What is the AMS voting system used in Scotland?

The Scottish Parliament uses the Additional Member System (AMS), a proportional hybrid combining 73 first-past-the-post constituency seats with 56 proportional regional list seats. AMS makes it much harder for any single party to win an outright majority than under Westminster FPTP, which is why the SNP's 2011 majority was considered exceptional. The system produces broadly proportional outcomes.

Holyrood 2026

Scottish Parliament Election 2026

Q: Who is the First Minister of Scotland in 2026?

John Swinney is First Minister of Scotland in 2026, having taken office in May 2024 following Humza Yousaf's resignation. Swinney leads a minority SNP government. His net approval stands at approximately -4% in May 2026, considerably better than UK PM Starmer's -44%, making him relatively the strongest-rated leader in UK politics.

Q: Why does the SNP poll higher for Holyrood than Westminster?

The SNP consistently polls 5-7 percentage points higher for Holyrood elections than Westminster elections. In 2026, the SNP average is 36-38% for Holyrood versus 31-32% for Westminster. The gap reflects voters who support the SNP as the party of devolved Scotland — comfortable with it running the Holyrood government — but who vote differently in Westminster elections that determine the UK government. Under FPTP at Westminster, the SNP also faces a larger tactical voting squeeze from Scottish Labour, particularly in the 37 seats Labour won back in 2024.

May 2026 Holyrood election: SNP seeking fourth consecutive majority; Labour resurgent; Reform UK enters Scotland for first time. Full polling and seat projections.

36%

SNP polling avg.

29%

Labour polling avg.

11%

Reform UK polling avg.

May 2026

Polling day (scheduled)

129

Total Holyrood seats

Seats for majority

AMS

Proportional voting system

How the Scottish Parliament election works

Scotland uses the Additional Member System (AMS). Voters have two votes: a constituency vote (73 seats, FPTP) and a regional list vote (56 seats, proportional D'Hondt system). This means the overall result is broadly proportional — parties winning many constituencies get fewer list seats to compensate. A party can win an outright majority (65+ seats) but this is harder than under Westminster FPTP. The SNP won a majority in 2011; subsequent elections in 2016 and 2021 produced SNP minority governments.

Current Polling Averages

Constituency Vote

Regional List Vote

Party	Constituency %	List %	Projected Const. Seats	Projected List Seats	Total Projected
SNP	36%	30%	38	8	46
Labour	29%	27%	21	13	34
Conservative	16%	17%	8	9	17
Reform UK	11%	13%	1	7	8
Greens	6%	8%	0	6	6
Lib Dems	5%	5%	2	2	4
Others	3%	3%	3	1	4
Total	100%	103%	73	46	119*

Projections based on polling averages applied to 2021 constituency/list results. Seat totals are indicative — AMS seat distribution is complex and sensitive to constituency-level variation. *Rounding applies.

Key Stories Heading Into 2026

SNP: Recovering or fading?

After a turbulent period — Nicola Sturgeon's resignation, the subsequent leadership churn and the SNP-Green coalition collapse — the party heads into 2026 led by John Swinney and polling in the mid-30s. This is well below their 2021 peak of 47% but still puts them as the largest party. Whether they can win a majority depends on Labour's performance in constituency seats.

Labour: Best chance since 2007

Scottish Labour, largely written off after their 2015 collapse to one seat, has rebuilt under Anas Sarwar. Their 2024 Westminster performance — winning 37 Scottish seats — demonstrated real on-the-ground recovery. Polling around 29% in Holyrood polls, they are the main challengers to the SNP in key constituency seats across central Scotland. A strong result here could set up Labour for a potential return to government.

Reform UK: Scottish debut

Reform UK is fielding candidates across Scotland for the first time at Holyrood. Polling around 11% — likely strongest on the list vote — they are expected to win several regional seats. Their presence complicates the Conservative picture in the North East and rural seats. If AMS translates 11% list vote into 7+ seats, it would be a significant arrival on the Scottish political scene.

