SYP ELECTIONS 2026
For over 25 years, Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) have raised the voices of Scotland’s young people, to make Scotland a better place for young people to grow up. MSYPs represent their peers, campaign for change, and hold decision-makers to account, and you can be part of it!
Voting in the next Scottish Youth Parliament elections will take place from 2nd to 15th November 2026!
MEMBERS OF THE SCOTTISH YOUTH PARLIAMENT (MSYP) REPRESENT SCOTLAND’S YOUNG PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD WHERE DECISIONS ARE MADE.
Our newly elected MSYPs will:
- Represent the young people in their community.
- Find out what young people in their area or organisation think about lots of different issues.
- Talk to local and national decision-makers about issues the young people they represent care about.
- Continue to develop their skills, confidence, and experiences.
- Meet new people and make friends across Scotland.
MSYPs represent young people in local areas and national voluntary organisations:
- In local areas, MSYPs represent a Scottish Parliamentary constituency.
- Through a number of voluntary organisations which have representative MSYPs.
Applications are now closed
The deadline to stand as a candidate has now passed.
Voting will open on 2nd November and closes on 15th November 2026. Young people aged 12 – 25 will be able to vote for the young people who will represent them for the next two years.
More information about how to vote in your area will be available at the end of October 2026.
TIMELINE
Every two years, around 160 members of the Scottish Youth Parliament – MSYPs – aged 14 – 25 are elected to represent young people in every part of Scotland and to campaign for positive change.
- April to September 2026 – Applications: Local authorities and voluntary organisations will be accepting applications at different times during this period. To find out if you can apply to stand in your area or organisation, visit the SYP elections website here. After you apply, you’ll receive a link to complete a short online training and we’ll put you in touch with your local election coordinator who will support you to develop your skills and knowledge and to run an election campaign.
- May to November 2026 – Candidate experience:You’ll have lots of opportunities through the summer to develop skills, create your election campaign plans, and meet young people from across Scotland.
- October 2026 – Campaigning: You will campaign in your local area or voluntary organisation to encourage young people to vote.
- 2nd November – 15thNovember 2026 – Voting: Young people across Scotland will vote to elect the MSYPs who will represent them for the next two years.
- Results will be announced from Monday 16thNovember 2026, and the new SYP membership will begin.
- December 2026 to February 2027 – MSYP induction and training – all MSYPs will take part in an induction programme to help develop your skills and prepare you to get started in your new role.
FAQS
MSYPs are elected to represent young people in every community in Scotland. This includes:
Taking part in youth voice and participation activities in their area or organisation, like the local youth forum or youth council – your Election Coordinator will be able to tell you more about this.
Consulting young people in the area or organisation they represent to find out about the issues they care about. Consulting lots of different people helps MSYPs to understand a range of different views and experiences.
Meeting with local decision-makers, like Councillors and Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), to share the views of the young people MSYPs represent.
Campaigning for change and taking part in local and national events, like SYP Sittings and online workshops.
Attending training and meetings to develop their confidence, skills and experiences.
Meeting young people across Scotland and making new friends.
Applications are now closed.
To be a candidate in the SYP elections, you must:
Be aged between 14 and 25 on the day voting closes (Sunday 15th November 2026).
Live, work, or study in the constituency, or be a member of the national voluntary organisation you want to stand for.
In line with the Scottish Youth Parliament’s rules relating to political impartiality, candidates do not represent a political party, a political campaign, or a campaign in a referendum.
More information about how to vote will be shared here towards the end of October 2026.
Visit https://elections.syp.org.uk/elections/ and choose your local authority or voluntary organisation.
Scroll to the bottom of the page, and choose your constituency from the drop-down list.
ARE YOU AN ADULT SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE?
If you work or live with children and young people, your support is crucial. You can find out more about how to support young people to vote in the SYP Elections by clicking on these links:
SYP’S CAMPAIGNS AND PROJECTS
Since SYP was established in 1999 (in fact, we are one day older than the Scottish Parliament), MSYPs have played a key role in advocating for young people’s rights and influencing decision-makers across Scotland. Over the years, their work has contributed to lots of important national conversations and policy developments. Some key moments include:
