1.—(1) The proceedings at a Scottish Parliamentary election shall, subject to rule 2, be conducted in accordance with the following Table–
| Proceeding | Time |
|---|---|
| Publication of notice of election. | Not earlier than the twenty-eighth day before the date of the poll and not later than the twenty-first day before the date of the poll. |
| Delivery of nomination papers. | Not later than 4 pm on any day after the date of the publication of the notice of election but not later than the sixteenth day before the date of the poll. |
| The making of objections to nomination papers. | During the hours allowed for delivery of nomination papers on the last day for their delivery and the hour following, but– (a) no objection may be made in the afternoon of that last day except to a nomination paper delivered within 24 hours of the last time for its delivery, and in the case of a nomination paper so delivered no objection may be so made to the sufficiency or nature of the particulars of a candidate unless made at or immediately after the time of the delivery of the nomination paper; and (b) the foregoing provisions do not apply to objections made in pursuance of rule 21 or 22. |
| Delivery of notice of withdrawal of candidature. | Within the time for the delivery of nomination papers at the election. |
| Publication of statement of persons nominated. | (a)if no objections to nomination papers are made, at the close of the time for doing so, or (b)if any such objections are made, not before they are disposed of but not later than 24 hours after the last time for delivery of nomination papers. |
| Polling | Between the hours of 7 am and 10 pm on the date of the poll. |
(2) Except in relation to the substitutions made by rule 2, in the Table in paragraph (1) the reference to “nomination papers” includes constituency nomination papers, individual nomination papers and regional lists.
2. In the case of an election under section 9 of the Scotland Act 1998 (constituency vacancies), the proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the Table in rule 1(1), but subject to the following substitutions–
(a)for the first entry in the Table substitute–
| “Publication of notice of election to fill a constituency vacancy. | Not earlier than the twenty-eighth day before the date of the poll and not later than the fourteenth day before the date of the poll”; and |
(b)for the second entry in the Table substitute–
| “Delivery of constituency nomination papers | Not later than 4 pm on any day after the date of the publication of the notice of the election but not later than the eleventh day before the date of the poll.”. |
3. In computing any period of time for the purposes of the Table in rule 1(1)–
(a)a Saturday or Sunday;
(b)Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or Easter Monday;
(c)a day which is a bank holiday in Scotland under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(1); or
(d)a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning,
shall be disregarded, and any such day shall not be treated as a day for the purpose of any proceedings up to the completion of the poll nor shall a constituency returning officer be obliged to proceed with the counting of votes on such a day.