Council and elections

What it is

All voters have the right to vote independently and in secret. 

The Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer have a duty to make reasonable adjustments and accessible options available for disabled people when voting.

Reasonable adjustments can include alternative options or changes to physical access and equipment, and support to remove any barriers to voting in elections.

Accessing the polling station and support

All polling stations in Renfrewshire are wheelchair accessible and have low-level polling booths for wheelchair users.

Temporary ramps can also be provided.

Some polling stations may also have a step-free access route. This alternative route will be clearly signposted at the polling station.

Assistance animals 

If you have an assistance animal, such as a guide dog, you can bring them inside all polling stations in Renfrewshire.

Taking someone with you

If you have a disability, you can take someone (a companion) with you to the polling station to help you vote.

This could be family member or friend who is eligible to vote in the election. They must be over 18 years old on polling day. 

They’ll also need to fill in a companion declaration form to state they have recorded your vote faithfully.

You must ask the person in charge of the polling station, known as the Presiding Officer, for a companion declaration form when you come to place your vote.  

Help from the Presiding Officer

If you have any questions about the voting process or how to complete your ballot paper, you can ask the Presiding Officer or the Poll Clerks at the polling station.

If you have a disability which prevents you from marking your ballot paper on your own, you can ask the Presiding Officer to help you.

Presiding Officers are legally required to keep your vote confidential.

Equipment and adjustments in polling stations

There will be number of reasonable adjustments and equipment available at polling stations to help you vote independently and in secret on polling day. These include:

Pencil grips

All polling stations in Renfrewshire can provide specially designed pencil grips if you struggle to hold or use pencils.

Coloured transparencies

Coloured transparencies are available at every polling station to assist people with dyslexia.

Large print versions of ballot papers

Large print versions of ballot papers are available for reference in all polling stations. 

You must cast your vote on a standard sized ballot paper, as required by law.

Magnifying glasses

Magnifying glasses are also available at all polling stations.

Card ballot paper overlay for blind or partially sighted people

Card ballot paper overlays, accompanied by audio, are available at all polling stations to help blind people or people with visual impairments mark their ballot paper. 

The card overlay is designed to fit the ballot paper exactly. 

The overlays have cut-out boxes that line up with each box on the ballot paper, with braille and raised numbers to guide you.

You’ll also be able to listen to an audio recording of the candidate list as many times as you need.  

Tactile voting devices

We’ll also be providing tactile voting devices are each polling station.

These devices are fixed to the ballot paper. Each candidate is numbered on the device to match the numbers on the ballot paper. 

The numbers on the device are raised in braille. There is a flap next to each number which you can open when voting.

The list of candidates on the ballot paper can be read out to you. 

After being told the candidate numbers, you can find the number on the device and open the matching flap to vote for your chosen candidate. 

The device is then removed, and the ballot placed in the ballot box.

The Presiding Officer and poll clerks can provide the tactile voting device and explain how it works.

Disability aids you normally use

You can use any disability aids you normally use, such as a text-to-speech apps, to help you mark your ballot paper.

Listen to instructions on how to vote

Phone 0300 300 0246 if you’d like to hear instructions on how to vote.

This is an option for visually impaired or blind voters. You’ll be able to listen to the ballot read aloud with instructions on how to vote.

The phone number gives you the option to transfer to our election team.

They are available:

• Monday to Thursday: 8:45am to 4:45pm
• Friday: 8:45am to 3:55pm
• 7 May: 7:00am to 10:00pm.

If you need to contact the election team outside these hours, please call back during opening times. Otherwise, please hold while your call is transferred.

If you’d prefer to listen to the spoken ballots through our website, you can download the relevant files below, which contain audio recordings of the instructions:

How to request a reasonable adjustment

If you require a reasonable adjustment at your polling station, you must tell us in advance of an election. 

You can request a reasonable adjustment by phoning our election office on 0141 487 0139.

Please do this as soon as possible before the election date to give sufficient time for your request to be considered.

Guides for voters with a learning disability

You can see easy-read guides about elections and how to vote on the My Vote My Voice website.

British Sign Language (BSL) videos

You can view BSL videos about:

• who can vote
• how to vote.

The chief executive, directors, heads of service, and some key senior officers, complete a register of interests which is updated regularly and at least every year.

The register of interests states if they have any other employment, financial or non-financial interests in any other organisations, companies, or property.

The purpose of the register

The purpose of the register of senior officers' interests is to help identify potential conflicts of interest when officers are making decisions. This register is available for inspection by auditors and senior managers and we also make it available to the public.

