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Find out how you can stand for election
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Becoming a Scottish Parliament Candidate (PDF 82.5Kb)
Becoming a Scottish Parliament Candidate
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) are chosen by voters every four years to represent the interests of the people of Scotland.
They usually divide their time between the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh and their local constituency or region.
Most MSPs are sponsored by a particular political party but you can also stand as an Independent candidate.
You can decide to stand as a Constituency candidate or a Regional candidate, or both.
Key Points
- ‘MSP’ stands for Member of the Scottish Parliament
- They are chosen by voters every four years
- MSPs work at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and also in their local areas
- The method for voting for MSPs is a form of Proportional Representation called the Additional Member System (AMS)
Want to know more about the Scottish Parliament?