Increase in Scottish Electorate

The number of people registered to vote in elections in Scotland continued to rise, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland.

The Electoral Statistics show that between 2010 and 2012, the registered electorates for local councils, the Scottish Parliament, the UK Parliament and the European Parliament all increased by between 1.4 and 2.0 per cent.

That means, with the exception of 2009, Scottish electorates have risen year on year since 2003.

On December 1, 2012:

• 4.06 million people were registered to vote in the local government and Scottish Parliament elections – an increase of 54,795 (1.4 per cent) compared to December 1, 2011, the highest level recorded since local government boundaries were revised in 1996.
• 3.99 million people were registered to vote in UK Parliament elections – an increase of 43,665 (1.1 per cent);
• 3.99 million people were registered to vote in elections to the European Parliament, an increase of 43,489 (1.1 per cent).

During the same period, the number of European Union (EU) citizens registered to vote in local government and Scottish Parliament elections rose by 11,114 to 79,063 (16.4 per cent). This is likely to underestimate the total number of EU citizens resident in Scotland, since many may not register. Latest estimates put the number of EU citizens from continental Europe living in Scotland at around double that number.

The full publication, Electoral Statistics - 1st December 2012, is available on the NRS website.