About the Bill
The Scottish Elections (Reform) Bill was introduced by the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations, Michael Russell MSP, on 2 September 2019.
Its purpose is to reform certain aspects of the law relating to Scottish parliamentary and local government elections, including length of terms; to make provision about the role of the Electoral Commission in relation to those elections; to confer functions on the Electoral Management Board for Scotland in relation to Scottish parliamentary elections; to rename and make provision about the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland; and for connected purposes.
SPICe Briefings
The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) has produced this briefing, see below, on the Bill:
Stage 1
Evidence
Given its interest in local government elections, the Committee agreed to hold a one-off evidence session on the Bill and then report its findings to the lead Committee by way of a letter.
At its Committee meeting on 6 November 2019, the Committee took oral evidence from—
• Jonathon Shafi, Campaigns Officer, Electoral Reform Society
• Ronnie Hinds, Chair, Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland
Note: the above papers include the Electoral Reform Society's written submission on the Bill
Additional submissions were received from Dr J. Gilmour—
Following the evidence session, the Committee will provide recommendations to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.
Correspondence