The Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025
S.S.I. 2025/106 · Made 1 April 2025 · Extends to Scotland
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE
Made 1st April 2025
Laid before the Scottish Parliament 3rd April 2025
Coming into force 14th April 2025
The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 73 of the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025f1 and all other powers enabling them to do so.
Annotations to the whole text
Footnotes
- f1
Contents
- 1Citation, commencement and interpretation
- 2Appointed Days
- Signature
- Schedule: Tables of appointed days
- 1Provisions coming into force on 14 April 2025
- 2Provisions coming into force on 1 August 2025
- 3Provisions coming into force on 1 October 2025
- Explanatory note
1Citation, commencement and interpretationI1
These Regulations may be cited as the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 14 April 2025.
In these Regulations “the Act” means the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025.
2Appointed DaysI1
The day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions of the Act specified in—
column 1 of the table in Part 1 of the schedule is 14 April 2025,
column 1 of the table in Part 2 of the schedule is 1 August 2025,
column 1 of the table in Part 3 of the schedule is 1 October 2025.
The subject matter of those provisions is specified in column 2 of those tables.
Signature
JAMIE HEPBURN
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers
St Andrew's House,
Edinburgh
1st April 2025
1Provisions coming into force on 14 April 2025I1
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (Provisions of the Act) | (Subject matter) |
| Sections 3, 4 and 5 | Disqualification of MPs, members of the House of Lords and councillors |
| Section 22 | Third parties capable of giving notification |
| Section 25 | Code of practice on controls relating to third parties |
| Section 31 | Rescheduling of by-elections |
| Section 34 | Power of returning officer to postpone or cancel by-election |
| Section 35 | Review of order of candidates on ballot papers used at elections |
| Section 39 | Pilot scheme under the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Act 2002 |
| Sections 40, 41, 42 and 43 | Pilot for registration of electors |
| Section 44 | Funding to increase democratic engagement |
| Section 45 | Scottish Ministers’ power to make provision about elections under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 |
| Section 58 | Guidance regarding information to be included with certain electronic material at Scottish elections |
| Section 60 | Scottish Ministers regulation making powers |
| Section 61 | Consequential revocations |
| Sections 64, 65, 66, 67 and 68 | Electoral Commission |
2Provisions coming into force on 1 August 2025I1
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (Provisions of the Act) | (Subject matter) |
| Sections 1 and 2 | Candidacy rights etc. of foreign nationals |
| Sections 6 and 7 | Disqualifications relating to sexual offences and notification requirements |
| Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and the schedule | Scottish disqualification orders |
| Sections 15, 16 and 17 | Disqualification orders under the Elections Act 2022 |
| Sections 18 and 19 | Temporary relief from disqualification |
| Section 20 | Ending the ambulatory effect of section 15 of the Scotland Act 1998 |
| Section 21 | Notional and third party expenditure: Scottish Parliament elections |
| Section 23 | Restriction on which third parties may incur controlled expenditure |
| Section 24 | Transitional provision: offences relating to third party expenditure |
| Section 26 | Notional expenditure: local government elections |
| Sections 62 and 63 | Boundaries Scotland |
3Provisions coming into force on 1 October 2025I1
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (Provisions of the Act) | (Subject matter) |
| Section 27 | Power of Presiding Officer to postpone ordinary election |
| Section 28 | Power of Presiding Officer to schedule extraordinary general elections |
| Section 29 | Election of new Presiding Officer: extension of period |
| Section 30 | Choice of new First Minister after changed election date |
| Section 32 | Power of convenor of Electoral Management Board to postpone ordinary local election |
| Section 33 | Power of returning officer to postpone election for their area |
| Sections 36, 37 and 38 | Home addresses of candidates and agents |
| Section 46 | Access to Elected Office Fund |
| F1... | ... |
Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations bring into force provisions of the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 (“the Act”) on three different dates. The provisions listed in Part 1 of the schedule are brought into force on 14 April 2025. The provisions listed in Part 2 of the schedule are brought into force on 1 August 2025. The provisions listed in Part 3 of the schedule are brought into force on 1 October 2025.
The Bill for the Act received Royal Assent on 29 January 2025. Sections 72, 73 and 74 of the Act were brought into force on 30 January 2025 by section 73(1) of the Act.