What information is included in the register

The register includes the following information:

• name of the officer
• position held in the Council
• particulars of any other paid employment held outside of the Council
• name and address of any business and the nature of the interest therein
• details of any directorship, consultancy or financial interest not listed elsewhere in the register
• details of any non-financial interest in any organisation such as a professional body, trade association, club etc in which the officer is a member or an office holder
• details of any shareholding or other financial interest in any company where the total nominal value of any securities exceeds £25,000 or 1% of the total nominal value of the issued share capital, whichever is less
• description and location of any property owned, leased or mortgaged within Renfrewshire (home addresses not disclosed).

Register of interests

What the changes are

Following a review by the Scottish Parliamentary Boundary Commission, there will be some changes to electoral boundaries in Glasgow and Renfrewshire.

These reviews ensure electoral fairness and that voters within constituencies and regions are equally represented.

Cardonald will now form part of a new Scottish Parliamentary constituency called Renfrewshire North and Cardonald. This constituency was previously named Renfrewshire North and West.

The changes will come into effect at the Scottish Parliamentary election on 7 May 2026.

What these changes mean if you live in Cardonald

If you live in Cardonald, your polling card letter will be issued by Renfrewshire Council.

Your usual polling place may have changed. If you’re voting in person, it’s important that you check the details shown on your polling card letter before voting.

What has not changed if you live in Cardonald

Although your voting constituency has changed, all electoral registration for your address in Cardonald will continue to be managed by Glasgow City Council.

If you live in Cardonald and want to make a request relating to postal or proxy voting, or a change of address, you should still make these to the Glasgow City Council Elections Office.

You’ll need to contact the Glasgow City Council Elections Office and make your application before 21 April 2026 if you want to:

• apply for a postal vote
• apply for a proxy vote
• change or cancel a postal vote
• change or cancel a proxy vote.

If you live in Cardonald, you can make a request relating to your vote and find out more about the Scottish Parliamentary election 2026 at the Glasgow City Council elections and voting website.

How to apply

Scottish Parliamentary and local government (council) elections

To apply for a proxy vote, download and fill in the paper form (GOV.UK).

Post the form to your Electoral Registration Office at:

Electoral Registration Officer
Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1BF

UK Parliamentary elections

Online   

Apply for a proxy vote online (GOV.UK).

Paper form

If you cannot apply online, you can download and fill in the paper form (GOV.UK).

Post the form to your Electoral Registration Office at:

Electoral Registration Officer
Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1BF

After you’ve applied

The Electoral Registration Office will confirm to you and your proxy that your proxy arrangement is in place.

We'll send a proxy poll card to the person you’ve chosen with details of how to vote.

Your proxy will have to go to your allocated polling station to cast your vote on polling day. 

They cannot cast their own vote at your allocated polling station, unless you both have the same polling station. They must cast their own vote at their allocated polling station.

If you appoint a proxy, you can still vote at your polling station as long as your proxy has not already voted on your behalf or arranged a postal vote.

Postal proxy vote

If your proxy wishes to vote by post, they’ll need to request a postal proxy application form.

They must apply for a postal proxy vote by 5pm at least 11 working days before an election polling day.

They’ll need to contact the Electoral Registration Office to request a further application form by: 

• phone 0300 300 0150
• email ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk

For the Scottish Parliamentary Election 2026

Your proxy must apply for a postal proxy before 5pm on 21 April 2026.
 

Change your proxy

If you want to change the person who’ll cast your proxy vote for an election, you'll need to apply for a new proxy vote before 5pm at least 6 working days before an election polling day.

Apply for an emergency proxy vote

If the proxy vote deadline has passed, you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote if:

• you cannot vote in person because of a medical emergency or disability
• you're not able to vote in person because of work or military service
• you’re accompanying someone who is receiving medical treatment
• you’re detained in prison
• if your existing proxy cannot attend the polling station
• your postal vote won’t arrive in time
• the photo ID you were planning on using to vote has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed (UK Parliamentary elections only)
• you've not received a new or replacement photo ID you've ordered (UK Parliamentary elections only).

For Scottish Parliament election 2026

A medical emergency must have happened after 5pm on 28 April 2026, or you were unable to apply if the emergency took place before this date.

Emergency proxy applications can be made up to 5pm on polling day.

You can contact the Electoral Registration Office by:

• phone 0300 300 0150
• email ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk.

More information

For any questions, contact the Electoral Registration Office by:

• phone 0300 300 0150
• email ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk.

If you are not able to get to your allocated polling station on the day of an election (‘polling day’), you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote on your behalf. 

