After the Vote: Making Sense of the 2026 Scottish Election

On 7 May 2026 Scotland goes to the polls. In the weeks that follow, Professors Ailsa Henderson (Edinburgh) and Christopher Carman (Glasgow) will visit communities to share early findings from the ESRC-funded Scottish Election Study — the definitive academic survey of how Scotland votes.

Our 2026 survey includes a dedicated oversample of young people, giving us unprecedented insight into how younger voters in Scotland actually think, decide and participate. We bring that evidence directly into the classroom — using real data, in an accessible and interactive format — to help pupils understand the election outcome, the social and ideological forces behind it, and their own place in Scotland's democratic life.

What the session offers:

• Headline findings from the 2026 Scottish Election Study — an evidence-led account of the result, party fortunes, and what voters said mattered to them.

• A close look at young voters in Scotland — drawing on our youth oversample to show how 16–24-year-olds voted, how they differ from older cohorts, and what shapes their political choices.

• Interactive discussion — pupils are invited to respond to real survey questions, compare their answers to the national picture, and reflect on what the data tells us about Scottish society.

• A non-partisan, research-led frame — the Scottish Election Study is strictly non-partisan; we present evidence and invite pupils to make sense of it.

• Three literacies in one session — civic (how Scotland's institutions work), political (engaging confidently and critically as informed participants), and data (reading and interrogating real survey evidence).

Who are we?

The RSE is Scotland’s National Academy, we use the combined knowledge of our 1,800-strong Fellowship to provide independent expert advice to policymakers and inspire the next generation of innovative thinkers.

Professor Ailsa Henderson is Professor of Political Science at the University of Edinburgh and Principal Investigator of the Scottish Election Study. Her research focuses on political behaviour, identity and devolution in Scotland and comparatively.

Professor Christopher Carman is Stevenson Professor of Citizenship at the University of Glasgow and a Co-Investigator on the Scottish Election Study. His work centres on representation, political participation, and how voters and parties interact in Scotland and the UK.