Timetable
Scottish Council Elections - 5 May 2022
The days which are disregarded in calculating the timetable are Saturday, Sunday, Good Friday, *Easter Monday, bank holidays (i.e. Monday 2 May) and any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
Please be aware that the timetable may change in the event of days being appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
*Although disregarded in relation to calculating the election timetable, Easter Monday is not a disregarded day in Scotland in relation to calculating the registration deadline.
| Event | Working days before poll (deadline if not midnight) | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Publication of notice of election |
Not earlier than the thirty-fifth day before the date of the poll and not later than the twenty-eighth day before the date of the poll |
Monday 14 March |
| Dispatch of poll cards to electors |
As soon as practicable after the issue of notice of election |
Between Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 March |
| Delivery of nomination papers | Not later than 4pm on any working day from the day after the publication of notice of election until 4pm on the twenty-third day | Not later than 4pm on any working day after the publication of the notice of election until 4pm on Wednesday 30 March |
| Deadline for withdrawals of nomination | 23 days (4pm) | 4pm on Wednesday 30 March |
| Deadline for the notification of appointment of election agents | 23 days (4pm) | 4pm on Wednesday 30 March |
| Publication of notice of poll, including situation of polling stations | As soon as practicable after the deadline for withdrawals | As soon as practicable after 4pm on Wednesday 30 March |
| Publication of the first interim notice of alteration | 23 days | Wednesday 30 March |
| Publication of the second interim notice of alteration | Between 22 days and 6 days |
Friday 8 April |
| First dispatch of postal ballot packs | Between Thursday 14 and Tuesday 19 April | |
| Deadline for receiving applications for registration | 12 days | Monday 18 April |
| Deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes | 11 days (5pm) | 5pm on Tuesday 19 April |
| Deadline for new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) | 6 days (5pm) | 5pm on Tuesday 26 April |
| Final dispatch of postal ballot packs | Tuesday 26 April | |
| Publication of final election notice of alteration | 5 days | Wednesday 27 April |
| Deadline for notification of appointment of polling and counting agents | 5 days | Wednesday 27 April |
| POLLING DAY | 0 (7am to 10pm) |
7am to 10pm on Thursday 5 May |
| Last time that electors can apply for a replacement for a lost and spoilt postal vote | 0 (10pm) | 10pm on Thursday 5 May |
| Deadline for emergency proxy applications | 0 (5pm) | 5pm on Thursday 5 May |
| Last time to alter the register due to clerical error or court appeal | 0 (9pm) | 9pm on Thursday 5 May |
| Verification and count |
Friday 6 May First ballot boxes are opened after 8am and not later than 9.30am |
|
| Latest day for candidates to receive their invoices | 21 calendar days |
If result is declared: 6 May it is 27 May 7 May it is 30 May* |
| Latest day for candidates to pay their invoices | 28 calendar days |
If the result is declared: 6 May it is 6 June 7 May it is 6 June |
| Latest date for candidates to submit their return and agent declaration | 35 calendar days |
If the result is declared: 6 May it is 10 June 7 May it is 13 June* |
| Sending postal vote identifier rejection notices | Within 3 months beginning with the date of poll |
By Thursday 4 August |
*Although these deadlines are calculated on calendar days, the deadline cannot fall on a dies-non. The deadline will in that case be the next working day.