Greens: List-only strategy

The Scottish Greens ended their formal power-sharing agreement with the SNP in 2024 after disagreements over climate policy. Heading into 2026, they are running primarily on the regional list, where their 6% polling could translate into 5-7 seats. Their relationship with the SNP will be a key post-election question: co-operation, confidence and supply, or full opposition?

What the 2026 Result Means for Independence

A majority for independence parties is not guaranteed

The 2021 election produced a pro-independence majority (SNP + Greens). In 2026, that majority is not guaranteed. If SNP poll at 36% and Greens at 6%, the combined list vote of around 36-42% may not translate into a combined majority of 65+ seats. Labour and the Conservatives both oppose a second independence referendum, meaning any government without an independence majority would effectively put the issue on hold for the Parliament. Current polling suggests the result will be tight — possibly a minority SNP government requiring case-by-case support.

Scenario	Likelihood	Independence majority?	Government outcome
SNP outperforms, Greens hold	Moderate	Yes (~67 seats)	SNP minority or SNP-Green agreement; indyref2 push resumes
Current polling holds	Most likely	Unlikely (58-62 seats)	SNP minority government; independence stalled this Parliament
Labour surge, SNP weakens	Possible	No (~52-55 seats)	SNP minority; Labour as formal opposition; constitutional reset
No majority for any bloc	Possible	Borderline	Uncertain; possible Lab-LD-Con pact to block SNP government

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the results of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election?

The 2026 Holyrood election showed the SNP as the largest party with approximately 36% on the constituency vote and around 46 projected seats — short of the 65-seat majority. Scottish Labour came second at 29%, with Reform UK making a historic Scottish debut at 11%. The SNP required a confidence arrangement to govern in the new Parliament, with no pro-independence majority achieved under current polling projections.

What is the AMS voting system used in Scottish Parliament elections?

The Scottish Parliament uses the Additional Member System (AMS), a proportional hybrid combining 73 first-past-the-post constituency seats with 56 proportional regional list seats allocated by the D'Hondt method. The system produces broadly proportional outcomes, making outright majorities rare — the SNP's 2011 majority was considered exceptional. In 2026, the AMS system means Reform UK's 11% list vote translates to an estimated 7 seats despite no constituency wins.

Who is the First Minister of Scotland in 2026?

John Swinney has been First Minister of Scotland since May 2024, taking over from Humza Yousaf following his resignation after the SNP-Green power-sharing agreement collapsed. Swinney leads a minority SNP government into the 2026 election. His net approval stands at approximately -4% — considerably better than UK PM Starmer's -44% — making him relatively the strongest-rated major party leader in UK politics heading into 2026.

What is the SNP's independence strategy after the 2026 Holyrood election?

The SNP views a strong 2026 Holyrood result as the foundation for resuming the push for Scottish independence. John Swinney argues that a pro-independence majority of SNP and Greens seats renews the democratic mandate for a second referendum. However, Keir Starmer's UK government remains firmly opposed to granting a Section 30 order. The SNP is also exploring the de facto referendum strategy — treating the next Westminster election as a vote on independence — though this approach is contested internally.

How is Reform UK expected to perform in Scotland for the first time?

Reform UK is standing candidates in Scotland for the first time at a Holyrood election, polling around 11% on the regional list. Under AMS, this could translate into 6-9 list seats — a significant entry into Scottish politics. Reform's strength is concentrated in areas of rural Perthshire, North East Scotland and parts of the Borders. Their presence complicates the Scottish Conservatives' position as the main right-of-centre party, potentially squeezing them below 15% on the list.

Why does the SNP poll higher for Holyrood than Westminster elections?

The SNP consistently polls 5-7 points higher in Holyrood polls than Westminster polls. In 2026, Holyrood polling shows 36-38% versus 31-32% for Westminster. The gap reflects voters who back the SNP as the devolved government of Scotland while splitting their vote for Westminster elections, where choosing Labour is seen as necessary to influence the UK government. Under FPTP at Westminster, SNP voters in Labour-competitive seats also face stronger tactical voting pressure from Scottish Labour's 2024 recovery.

Sources & Further Reading

Official information on Holyrood elections is published by the Scottish Parliament: Elections. For Scotland national polling, see our Scotland polling tracker and devolution explainer.