Image source, AFP/BBC

That's all from Holyrood Live on Wednesday 7 March 2018.

MSPs backed the general principles of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill.

94 MSPs voted for them, whereas 30 voted against.

So Stage 1 of the Continuity Bill is hurdled, on to a busy Stage 2 next week.

Parliamentary Business Minister Joe FitzPatrick says the Scottish government is keen to explore how technological innovation can increase access to democracy.

This may mean trialing electronic voting machines and researching internet voting, he states.

E-counting at local government elections has been successful, notes Mr FitzPatrick.

The minister urges people to respond to the Scottish government's consultation on electoral reform, which he confirms will be extended until the end of March.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie begins by stating his party has not adopted any policy on electronic voting so he is speaking in a personal capacity.

He says electronic voting would need to be secure, anonymous and verifiable.

Mr Harvie adds that a solution to these issues would likely be complex, which may result in a reduction of trust by the public.

He concludes by suggesting the Scottish government not to proceed with a trial at this stage.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Alex Rowley says he supports the principle of encouraging more people to vote.

Mr Rowley says he does not see internet and electronic voting as the panacea for low turnout, but he says good practice can be picked up from other countries.

He raises concerns about election rigging.

The Labour MSP says both the Netherlands and Norway gave on electronic voting and returned to paper.

He says the move to electronic voting will not happen anytime soon.

Tory MSP Jamie Halcro Johnson notes concerns that people voting electronically could be subject to more influence by those around them.

He disagrees with the view that electronic voting could reduce costs, stating that some requirements may cost more than current methods.

Mr Halcro Johnson also argues cost reduction should not be the focal point of any argument on changing how people vote.

Image source, bbc

In his motion Mr Stevenson accepts there are important security considerations relating to confidentiality and eligibility that must first be resolved, before internet voting can be introduced.

The SNP MSP says when these issues are resolved and public confidence is earned, electronic voting has the potential to deliver lower cost elections and improve voter turnout.

He says the Scottish government’s consultation on electoral reform provides an opportunity to further investigate the potential benefits of electronic and internet voting systems.

Image source, Thinstock

The use of internet - or electronic - voting in elections is growing. But there are still plenty of concerns about reliability, safety and privacy.

Will electing your government via the tap of a smartphone ever catch on?

Last year people in the UK voted in a general electonion, heading to polling stations at schools, libraries and other public buildings to put a cross on a piece of paper.

In the digital era, it all seems quaintly archaic.

Bad weather can put people off going to vote, while others forget to register or might be away on holiday and not have arranged a postal vote.

Couldn't technology remove some of these barriers to democratic involvement?

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson runs us through the history of voting from oral voting to ballot papers and the ballot box.

Mr Stevenson says today's system works pretty well and has the public's confidence.

He asks the question: "Is more convenient voting of value?"

The SNP MSP stresses the importance of security, anonymity and verifiability.

Image source, ISTOCK

SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson will now lead a debate on electronic and internet voting.

Mr Stevenson uses his motion to say the latest digital technology has the potential to be developed for electronic and internet voting and deliver electors flexibility in their choice of voting method.

He says the traditional paper voting method has remained virtually unchanged since 1872 and has yet to benefit from advancements in technology.

The SNP MSP says the government should heed calls by the Institution of Engineering and Technology for government to embrace the latest knowledge in electronic voting, which it believes will encourage more young people to vote.

Image source, Thinkstock

Image source, Scottish Parliament

MSPs vote to pass the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill , externalat Stage 1, with 94 voting for and 30 against.

Image source, Getty Images

The Brexit minister says there are a range of ways of dealing with the detail of the bill.

If the UK government is determined not to reach an agreement, there will not be an agreement, he says.

The Sewel convention should apply and should go on applying, Mr Russell states.

He suggests it would be an "extreme step" to abandon the convention.

"You abandoned it!", come the cries from the Tory benches.

Image source, bbc

Brexit Minister Mike Russell says he is concerned at the language from the Tory front bench today.

Mr Russell says presenting the issues in an accurate way is crucially important.

He criticises Donald Cameron's use of language in his speech uttering "disgrace" and "illegal" and Maurice Golden's use of "wildcat legislation"

He reiterates: "Phrases do make history."

Mr Cameron labels the speed at which this bill is going through parliament as "farcical".

There are serious concerns that this bill goes beyond the EU Withdrawal Bill, he says, pointing to the adopting of the charter of fundamental rights.

Uncertainty and a lack of clarity in the law will be the result of this bill, the member argues.

"We'll oppose this retched, wrecking bill at decision time."

"The real tragedy is the timing of this bill."

He argues the Scottish and UK governments were close to a deal prior to the introduction of this bill.

It drives a horse and coaches through the cross-party agreement that clause 11 was unacceptable, Mr Cameron adds.

"We'll oppose this wretched, wrecking bill at decision time", he concludes.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Donald Cameron says his party will be voting against the Continuity Bill at Stage One.

Mr Cameron says Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh's opinion on the legislative competence of this bill has been ignored by the SNP.

Mr Macintosh has said the bill falls outwith the Scottish Parliament's remit.

Meanwhile Scotland's Lord Advocate has defended the "continuity bill" .

Mr Cameron says: "Presiding officer your are the gate keeper."

Labour MSP James Kelly says this bill is a result of the failure to resolve the issues surrounding clause 11 of the EU Withdrawal Bill.

He attributes this to internal issues in the Conservative party.

On legislative competence, Mr Kelly says MSPs are in uncharted territory given the difference in opinion.

He hopes that issue will be resolved in the process rather than having to go to court, urging both the presiding officer and Lord Advocate to publish legal advice they received.

The truncated scrutiny period is of "real concern", the Labour MSP says, pointing to a number of areas which need to be addressed.

He urges the Conservatives to come up with a solution to the issues in the EU Withdrawal Bill, saying this will avoid many of the problems with the Continuity Bill.