Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025: equality impact assessment

The Scope of the EQIA

The Order will have limited impacts on some protected characteristic groups. Where there are impacts, these are positive benefits which primarily build on or expand on existing provision. The main beneficiaries are expected to be disabled voters, who will benefit from the changes to accessibility guidance, and a specific cohort of care-experienced young people, who will benefit from the ability to register to vote by declaration of local connection. A number of policy changes made in this Order have an impact on people, but are not expected to have a notable differential impact on any protected characteristics. Changes where a differential impact is expected are discussed in greater detail below.

In conducting this EQIA, the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation were considered. The impacts on these protected characteristics were considered alongside the public sector equality duty to have due regard to the need to:

• eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other unlawful conduct prohibited by the act
• advance equality of opportunity between people who share and people who do not share a relevant protected characteristic
• foster good relations between people who share and people who do not share a relevant protected characteristic

Age

The differential impact on age is related to the change this Order makes to allow ‘looked after’ or formerly ‘looked after’ children to register to vote by making a declaration of local connection up until their 21^st birthday. Currently, this can only be achieved by this cohort by making a declaration of homelessness. Allowing registration by declaration of local connection is expected to make the process clearer for affected young people, and reduce stigma and incorrect terminologies in the registration process.

Disability

The differential impact on people with disabilities is related to the provision which amends the requirement for Returning Officers (ROs) to provide appropriate equipment in polling stations to assist voting. It is expected to have a positive differential impact on disabled voters. The change is intended to give increased flexibility as to what equipment is provided, and to increase the number of disabled voters who can vote independently and in secret. This benefit is an indirect result of the change in the Order, which requires Returning Officers to provide equipment that is in line with statutory guidance which will be provided by the Electoral Commission.

Other

This EQIA has not found any notable differential impacts on the protected characteristics of gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. There was no impact, positive or negative, on the public sector equality duties relating to these characteristics.