FOI/202600517312 · FOI · unclear
Scottish election voting and candidacy rights: FOI release
Information requested
Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I request all correspondence, meeting notes, or policy comparison documents between 1 January 2023 and 31 May 2026 relating to how Scotland’s approach to foreign national voting and candidacy rights compares with or was coordinated with policy in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
Response
After conducting searches of our records, we have identified the information requested can be located at the following links -
Electoral reform consultation - gov.scot – see in particular chapters 1 and 2
Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website – see in particular the Policy Memorandum at paragraph 212 and the Scottish Parliament's Information Centre Briefing on the Bill.
You might also find the following study on votes at 16 of interest: Votes at 16 in Scotland 2014-2021 study | School of Social and Political Science
In interpreting your request I have focused on candidacy and voting rights. I have not considered the issue of disqualification from elected office, although an illustration of some of the questions in that area can be obtained from this letter to the Standards Committee dated 12 September 2024: Scottish Elections Representation and Reform Bill 12 September 2024 | Scottish Parliament Website
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.
The Annex to this response contains other releasable information.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
I have not considered the issue of disqualification from elected office, although an illustration of some of the questions in that area can be obtained from this letter to the Standards Committee dated 12 September 2024: Scottish Elections Representation and Reform Bill 12 September 2024 | Scottish Parliament Website Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.