Explanatory note

This Order amends the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 1999 (“the 1999 Order”).

Schedule 2 to the 1999 Order contains the Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules, rule 1 of which sets out the timetable for proceedings at a Scottish Parliamentary election. This Order amends that timetable in the case of an election to fill a vacancy in a constituency seat.

The Order provides that the time for the publication of the notice of election to fill that vacancy is to be not earlier than 28 days before the date of the poll (as currently applies for all other elections to the Scottish Parliament) and not later than 14 days before the date of the poll (rather than 21 days for all other elections to the Scottish Parliament).

The Order also provides that the time when constituency nomination papers are to be delivered is to be not later than 4pm on any day after the date when the notice of election is published, but not later than the 11th day before the date of the poll (rather than the 16th day for all other Scottish Parliamentary elections).

The 1999 Order was also amended by the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) (Amendment ) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/1399), but the amendments made by that Order are not relevant for the purposes of this Order.