There is another brief suspension as the votes are validated.

Here's a reminder of how the vote works:

Humza Yousaf was nominated by MSPs to replace Nicola Sturgeon as first minister.

Yousaf is up against Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton this time around - although none of the opposition leaders has any prospect of winning.

The nominees have all made a brief speech in parliament and MSPs have voted for their preferred candidate.

A candidate must receive more votes than all of their rivals combined in order to win.

If this does not happen, the contender with the least number of votes drops out and another round of voting is held.

This process continues until one candidate gets a majority of the votes cast.

Read more here.

There are a couple of points of order raised by MSPs who did not have their vote registered.

MSPs are also given the opportunity to abstain in the vote.

Now it's the all important turn of Humza Yousaf, as MSPs get the chance to vote for the SNP leader.

Yousaf pondering his cabinet as election is a near certaintypublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 28 March 2023

14:52 BST 28 March 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Not to take this vote for granted, but Humza Yousaf is likely already pondering who is going to be in his cabinet.

He entered the Holyrood chamber with Shona Robison by his side – potentially his deputy first minister? Neil Gray also flanked the new SNP leader, and having played a key role in his campaign he will be looking forward to a plum job in government.

Meanwhile Shirley-Anne Somerville, Angus Robertson, Keith Brown, Michael Matheson and Mairi Gougeon all have seats on the front bench.

And Mairi McAllan has been given one of the best seats of all – just over the incoming first minister’s shoulder, where she should appear in most of the TV shots.

Appointments are likely to come later in the week, but that is starting to look a lot like a cabinet.

Now MSPs who back Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar get their chance.

It's the turn of Douglas Ross now, the Scottish Tory leader is second to be voted on in this election.

The first vote is for those backing Alex Cole-Hamilton.

There will likely be four votes for him.

There is more applause from the SNP benches.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone briefly suspends the parliament to allow members to access the digital voting system.

Yousaf's certainly speaking longer than any other candidate, perhaps not a surprise considering how likely it is that he'll win.

He's now saying, if elected, he'll never "shy away" from tacking the "big issues" Scotland faces. He also says his government will always listen to what's best for the people of the country.

"I will place no limits on the ambitions that we have, collectively, for ourselves and for our country," he finishes be saying, to which he gets a long applause.

There'll be a break now while MSPs log into the online voting system and vote for their favoured FM.

Mr Yousaf pays tribute to the "big shoes" Nicola Sturgeon leaves to fill, saying she leaves an international profile leaders of many countries could only dream of.

He pledges to continue to ensure Scotland is a "positive progressive voice on the world stage".

He says there is no doubt people and businesses are feeling the cost of living crisis and says if elected, he will see them through.

He says Scotland has been through a lot together in recent years, saying in the darkest hours, we saw the best of humanity.

He says how lucky we are to live in a country brimming potential and ingenuity and blessed with natural resources.

He believes "Scotland's best days lie in front of us" and says every day in office is an opportunity to make things better than yesterday.

It's the turn of Humza Yousaf now and without wanting to spoil the ending he's almost certain to win this election.

The new SNP leader begins: "It is a privilege of my life to stand before you and fellow MSPs as the nominee for first minister of Scotland."

He points out two parties in the chamber are led by people of colour, people of the Muslim faith.

"The fact that no-one bats an eyelid at this tells me we are making progress in our nation, for which we should all be very, very proud."

Sarwar lists some of the issues he says the SNP has created while in power, including "record waiting times" at hospitals.

One in seven Scots are on an NHS waiting list, he says, adding there are "record" drug deaths and homelessness.

"We need change," he says, adding Scottish Labour can "unlock and unleash" that for those who need it most.

"Scotland needs more than a continuity candidate," he adds, referring to Yousaf.

Image source, getty images

Anas Sarwar stands up for Scottish Labour.

He says the incoming FM has an "overflowing in tray" with an NHS crisis and a cost of living crisis.

"Our next first minister must prioritise these," he says.

Sarwar pledges to always put the people's priorities first. He says more of the same is "an acceptance of mediocrity".

He says Labour's task is to show a more exciting and prosperous future - with a plan to unlock talent and innovation, the creation of highly paid jobs and a Scotland where public services are the envy of the world.

The new SNP first minister "is not enough," he says.

Election of FM at Holyroodpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 28 March 2023

14:37 BST 28 March 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Normally the election of a first minister at Holyrood comes hard off the back of a Holyrood election.

That means opposition leaders put themselves forward to promote their own policies and set out their stall for a new session of parliament.

In this case, things have switched; it feels more like the party leaders are making their pitch for a coming election.

They hope to find some opportunity in Nicola Sturgeon’s departure, and the divisions of the knife-edge contest to replace her.

But the next Holyrood contest isn’t due until 2026, so some of these debating lines and campaign points are going to become very familiar indeed.

Ross is interrupted by SNP MSPs, who clap loudly at his mention of the party's desire to become independent from the UK.

They're asked to stop clapping, so Ross can continue, to which he says the "nationalists" have their priorities wrong.

The Scottish Tory leader goes on to accuse Humza Yousaf, the new SNP leader, of being "more divisive" than Nicola Sturgeon. He says it's time for a new governing party.

Ross goes on to say his party has been "tackling" Scotland's hardest issues, including a victims' law and plans for tax cuts for first-time buyers.

And he finishes by once again condemning the SNP for focusing too much on Scottish independence.

Image source, Getty Images

Douglas Ross says that it's clear an alternative to the SNP is needed.

The Scottish Tory leader says the nationalist government is moving further and further away from the priorities of the Scottish people.

He says these priorities should be helping families through the global cost of living crisis and rebuilding the "demoralised overstretched NHS".

Mr Ross accuses the party of government of "being consumed by the debate on independence".

"The SNP have been fiddling while Rome burns."

Cole-Hamilton says LibDems understand what matters. They want to know when they will get that hip replacement or why their child is waiting for mental health treatment.

He says the LibDems would cut waiting times, deliver an emergency insulation programme and they would strive to make classrooms inviting places to work and to learn by paying teachers what they are worth and tackling violence in schools and scrapping national testing.

"We're crackling with policy ideas," he says.

He ends saying that change is coming and the change could start this afternoon.

"We don't have to settle for continuity," he says.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Lib Dems, is the first opposition leader to speak in this afternoon's proceedings.

He says the SNP, Scotland's "governing party... is in disarray" and questions why it's so fractured. He also says he's aware that his candidacy will be pushed aside, "and that's OK".

Scottish people are "tired" of a government "obsessed" with breaking up the UK, he says, referring to the SNP's desire for Scottish independence.

Those people are looking to MSPs for answers, Cole-Hamilton says, adding his party wants to improve Scotland by doing things such as cutting wait times.

Ms Johnstone explains each candidate will now give a speech of up to five minutes.

After the nominees have spoken members will be asked to vote for their choice to be the nominee to be first minister.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone turns to the historic parliamentary business of electing a nominee to be Scotland's first minister.

Ms Johnstone explains the voting procedure that will be followed in this election.

She sets out who the nominees are:

• Alex Cole-Hamilton (Scottish Lib Dem leader)
• Douglas Ross (Scottish Tory leader)
• Anas Sarwar (Scottish Labour leader)
• Humza Yousaf (New SNP leader)