 09:00 on Friday. They noted that this delay aims to reduce costs and enhance public engagement.

Approximately 20% of the Scottish electorate are registered for postal voting, allowing them to submit their ballots prior to polling day.

Ad (970x250)

Ad (425x293)

Of the 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), 73 represent local constituencies, while the remaining members represent larger regional areas covering the entirety of Scotland.

A woman leans over a table where a large pile of ballot papers are being pourer from a black box. The woman, wearing a pink hooded jumper, is in a large hall with counting desks and an empty stand of orange seats in the background.

How to Follow the Scottish Election Results

Election results can be tracked through various BBC platforms. The BBC Scotland news website will host a dedicated live page from 06:00 on Friday until at least 22:00, providing up-to-date results and analysis.

A live results programme will air on BBC One Scotland and the BBC Scotland channel starting at 09:30 on Friday, followed by an hour-long Reporting Scotland Election Special at 18:30.

Additionally, the results programme will be simulcast on BBC Radio Scotland from 10:00 to 13:00 and again from 13:30 to 18:00.

Estimated Declaration Times for Election Results

Expected declaration times for the 73 constituency seats and eight regional seats are provided below. These times are subject to change due to factors such as voter turnout, recounts, or delays in ballot verification and counting.

Listed alphabetically by area, the anticipated declaration times on Friday are: