The next Scottish Parliament election is on Thursday 7 May 2026. Your voice is powerful. Together the Parkinson’s community in Scotland can deliver change. We’ve developed some simple actions you can take to make your voice heard.
Your Move is our manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections. It outlines what the next Scottish government can do to improve Parkinson’s support.
As part of this year’s campaign, we asked you to send a postcard to party leaders asking what their party will do about Parkinson’s issues. Thanks to you, we’ve had over 700 postcards to deliver during the campaign, but the momentum doesn’t end there.
It’s easy for you to make your move during the election campaign.
Here are 2 quick ways to get started:
- Move 1: display our election poster at home, and ask a question about Parkinson’s when campaigners call. Request a hard copy by emailing [email protected].
- Move 2: email the people standing to be your local MSPs and ask what they’ll do to support people with Parkinson’s.
Scotland election poster
Use our poster to show that Parkinson’s matters and could influence your vote. The poster includes tips for talking to party campaigners on the back.
Email your local candidates
Use the following email template to contact the candidates standing in your area. This is a simple way to raise awareness of Parkinson’s with local politicians ahead of the Scottish Parliament election.
Email your MSPs before the end of April 2026, while they’re still finalising their priorities and preparing for election day. Contacting them at this stage gives you the best chance to influence what they'll say and do on Parkinson’s if they’re elected in May.
Step 1: find your candidate’s contact details
You can find their email address in a few ways:
- check your local party election leaflets
- email [email protected] to request contact details
- search for candidates using your postcode on the Electoral Commission website.
Step 2: copy and edit the email
- Copy and paste our template below into your email.
- Make sure you personalise the highlighted sections before sending it.
- Give your email a subject. We suggest: what will you do for Parkinson’s if elected? It’s your move!
Step 3: send your email
- Send your email to one or more candidates.
- Copy in [email protected].
- Forward any replies you receive to [email protected].
Email template
Subject: What will you do for Parkinson’s if elected? It’s your move!
Dear <candidate name>,
I'm writing to you as a voter in <constituency name – find your constituency at the Electoral Commission website>.
I'd like you and your party to make your move to support people with Parkinson’s in the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections and beyond.
In Scotland, around 14,000 people have Parkinson's. Every day, roughly 7 new people are told they have Parkinson's, changing their lives and the lives of those close to them. The right care and support shouldn’t be a roll of the dice, but for too many people with Parkinson’s, that’s how it feels.
Here's a link to Parkinson’s UK's manifesto for the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections:
Your Move – The Parkinson’s manifesto for the Scottish Parliament election 2026 (PDF, 3MB)
It outlines 9 actions the new Scottish Government can take to change lives for people with Parkinson’s and those who support them. If you’re elected, I hope you’ll offer your wholehearted support.
As someone living with Parkinson’s, I’d appreciate a formal answer to one of the questions below:
What will your party do to:
<Choose one question from the list below or write your own question. Delete the other questions.>
- make sure everyone with Parkinson’s can access specialist care from an expert Parkinson’s team?
- make sure people with Parkinson’s get their medication on time?
- make new Parkinson’s treatments available faster in NHS Scotland?
- protect Adult Disability Payment?
- provide local physical activity opportunities for people with Parkinson’s?
- make sure people can take part in Parkinson’s research wherever they live?
- make sure care partners supporting people with complex Parkinson’s can get a break?
- close the evidence gap on Parkinson’s dementia?
- help people with Parkinson’s get the right information and support when they’re diagnosed and as the condition progresses?
<You can add details here about why this issue matters to you as someone living with Parkinson’s.>
<Optional: As a member of XXX group, I'll share your response with the local Parkinson's community and with Parkinson’s UK in Scotland.>
I look forward to receiving your response.
It’s your move.
Thank you,
<Your name>
How to vote
Make sure you’re ready to have your say in the next Scottish Parliament election! Here’s what you need to know:
Check you’re registered
Everyone who wants to vote must be on the electoral roll. Registration is individual, so you need to register yourself. You can register online. Have your date of birth ready.
Vote your way
You can vote in person at your polling station. If you can’t make it on the day, you can vote by post or nominate someone to cast your vote for you (a proxy vote). The postal vote deadline is 5pm on 21 April 2026.
Find your polling station
Polling stations are open 7.00am to 10.00pm on election day. Your polling card shows where to vote and when. If you don’t receive one, contact your Electoral Registration Office. You can still vote in person.
What to bring
Bring your polling card if you have it. You’ll get 2 ballot papers: one for your constituency MSP and one for the regional list. Mark your choices with a cross (X).
Need help?
Contact your local Electoral Registration Office for guidance on registration, postal votes, or proxy votes.
Find more information on registering and voting on the mygov.scot website.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Here are some answers to common questions about taking part and making your voice heard. These FAQs are for individuals, not local groups.
Why do the Scottish Parliament elections matter?
Most of the issues that affect your daily life are devolved. These include healthcare, social care, transport, housing and some social security
benefits.
This means the Scottish Government is responsible for taking action on these issues, and the Scottish Parliament oversees what the government does. So it’s important that all the political parties and candidates understand what matters to people with Parkinson’s and their families.
Do we need to send a postcard to all party leaders?
Overall, we want leaders of all 6 parties expected to win seats in the election to receive postcards. You can choose up to 4 party leaders to send a digital postcard to, or write to all 6 with a hard copy postcard.
We are not asking you to vote for a particular party. That’s your choice. We also respect that some people may not wish to engage with certain political parties.
We want all political parties and MSPs to understand what matters most to people with Parkinson’s. By talking to and working with different parties, we can help make sure that, whoever wins the election, people with Parkinson’s don’t miss out.
For any other questions, email Tanith and Mairi at: [email protected]
Your Move: our manifesto
View our manifesto for the Scottish Parliament election, including our key priorities for 2026 and beyond.
Keep up to date
Stay in touch with what's happening across Scotland on our social media channels and our news page.