This is called a proxy vote. The person voting on your behalf is called your proxy.

You need to apply for a proxy vote in advance of polling day. 

After you’ve confirmed your proxy, you’ll need to tell them which candidate or party you want to vote for.

The person will go to your polling station to cast your vote on polling day. 

They can also apply to vote on your behalf by post. This is called a postal proxy.

You can only apply for a proxy vote under certain circumstances, such as:   

• if you’re away on holiday on polling day
• if you’re registered as an overseas voter
• if you have a disability
• if you’re not able to vote in person because of work or military service
• if you’re registered as an overseas voter
• if you’re a prisoner convicted for under 12 months.

To apply for a proxy vote, both you and your proxy must be registered to vote.

You must apply by 5pm at least 6 working days before an election polling day.

Scottish Parliamentary election 2026

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote for the Scottish Parliament election 2026 is 5pm on Monday 28 April 2026.

Find out more about the Scottish Parliamentary election 2026.

You must ask for your trusted person’s permission before you apply for a proxy vote.

To apply for a proxy vote, you’ll need:

• your National Insurance number or another form of identification, such as a birth certificate
• your proxy’s address
• contact details for your proxy.

How to cancel your postal vote

If you want to cancel your postal vote, contact your local electoral registration office by:

• phone 0300 300 0150
• email ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk

You must do this by 5pm at least 11 working days before the election polling day.   

If you’ve already sent your postal vote, you will not be able to cancel it for that election.

Scottish Parliamentary election 2026

If you want to cancel your postal vote for the Scottish Parliamentary Election 2026, you must do this by 5pm on 21 April 2026.

Change your postal vote to a proxy vote

If you have a postal vote and want to change it to a proxy vote, you must cancel your postal vote by 5pm at least 11 working days before polling day.

You can then submit a proxy vote application by 5pm at least 6 working days before polling day.   

Scottish Parliamentary election 2026

If you want to change your postal vote to a proxy vote for the Scottish Parliamentary Election 2026, you must cancel your proxy vote by 5pm on 21 April 2026.

You must then submit a proxy vote application before 5pm on 28 April 2026.

More information

For any questions, contact the Electoral Registration Office by:

• phone 0300 300 0150
• email ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk

If you’re not able to get to your allocated polling station on the day of an election (‘polling day’), you can vote by post. 

You need to apply for a postal vote in advance of polling day.

You must be registered to vote to apply for a postal vote.

You can apply for a postal vote for reasons including:

• you’re away on holiday on polling day
• you’re not able to vote in person because of work
• it would be more convenient for you than going to your polling station
• you have been chosen as a proxy voter for someone else and you want to vote by post.

You must apply by 5pm at least 11 working days before an election polling day. 

Scottish Parliamentary election 2026

The deadline to apply for a postal vote for the Scottish Parliament election 2026 is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026.

If you are not already registered to vote by post, and you wish to do so, you will need to apply for a postal vote.

Find out more about the Scottish Parliamentary election 2026.

To apply for a postal vote, you’ll need to provide:

• your full name
• the address at which you are registered to vote
• your National Insurance number or another form of identification, such as a passport (for UK Parliamentary elections only)
• the date of the election or the specific time period you want to make a postal vote.
• the address you wish your ballot pack to be issued to, if this is different from your registered address
• the reason for requesting the ballot paper to go to an alternative address.

For UK Parliamentary elections, you’ll also need to upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.

To apply for a postal vote, download and fill in the paper form (Electoral Commission)

Post the form to your Electoral Registration Office at:

Electoral Registration Officer
Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1BF

UK Parliamentary elections

Online

Apply for a postal vote online (GOV.UK)   

Paper form

If you cannot apply online, you can download and fill in the paper form (Electoral Commission).

Post the form to your Electoral Registration Office at:

Electoral Registration Officer
Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1BF

Your local Electoral Registration Office will confirm by post or email when your postal vote is in place.

We'll send you a postal vote ballot pack before the election polling day with information on how and when to post your vote.

Scottish Parliamentary election 2026

If you’ve applied for a postal vote for the Scottish Parliamentary election 2026, you’ll receive your postal vote ballot pack by post.  

Make sure you have posted your vote in time to arrive by Thursday 7 May 2026.

If you have not posted it in time, you can hand your completed postal vote in to any polling station in your constituency.

