Tuesday May 5th 2026
Polling station
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
Voters are reminded that they do NOT need ID to vote in the Holyrood elections this Thursday.
Polls open at 7am across West Lothian and will close at 10am on Thursday. Registered voters should have received their poll card advising where to vote.
There are now three constituencies covering the county. A new Bathgate constituency covers the northern half alongside the existing Almond Valley constituency around Livingston. The town of Linlithgow has been incorporated into a new East Falkirk and Linlithgow constituency.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service will cover the two counts being held in Livingston and also the Linlithgow one from Falkirk.
Registered postal voters cannot be issued with ballot papers at the polling station, but they can return their completed postal ballot pack to their polling station on polling day by 10pm.
Alternatively, they can hand deliver their postal vote to polling stations in the constituency or to West Lothian Civic Centre in Livingston.
The Scottish elections use a proportional system of voting which means that you vote for both a local constituency MSP and for additional regional MSPs.
This means that when you arrive at your designated polling station, you will receive two ballot papers – a constituency ballot paper and a regional ballot paper.
Your lilac-coloured ballot paper is for your local constituency and will contain a list of candidates running to be your area’s Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP).
Your peach-coloured ballot paper will be used to elect MSPs for your region. On this second ballot paper instead of voting for a specific candidate, you will be asked to cast a vote for a political party.
You must indicate your preferred choice on each paper by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your preferred candidate or party.
If you put a cross (X) next to more than one box on the ballot paper, your vote will be considered a ‘spoilt ballot’ and will not be counted. Once you have completed your ballot papers, fold and put them into the appropriate ballot box – there will be one ballot box for the constituency vote and another for the regional vote.
Staff in the polling places will be available to provide any support you may need. Arrangements will also be in place in polling stations to assist those with accessibility requirements.
Arrangements are available in the polling stations for voters who need help with reading the ballot paper or marking it.
No photos can be taken inside the polling station.
Emergency proxy applications can be made up until 5pm on polling day. This is when you can appoint another individual to vote on your behalf. The grounds for issuing an emergency proxy vote are limited. Applications must be made to the Electoral Registration Officer at Lothian Valuation Joint Board (https://www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk/electoral-forms/) or by sending complete applications to 17A South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9FL or calling 0131 344 2500.
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