HOLYROOD and council elections could move to a permanent five-year cycle under new proposals.
The move would see a switch from the standing four-year routine established 20 years ago.
The Scottish Government plan would not affect the timing of the upcoming 2021 Scottish parliamentary election, or the next local authority elections the year after. However, it would then see the next round move to 2026 and 2027 respectively.
Government Business and Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell said the newly published Scottish Elections (Reform) Bill “invites debate over how Scotland runs its local and national elections”.
He continued: “The proposal to extend parliamentary and council terms to five years is fully intended to prompt discussion and investigation – it is my hope that we can find a robust consensus on the issue.
“It also provides a basis on which the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee can take evidence.
“Overall the bill, using powers under the Scotland Act 2016, will make a range of substantial improvements to critical areas of our civic and national life.”
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The Scottish Parliament reconvened in 1999 under the expectation that polls would be held on on a four-year cycle.
However, after clashes arose with the timetable for UK general elections, the Holyrood vote scheduled for 2015 was held back for one year.
The politicians returned at both parliament and council levels are currently serving five-year terms to guard against further potential scheduling problems.
Local authority votes had been held alongside Holyrood elections until 2007, but this practice ended after concerns emerged that regional contests were being eclipsed by the race for the devolved body.
The new bill also includes measures to bring local elections into line with national and UK votes by barring individuals from casting their ballots in more than one area.
It also introduces processes which would allow 14-year-olds to register to vote before reaching the age of 16, when they gain the right to participate in both local authority and Scottish Parliament elections.
If approved, it will also give the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland – to be renamed Boundaries Scotland – more flexibility when reviewing boundaries, and boost the role of the Scottish Parliament in considering recommendations from that body.
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