Voters therefore cast two ballots - one for an individual candidate in their constituency and one for a party in their region.

Which ballot paper is which?

The mauve ballot paper is for the constituency member.

The peach-coloured paper is for the regional party list.

(The white ballot paper is for local council elections which are being held on the same day and are completely separate.)

What is the difference between a constituency and a region?

The constituencies are the same as they are in Westminster elections with the exception that Orkney and Shetland has been split into two.

The eight regions are larger areas made up of between eight and 10 constituencies. They are the same as European Parliamentary electoral areas. Each will elect seven members.

Do I have to vote for the same party in both constituency and region?

No. You can vote for whichever individual or party you like.

Is this new vote, the regional 'top-up', a second preference?

No. The two votes are independent of each other. For example, if you vote for a candidate belonging to the "Homeowners" party in your constituency, you can cast your regional vote for the same party or any other party standing.

What is First Past The Post?

First Past The Post is the electoral system traditionally used in the UK.

Voters cast their ballots and the candidate who receives the highest total is elected.

What is the Additional Member System, or AMS?

This is the new element to the electoral system, being used for the first time in the UK in the elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.

As well as their FPTP vote, electors cast a second ballot for a party. These votes are added up and then adjusted under a method called the d'Hondt system. This allocates seats to parties according to the general level of support, but penalises parties which have already won lots of seats.

The overall effect is that parties which win lots of constituency seats under FPTP will not get many Additional Members. Conversely, parties which receive lots of votes but do not win many constituency seats are likely to do well in getting Additional Members.

What is a party list?

When you cast your regional top-up vote you will not do so for an individual, but for a registered party.

The parties put forward candidates and rank them in order - the ones at the top of the list are the ones most likely to be elected.

What if I am out of the country on 6 May?

You can apply for an absent vote - either by post, or by proxy, which is when you nominate someone to vote on your behalf.

For both, you have to apply to your local electoral returning officer by 1700 BST on 20 April. Your ERO can be found in the phone book or via the Scottish Office's website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/vote99

If you fall ill after 20 April, you have a further week to submit your application.

What is an MSP?

MSP is the short form for Member of the Scottish Parliament. There is no difference in standing or powers between MSPs elected in constituencies and those elected from the regional top-up lists.

What happens if an MSP dies or resigns?

If the MSP is from a constituency, there will be a by-election.

If the MSP is from a region, then the next candidate on their party's list will fill the vacancy. In effect, the party list candidates who just fail to be elected will form a 'reserve'.

If there are no further candidates from that party, then the seat will remain vacant until the next Scottish general election.

What happens to the Scottish MPs sitting at Westminster?

They will continue to hold their seats.

If elected to the Scottish Parliament, they will do both jobs, though their total salaries will be reduced.

It is thought likely that people who are both MPs and MSPs may well quit Westminster at the next general election, though this is not compulsory.

Similarly, there has been talk of a reduction in the total number of Scottish MPs, but this is by no means certain.

Who is this 'First Minister' people keep talking about?

First Minister is the title which will be given to the head of the Scottish Executive, or government. In effect, the 'Scottish Prime Minister'.

Will the largest party form the Scottish Executive?

Not necessarily. The introduction of an element of proportional representation makes it less likely that any single party will be able to command an overall majority.

If this is the case, then the parties will have 28 days to negotiate a coalition. If they fail to do so, then a fresh Scottish general election must be held.

When will the Scottish Parliament first sit?

The first sitting is scheduled to be a week after the election, when MSPs will formally appoint the First Minister and the rest of the executive. Also elected then will be the Presiding Officer - the equivalent post to the Speaker in the House of Commons.

The official opening, however, will be on 1 July and will be performed by the Queen.

How often will Scottish general elections be held?

Every four years, at the same time as Scottish local council elections. The next one will therefore be in May 2003, then May 2007 and so on.

Extraordinary general elections will be held if two-thirds of MSPs vote for one, or if the parties cannot agree on who should be First Minister.