A proxy vote is a vote cast by one person on behalf of another person.
A pilot of proxy voting was agreed to by the Parliament and began on 4 January 2023 following recommendations we made in our 2022 Report on Proxy Voting Pilot.
In advance of the pilot coming to an end on 31 December 2023 we agreed to conduct an evaluation and consider permanent rule changes relating to proxy voting.
The evaluation asked for responses from Members, each of the political parties, the Presiding Officer and the Parliamentary Bureau.
Most views received supported the continuation of proxy voting.
The Committee recommended that a permanent proxy voting system should be introduced.
Decision: The Committee agreed its approach to the evaluation.
Decision: The Committee considered findings from its consultation.
Decision: The Committee considered and agreed its draft report.
The Committee wrote to the following bodies within the Scottish Parliament to seek their views on the Committee’s inquiry and received the following responses:
Written submission from the Presiding Officer (72KB, pdf) posted 07 December 2023
Written submission from the Parliamentary Bureau (61KB, pdf) posted 07 December 2023
The following political parties also provided written evidence:
Written submission from the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (90KB, pdf) posted 07 December 2023
Written submission from the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Party (20KB, pdf) posted 07 December 2023
The Committee also received written evidence from:
Natalie Don MSP (8KB, pdf) posted 07 December 2023
Sandesh Gulhane MSP (8KB, pdf) posted 07 December 2023
Edward Mountain MSP (8KB, pdf) posted 07 December 2023
Audrey Nicoll MSP (56KB, pdf) posted 07 December 2023
Tess White MSP (8KB, pdf) posted 07 December 2023
The Committee published its report on 7 December 2023.
Read the report
The Parliament debated the report on 20 December 2023.
Read the Official Report
The Parliament agreed the rule changes to Standing Orders set out in the annexe of the report be made with effect from 22 December 2023.
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