With 64 days to go until the voter registration deadline for the Scottish Parliament election on 7 May, anyone who wants to vote must make sure they are registered in time.

Research shows that some groups, including young people, students and those who have recently moved, are less likely to be registered than others. The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 20 April. Voters can apply online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. It takes just five minutes.

Once registered, voters have a range of options – they can vote in person, by post (deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 21 April) or by appointing someone they trust to vote on their behalf, known as a proxy vote (deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on 28 April) .  Voters in Scotland will not need to show photo ID to vote in this election.

Niki Nixon, Director of Communications at the Electoral Commission, said:

“It’s important that people check they’re ready to vote ahead of the upcoming Scottish Parliament election on 7 May. All voters must be registered, and some may need to apply for a postal or proxy vote. 16-17 year olds and New Scots living in Scotland are also eligible to vote at this election, and photo ID will not be required.

“If you’ve recently changed your name, address or moved home since you last registered, it takes just five minutes to update your details online. Checking now helps make sure you can vote in a way that’s right for you.

Clear, trusted information about registering to vote and all your voting options can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.

The Electoral Commission has also produced a range of digital and print resources which Community Councils may wish to share on social media channels or on their noticeboards to encourage people in their communities to register to vote. These can also be found on their website.

Welcome to your vote week

Every year the Electoral Commission  invite schools, youth groups, and local elections teams to join them in celebrating democracy by running activities that help young people understand how it works and how to get involved.

They aim to support young people to develop the knowledge and confidence they need to cast their vote and discover other ways to get involved in democracy.

Welcome to Your Vote Week could be a great opportunity for community councils to engage with young people to start a conversation about democracy and voting.

Information and resources for Welcome to your vote week can be found on the Electoral Commission's website.