Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Commonwealth Citizens) Bill: EQIA

Recommendations and Conclusion

The Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Commonwealth Citizens) Bill will extend candidacy rights at local government elections to resident foreign nationals with limited leave to remain in the UK. This change is expected to have a limited but positive impact on equality of opportunity in terms of race, by bringing candidacy rights for this group of Commonwealth citizens into line with the rights of others resident in Scotland. There are no expected negative impacts relating to any protected characteristic.

As a result of the assessment that the Bill has a positive impact on the rights and opportunities of some people, and no identified negative impacts, no recommendation for change as a result of the EQIA is being made, and mitigating action would not be relevant or necessary.

The Scottish Government regularly reviews electoral law, and legislates in a variety of areas to ensure that all those who have the right to participate in elections in Scotland are able to exercise those rights. This Bill is an example of a step the Government is taking to ensure these rights are fully implemented. The Government will continue to work with electoral stakeholders to ensure that the outcomes this Bill seeks to achieve are met.