Welcome to Your Vote Week: Supporting you to have your say in May

On 5 February 2020, elected representatives from all parties in the Scottish Parliament promised to transform how Scotland cares, so all children and young people grow up loved, safe, and respected and are able to realise their full potential.

It will be the continued responsibility of the next Scottish Parliament who will be elected in May 2026 to keep this promise.

The promise was made possible by the 5,500 voices that told their stories and pushed for change. As a result, a central foundation of the promise is Voice and the requirement that children and young people be meaningfully listened to when decisions are being made about their lives.

This week is Welcome to Your Vote Week 2026, which aims to support young people to develop the knowledge and confidence they need to cast their vote. The theme this year is  Why Voting Matters,  and it is focusing on helping young people talk about and understand how they can have their voices heard in democracy.

Some people find it harder to access their right to vote than others including those who, for many reasons, might not have a fixed address to register to.

Those under 21 years old who are, or have been, formally in care or are currently in secure accommodation, can now register by making a declaration of local connection instead of using a fixed address if they don’t have one. You can find more information about who is eligible through the Electoral Commission website.

Local authorities in Scotland have a duty to promote awareness of how to register for children and young people who are formally in care or care experienced and to provide assistance to help these young people to register. So contact your local electoral registration office if you or someone you know needs further support to register.

The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 20 April.

Find more resources for the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Elections.