Scottish parliament elections are currently scheduled for 6th May 2021. These elections will look and feel different under COVID-19 circumstances, with election administrators having to take various precautions in delivering the poll.

There has been variation in how countries have approached holding elections under COVID-19. International IDEA note that, as of the date of writing, around 67 countries have postponed elections. Others have held them, but with a variety of safeguards and provisions, up to and including special medically supported polling stations.

England chose to postpone the various local elections organised for May 2020. These will be held in a bumper round of sub-national elections also to be held on 6th May 2021. On the same day, Scottish and Welsh voters will go to the polls to elect the next Scottish parliament and Senedd Cymru.

What COVID-19 means for these elections is actively being discussed by policy-makers. As a contribution to this debate, I was invited to co-author a blog for the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) with their senior constitution researcher Sarah Atherton. The blog looks at the legal route towards postponement were that deemed necessary. In my contribution, I expand upon what COVID-19 might mean for running those elections. Issues are identified which are of relevance beyond Scotland however, potentially to any country seeking to hold elections in the near future.

The blog for SPICe can be found here.