Scottish National Party leader John Swinney voted as his party fights to hold off a wave of support from the rival Labour Party.
Swinney, who became the SNP’s third leader in just over a year in May, has tried to bring stability to a party in turmoil.
Scotland’s long-serving First Minister Nicola Sturgeon abruptly stepped down last year during a campaign finance investigation that eventually led to criminal charges against her husband, who was the party’s chief executive.
Swinney joined the party at 15 years old, and previously led the party from 2000 to 2004.
Swinney has said that if his party wins a majority of seats in Scotland he will try to open Scottish independence negotiations with the London-based U.K. government. He wants to rejoin the European Union and the European single market.
Swinney walked to the polls in Burrelton Village Hall, Perthshire, with his 13-year-old son Matthew.
