Polling stations across Renfrewshire have opened for the Scottish Parliament Elections 2016.
Polling stations, all 185 of them, opened at 7am and will remain open until 10pm tonight, with results expected in the early hours of Friday morning.
Three Renfrewshire constituencies (comprising the whole of the Renfrewshire area and parts of East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde) will each elect one MSP through the first past the post voting system.
Seven candidates will be elected by proportional representation in the West of Scotland region.
(full list at the bottom of this page)
In total, 73 constituency MSPs and 56 regional list MSPs will be elected across Scotland.
What happens when I go to the polling place?
You will be given two ballot papers – a purple one and a peach-coloured one.
The purple ballot paper lists the name of each candidate along with their party name and party logo.
You should vote for one candidate to represent your constituency by marking a cross (X) in the box next to their name.
The peach ballot paper lists political parties and independent candidates.
You should vote for one party or independent candidate to represent your region by marking a cross (X) in the box next to their name.
Take your ballot papers into a polling booth so that no one can see how you vote.
Mark your ballot papers according to the instructions. A pencil will be provided, but you may use your own pen if you prefer.
Fold your completed ballot papers in half, and then put them in the ballot boxes.
If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, or if you need any other assistance, staff will be able to help you.
Renfrewshire Council have released a full list of candidates hoping to win a seat at the Scottish Parliament on 5th May 2016.
The three Renfrewshire constituencies (comprising the whole of the Renfrewshire area and parts of East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde) will each elect one MSP through the first past the post voting system.
Seven candidates will be elected by proportional representation in the West of Scotland region.
Paisley
George Adam Scottish National Party (SNP)
Neil Bibby Scottish Labour Party
Paul Masterton Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Eileen McCartin Scottish Liberal Democrats
Renfrewshire North and West
Rod Ackland Scottish Liberal Democrats
Mary Fee Scottish Labour Party
Jim Halfpenny Scottish Trade Union and Socialist Coalition
Derek MacKay Scottish National Party (SNP)
Peter Morton
David Wilson Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Renfrewshire South
Tom Arthur Scottish National Party (SNP)
Tristan Gray Scottish Liberal Democrats
Ann Le Blond Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Paul O’Kane Scottish Labour Party
West of Scotland Region
RISE – RESPECT, INDEPENDENCE, SOCIALISM AND ENVIRONMENTALISM
Colin Turbett
Sandra Webster
Kieran McCallum
Lindsay Brown
SCOTTISH CHRISTIAN PARTY “PROCLAIMING CHRIST’S LORDSHIP”
Brian Lally
SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST PARTY
Jackson Carlaw
Jamie Greene
Maurice Golden
Maurice Corry
Andrew Polson
David Wilson
Paul Masterton
Graeme Brooks
Billy McClure
Ann Le Blond
SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY
Ross Greer
Veronika Tudhope
Ciaran Roarty
Yvonne McLellan
Joshua McCormick
Fiona Clark
Ryan Paul Morrison
Sarah Anderson
SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY
Jackie Baillie
Neil Bibby
Mary Fee
Ken Macintosh
Johanna Baxter
Joe Cullinane
Siobhan McCready
Martin McCluskey
Moira Ramage
Paul Sweeney
Gail Casey
Ben Procter
SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
Katy Gordon
Ashay Ghai
Aileen Morton
Ruby Kirkwood
John Manby Watson
John William Duncan
Charity Elizabeth Pierce
Tristan Philip Pierre Gray
SCOTTISH LIBERTARIAN PARTY
Alan Findlay
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)
Derek Mackay
Stewart Maxwell
Kenneth Gibson
Stuart McMillan
Rona Mackay
Ian McDougall
Gil Paterson
Gail Robertson
Ruth Maguire
Qasim Hanif
Nighet Riaz
SOLIDARITY – SCOTLAND’S SOCIALIST MOVEMENT
Gail Sheridan
Garry MacLachlan
Patricia Donald
Archibald Muir Thomson
Susan Thomson
UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY (UKIP)
Sharon Marie McGonigal
Michael Burrows
Robert Malyn