Preparing for a Scottish Parliament election with OSCR and the Electoral Commission

A session with OSCR and the Electoral Commission to help voluntary sector organisations prepare for the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections. 

With the Scottish Parliament elections approaching, many voluntary organisations will be considering how to use their voice to highlight their important causes. Voluntary sector organisations play a pivotal role in the electoral landscape, organising campaigns and ensuring the communities they serve are well-informed and prepared to exercise their right to vote. 

Joining us in this session: 

OSCR

OSCR recognises that many charities carry out campaigning activity and seek to engage with politicians at a local level or more widely, both at election time and throughout the year. In this session, we will take participants through the key points in our guidance, covering in particular how political campaigning relates to:

• The charity test and charitable purposes
• Charity trustee duties

Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission is committed to proactively supporting campaigners to understand electoral law and their obligations, to help them campaign with confidence. In this session, we will cover: 

• What spending is regulated and what is not 
• Hustings 
• Including imprints on your material
• Further support you can access from the Commission

This will be followed by a Q&A. If you have any questions you’d like to send in advance, please email SCVO’s Policy Team at [email protected] and we will pass on your questions to OSCR and the Electoral Commission ahead of the session. 

Speakers:

• Steve Kent, Policy Manager, Policy and Sector Improvement
• Kelsey Gillies, Senior Officer Regulation & Campaigning in Scotland 
• Sam Nicholson, Senior Advisor, Regulatory Guidance
• Moya Marshall, Senior Advisor, Regulatory Support

This session is open to staff working for a voluntary organisation in Scotland. Places are limited and registration is essential. 

This session will not be recorded.

The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK, providing guidance on all aspects of the electoral process. 

OSCR is the independent regulator and registrar for charities in Scotland and provides guidance to help charities to meet their regulatory obligations, including advice for those planning to campaign on political issues.