The 73 constituencies are very a lot not the entire story of the Holyrood election.
The eight electoral areas scattered round Scotland will every elect seven MSPs, for a complete of 56.
The system is designed to “top up” the seats already gained in the space by way of the constituency poll, to ensure every occasion will get broadly honest illustration in parliament.
In 2021, the SNP gained six constituencies in South Scotland, whereas the Conservatives took three.
Reflecting how the vote was shared out throughout the area, Labour and the Conservatives took three regional checklist seats every, whereas the SNP obtained one.
This area displays lots of the identical political battles as the remainder of the nation – the Tories making an attempt to face down a menace from Reform UK, the SNP looking for to field out Labour, and the Lib Dems and Greens hoping to achieve regional checklist seats.
But what makes South Scotland notably attention-grabbing is the approach its boundaries have modified since 2021, with East Lothian being eliminated to affix up with Edinburgh, and two central belt seats – East Kilbride and Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse – being added in.
What do these comparatively city seats being added to this rural area imply for the vote totals amongst the events?
And might the constituency outcomes there change what number of checklist seats events are entitled to when the top-up system swings into motion?
There are not any fewer than 15 events standing right here, amongst 29 that are contesting regional lists throughout the nation.
Scottish voters have hardly ever had a lot selection.
The full list of candidates for the South Scotland region: Alliance for Democracy and Freedom, Alliance to Liberate Scotland, Conservative, Independent Green Voice, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, Scottish Common Party, Scottish Family Party, Scottish Green, Scottish Heritage Party, Scottish Libertarian Party, Scottish National Party, Scottish Socialist Party, UK Independence Party, Independent, Sean Davis (Independent) and Denise Sommerville (Independent).
