Motion · S5M-24399 · 16 Mar 2021
Temporary Amendment to Standing Orders
The motion
That the Parliament agrees, with effect from 12 May 2021—
(A) the following temporary rules under rule 17.1A—
Temporary Rule 1
Election of the Presiding Officer and deputy Presiding Officers
1. This Rule applies to the election of the Presiding Officer and any deputy Presiding Officers to be held at the beginning of Session 6 by virtue of Rules 3.2 and 3.3. It ceases to apply on 30 June 2021.
2. Any meeting of the Parliament convened for this purpose may be held in the Debating Chamber of the Parliament, Holyrood, or at any other location within Holyrood as may be determined by the Presiding Officer, and members shall be notified of that location or locations.
3. A member may, at any time during the period which is not earlier than 90 mins and not later than 30 minutes before the time appointed for the beginning of the voting period for Presiding Officer or, as the case may be, the first voting period for deputy Presiding Officer, nominate a candidate for appointment as the Presiding Officer or a deputy Presiding Officer by submitting a written nomination to the Clerk. A nomination shall be valid only if it is seconded by another member.
4. The vote at an election shall be by secret ballot and shall be held during the voting period appointed under Rule 3.2 or 3.3. Where there is more than one candidate, there may be more than one round of voting in accordance with paragraphs 13 to 18.
5. The result of any vote under this Rule is valid only if the number of members who voted is more than one quarter of the total number of seats for members. For this purpose, in calculating the number of members who voted—
(a) account shall be taken not only of those voting for or against a candidate, but also of those voting to abstain; and
(b) where there is more than one round of voting the result of each round of voting shall be treated as a separate result and the number of members who voted shall be taken to be the total number who voted in that round.
If the result of any vote at an election is invalid under this Rule, no candidate shall be elected at that election.
6. Each candidate may appoint a member to act as a scrutineer on that candidate’s behalf. Each scrutineer may monitor the counting of votes by the Clerk and may request the Clerk to perform a count again. The Clerk may refuse such a request only if the Clerk considers it unreasonable.
7. Members may participate in the election of the Presiding Officer or any deputy Presiding Officer in person or remotely by video conference hosted on such platform as may be provided by the Parliamentary corporation.
8. Any member may, at the beginning of a round of voting, obtain a ballot paper from the Clerk, either in person or, where a member is participating remotely, by electronic means.
9. Any member who obtains a ballot paper in person shall immediately mark that member’s vote on that ballot paper and then put the ballot paper in the ballot box provided for that purpose by the Clerk. That member may not thereafter obtain another ballot paper or vote during that round of voting.
10. Where a member is participating remotely, the Clerk shall facilitate the process and in doing so shall ensure the secrecy and confidentiality of it. The member shall use such platform as may be provided by the Parliamentary corporation for this purpose.
11. Any member participating remotely shall obtain a ballot paper from the Clerk by electronic means. Once the ballot paper has been received, the member shall immediately indicate to the Clerk the voting intention of that member. The Clerk shall mark that member’s vote on a ballot paper in accordance with that member’s voting intention, verify with that member that the ballot paper has been marked correctly and then put the ballot paper in the ballot box provided for that purpose. That member may not thereafter obtain another ballot paper or vote during that round of voting.
12. Where there is only one candidate in a round of voting, a m
(A) the following temporary rules under rule 17.1A—
Temporary Rule 1
Election of the Presiding Officer and deputy Presiding Officers
1. This Rule applies to the election of the Presiding Officer and any deputy Presiding Officers to be held at the beginning of Session 6 by virtue of Rules 3.2 and 3.3. It ceases to apply on 30 June 2021.
2. Any meeting of the Parliament convened for this purpose may be held in the Debating Chamber of the Parliament, Holyrood, or at any other location within Holyrood as may be determined by the Presiding Officer, and members shall be notified of that location or locations.
3. A member may, at any time during the period which is not earlier than 90 mins and not later than 30 minutes before the time appointed for the beginning of the voting period for Presiding Officer or, as the case may be, the first voting period for deputy Presiding Officer, nominate a candidate for appointment as the Presiding Officer or a deputy Presiding Officer by submitting a written nomination to the Clerk. A nomination shall be valid only if it is seconded by another member.
4. The vote at an election shall be by secret ballot and shall be held during the voting period appointed under Rule 3.2 or 3.3. Where there is more than one candidate, there may be more than one round of voting in accordance with paragraphs 13 to 18.
5. The result of any vote under this Rule is valid only if the number of members who voted is more than one quarter of the total number of seats for members. For this purpose, in calculating the number of members who voted—
(a) account shall be taken not only of those voting for or against a candidate, but also of those voting to abstain; and
(b) where there is more than one round of voting the result of each round of voting shall be treated as a separate result and the number of members who voted shall be taken to be the total number who voted in that round.
If the result of any vote at an election is invalid under this Rule, no candidate shall be elected at that election.
6. Each candidate may appoint a member to act as a scrutineer on that candidate’s behalf. Each scrutineer may monitor the counting of votes by the Clerk and may request the Clerk to perform a count again. The Clerk may refuse such a request only if the Clerk considers it unreasonable.
7. Members may participate in the election of the Presiding Officer or any deputy Presiding Officer in person or remotely by video conference hosted on such platform as may be provided by the Parliamentary corporation.
8. Any member may, at the beginning of a round of voting, obtain a ballot paper from the Clerk, either in person or, where a member is participating remotely, by electronic means.
9. Any member who obtains a ballot paper in person shall immediately mark that member’s vote on that ballot paper and then put the ballot paper in the ballot box provided for that purpose by the Clerk. That member may not thereafter obtain another ballot paper or vote during that round of voting.
10. Where a member is participating remotely, the Clerk shall facilitate the process and in doing so shall ensure the secrecy and confidentiality of it. The member shall use such platform as may be provided by the Parliamentary corporation for this purpose.
11. Any member participating remotely shall obtain a ballot paper from the Clerk by electronic means. Once the ballot paper has been received, the member shall immediately indicate to the Clerk the voting intention of that member. The Clerk shall mark that member’s vote on a ballot paper in accordance with that member’s voting intention, verify with that member that the ballot paper has been marked correctly and then put the ballot paper in the ballot box provided for that purpose. That member may not thereafter obtain another ballot paper or vote during that round of voting.
12. Where there is only one candidate in a round of voting, a m
Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.