ERS Scotland makes the case for local democracy innovation at Scottish Greens’ ConferenceWhen citizens come together to make plans about the place they know best, Scotland’s towns, cities and villages can flourish. But what democratic systems would allow this to happen? And is Dunfermline the right place...Posted 01 Nov 2023
Voter ID makes its unwelcome Scottish debut in Rutherglen and Hamilton WestIf you live in Rutherglen and Hamilton West and are registered to vote, tomorrow is the day you can go vote in the long-awaited by-election. That is if you have, and remember to take, photo...Posted 04 Oct 2023
Lesley Riddoch’s State of Scottish Democracy lectureThank you to everyone who made it along to hear author and broadcaster, Lesley Riddoch, present the second of our annual ERS State of Scottish Democracy lecture. We are pleased to publish a video of...Posted 28 Sep 2023
What Electoral reforms have there been since 1997?While the need for reforming Westminster’s First Past the Post (FPTP) voting system is getting clearer every day, outside Westminster the process of reform has been slowly, but surely, going in the right direction. While...Posted 02 Mar 2023
Here’s how SNP leadership elections workThe deadline for contenders to put themselves forward for the next SNP leadership passed at midday on the 24th February, so it is now confirmed there are three potential future leaders. Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes...Posted 24 Feb 2023
ERS Scotland’s State of Scottish Democracy lecture draws crowd in GlasgowThank you to everyone who made it along to Govan’s Pearce Institute to hear Professor James Mitchell present the first-ever ERS Scotland State of Scottish Democracy lecture. The event was a real success. We are...Posted 28 Nov 2022
Don’t miss one of Scotland’s leading political experts in new annual lectureERS Scotland is hosting the inaugural State of Scottish Democracy lecture next week. The event takes place on Thursday 17th November, in Govan’s Pearce Institute, and will be addressed by Professor James Mitchell. The idea...Posted 11 Nov 2022
ERS Scotland: Our plans for the years aheadAt ERS Scotland we are constantly monitoring the political seas and updating our course to make sure we have the proper heading. Following this year’s local elections, the elections to the Scottish Parliament in 2021,...Posted 24 May 2022
The Power of Preferences: STV in Scottish Local ElectionsMuch talk of the need for electoral reform focuses on Westminster and the goal of a proportionally elected House of Commons. But while the UK Parliament, and almost all of England’s elections, are still held...Posted 26 Apr 2022
England and Wales can learn from Scotland’s success with STVIt is now 15 years since Scotland abandoned First Past the Post for local government elections and adopted the Single Transferable Vote form of proportional representation. What many will have seen as a small shift in process...Posted 01 Apr 2022