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.
It’s easy for you to make your move during the election campaign.
Here are 2 quick ways to get started:
- Move 1: send a postcard to party leaders asking what their party will do about Parkinson’s issues. Send digital postcards with our Postbug tool, or request hard copies to send yourself by emailing [email protected].
- Move 2: display our election poster at home, and ask a question about Parkinson’s when campaigners call. Request a hard copy by emailing [email protected].
Get involved
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.
Send a digital postcard to party leaders asking how they’ll improve support for people with Parkinson’s in Scotland.
Read our guide to the election
Discover further ways to raise awareness of Parkinson's in this election:
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.