Key facts from our 2026 to 2027 budget

• Budget of £622.794million for 2026/27
• £1.3million is allocated for the Fairer Renfrewshire programme  
• £1.4million for school pitches to improve outdoor sport and exercise opportunities
• £2.1million for play parks over the next 3 years  
• £2million to support upgrades to OneRen sports and leisure venues  
• £200,000 for sports pavilions to encourage increased usage and potentially community ownership  
• £100,000 for condition surveys and improvements to Renfrewshire memorials
• £200,000 for an additional Community Environment Team to keep Renfrewshire clean  
• £350,000 to extend the current programme of events to 2028/29  
• £300,000 for a replacement Skoobmobile vehicle  
• £150,000 for a community improvement fund to address environment issues around tenements, flats and estates  
• A 5-year investment of £337million in Renfrewshire Council housing  
• £6.137million to Renfrewshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership  
• 5% inflationary increase in charges for services, with the exception of non-residential adult social care services and parking charges which will be frozen
• Commitment to maintain unallocated reserves at £10million  
• Council tax rise of 7.5%.

Budget investments

Supporting People

£1.3million is allocated for the Fairer Renfrewshire programme to support:  

• Continuation of the £50 winter school clothing payment to eligible children  
• Continuation of the Winter Connections programme  
• Continuation of funding to Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau to allow them to continue to support Welfare Rights Advocacy and Schools advice
• A further £200,000 will top up the discretionary housing payments  
• A top-up of £600,000 for the Scottish Welfare Fund.  

£300,000 has been allocated to fund the replacement and fit out of a new Skoobmobile vehicle to support the continued delivery of this service.

Charges related to non-residential adult social care will also be frozen, supporting those most in need so those who are eligible to pay, will not face any increases this year.

£20,000 to expand the DigiKnowVember campaign and DigiZones across Renfrewshire.

Health and Social Care  

Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership will receive £5.767million to support adult social care services including social work and Care at Home services.  

A further £370,000 will be allocated on a recurring basis - in relation to the 2025/26 pay award.    

Investing in our place

A further £1.4million has been allocated to upgrade existing pitches at Linwood and St Benedict’s High Schools, ensuring every High School in Renfrewshire has the benefit of all weather pitch provision.

£2.1million will be invested over the next 3 years to fully complete the significant investment already made towards the refurbishment and or replacement of every council play park in Renfrewshire.

£2million will support the upgrade of sport and leisure facilities managed by OneRen.

£200,000 will be invested in sports pavilions which are in use, but underutilised, to encourage increased usage and potentially community ownership.

£100,000 has been earmarked to enable condition surveys, cleaning and improvements of public memorials in Renfrewshire, recognising their importance to local communities.  

A further £200,000 will be used to expand the Community Environment Team adding an additional squad to help keep communities throughout Renfrewshire clean.

Funding for communities

To address the environmental quality around tenements, flats and estates, £150,000 will be invested in a community improvement fund targeting areas where ongoing issues are affecting daily life, with Gallowhill identified as priority for investment.

£100,000 is allocated for resident associations to apply to improve play parks they’re responsible for maintaining.  

£30,000 will be allocated to support community and ‘Friends of…’ groups who volunteer to maintain and improve their local areas.  

Environment

£25,000 will be allocated on a recurring basis to increase the tree replacement programme.

The council will investigate the potential purchase of land in the Blythswood area of Renfrew to protect open green space and commits £30,000 for initial work to be undertaken.  

Budget provision has also been made to enable the council’s entire diesel fleet to use HVO fuel, reducing emissions and contributing to our Net Zero objectives.

Events and Culture

£350,000 will be allocated to extend the current programme of events to 2028/29.  

£100,000 will be used to support the delivery of the Johnstone Criterium Cycling event.  

£480,000 will fund a two-year visitor marketing campaign and enhanced events support, to build on the major cultural investment by the Council.

£80,000 has been allocated to explore the potential for a Dark Sky Park in Muirshiel Country Park, in partnership with Glasgow Science Centre.  

£30,000 will be used to undertake a full condition survey of the visitor centre at Castle Semple to develop options for the improvement of the facility.

£120,000 of match funding will be allocated to help enable the completion of Phase 2 of Exchange Theatre project.

Council Housing

7.5% rent increase in 2026/27 for the second year of the 3-year rent strategy approved in 2025.  

A 5-year investment of £337million in Renfrewshire Council housing (made up of £51million of government grant for new builds and net capital programme of £286million).

£250,000 for year 2 of the £600,000 YouDecide Tenant Fund which gives tenants the power to decide how the fund is spent and what improvements they’d like to see in their area.  

2,210 improvements will be made to homes this year through investment works, new build housing and our housing regeneration and renewal programme.  

A further £1.3million will enhance the responsive repairs and maintenance service tenants rely on.