Making our wishes clear - Augustine United Church

From Seeds February – March 2026

On Thursday 7 May, parliamentary elections will be held in Scotland.

The Revd Fiona Bennett writes, ‘Particularly given the increase in poverty and hatred across the world, and the rise of the Reform party in the UK, the Scottish election in May is going to be very significant and important to engage with as people of faith.’

Fiona suggests three things for us to consider:

To vote and to encourage others to vote.
To use this election as an opportunity to raise concerns and hopes with candidates with both passion and grace.
To pray for those in government, and all people, to be and build a more just and humane society.

GETTING READY TO VOTE

You can get information about key dates at the Electoral Commission website: www.electoralcommission.org.uk.

Another useful website is www.mygov.scot (go to Voting in elections in Scotland/How to vote).

You will not need photo ID for Scottish Parliament elections or local council elections (see Scottish Assessors’ Association – www.saa.gov.uk)

Monday 20 April: Deadline to register to vote
Tuesday 21 April (5pm): Deadline to submit your application for a postal vote or a postal-proxy vote
Tuesday 28 April (5pm): Deadline to submit your application to vote by proxy
Tuesday 28 April (5pm): Deadline to apply for free voter ID

YOUR POLLING STATION

You will get a polling card in the post before the election. This will tell you where to vote. If you haven’t received your polling card, contact your local council.

Opening times for voting: Thursday 7 May 2026, 7am – 10pm.

THINKING AHEAD

The ecumenical Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT), which brings together expertise from the URC, Methodist and Baptist Churches, offers resources and information around elections and broader political questions:

‘One of JPIT’s six hopes is for “A politics characterised by listening, kindness and truthfulness”. We believe that Christianity has a lot to say about politics. We cannot ignore the challenges facing society today, and we need to engage fully with democratic processes and decision-making. By participating in elections and political life, Christians can make a positive impact on the political landscape.’

JPIT’s website (jpit.uk) and posts on social media are always worth exploring.

AMNESTY’S MANIFESTO

Amnesty has published a human rights manifesto, setting out ten calls on the next Scottish government. Their priorities include maximising rights safeguards for people seeking asylum, fully decriminalising abortion, and respecting and protecting the rights of LGBTI+ people by banning conversion practices.

We may not agree with every point – but they are worth checking out to help us clarify which issues we do want to press our politicians on. Maybe these; maybe others.

Amnesty writes: ‘We want political parties to prioritise laws that will help create a fairer, more equal Scotland. These include a Human Rights Bill that will empower people to fight for a decent standard of living. We all deserve a warm home, proper healthcare and a financial safety net. None of those things are too much to ask for.’

Read the manifesto here: bit.ly/scotman26